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The trial of Oscar Wilde on charges of indecency was concluded at the Old Bailey last evening, before Mr Justice Wills.

The prisoner looked ill and anxious in the morning when the Court resumed. As soon as he had entered the dock the Solicitor-General resumed his speech for the prosecution. He asked what was the relationship of the prisoner with Lord Alfred Douglas? Though Lord Queensberry resented the intimacy between the prisoner and Lord Alfred, the prisoner continued that intimacy and flaunted Lord Alfred at hotels in London and the country. The learned counsel contended it had been shown that the prison was closely intimate with Taylor.

Sir Edward Clarke said that was not borne out by evidence.

The Solicitor-General said it appeared as if counsel for the defence desired that one man should go down, and another be saved because of a false glamour of art.

Sir Edward Clarke protested against this mode of appeal to the jury.

The Solicitor-General next referred to the letter which spoke of "rose-leaf lips and madness of kissing." The jury were tried to be put off with the story that this was a prose-poem which they could not appreciate. They must thank God they could only appreciate it at its proper level, which was somewhat lower than a beast’s. His learned friend had warned the jury lest by their verdict they should enable blackmailing to rear its head unblushingly in this country. They should take care that they did not enable another vice as detestable and abominable to raise itself unblushingly. The jury must believe the evidence of Parker and Ward, because no motive had been shown why they should deceive. He submitted that a conflict of testimony only happened at the point where admission stopped and actual confession commenced. In conclusion, he asked the jury to observe the oath they had taken.

The Judge, in summing up, said he thought Wilde had not suffered by Taylor being tried first. With regard to Wilde’s case, he regretted he must deal with matters affecting Lord Alfred Douglas, who was not a party to these proceedings, and could not give evidence.

A Juror—He could be here.

His Lordship said he could not volunteer to give evidence. With regard to the letters referred to it was for the jury to say whether they pointed to unclean relations and appetites on both sides. Lord Alfred Douglas was the person who sent Wood to Wilde, and the jury had to consider whether that introduction was for purposes of charity or for wickedness.

The Foreman of Jury said they were anxious to know whether a warrant for the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas had ever been issued.

His Lordship said a warrant had not been issued.

In answer to another question by the foreman his lordship said the receipt of this letters and the continuance of the intimacy was as damaging to the reputation of the recipient as to the sender; but that had nothing to do with the case. The question was whether guilt had been brought home to the man in the dock.

His lordship’s address was interrupted by the adjournment for luncheon, and on

The Court resuming, he again referred to Lord Alfred Douglas, who, he said, if guilty, would not be spared because he was Lord Alfred Douglas. As to whether he would be tried, his lordship knew nothing. It might be there was no evidence against him. The question before the jury was whether the man in the dock had been guilty of immoral practices with certain persons, of whom Lord Alfred Douglas was not one. His lordship then dealt with the case of Parker, in regard to which, he said, the association of the defendant with Parker was a crucial point. They must remember the statement that Parker got an introduction to the defendant because he wished to get on the stage. As to the other charges, either the chambermaid committed perjury or she saw what she had sworn.

The jury retired at 3 30 p m, and at 5 25 returned into the box and asked some questions as to the evidence of the waiter at No 10 St James’s place; in reply to which the judge said there was no evidence of Parker sleeping at that address.

The jury again retired, and returned into court shortly afterwards and declared the prisoner guilty on all counts. Taylor being then brought into court, he and Wilde were sentenced each to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

The trial of Oscar Wilde was continued to-day at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Wills.

The great public interest displayed in the proceedings on the two previous days was fully maintained, and the Court and its precincts were crowded.

There was an expectation that the case would be concluded, and the verdict of the jury pronounced to-day, but that expectation was not fulfilled, the case being still unfinished when the Court adjourned until to-morrow.

The prisoner elected to go into the witness box himself, and denied on oath all the charges brought against him. He declared that he was the victim of the machinations of blackmailers.

Wilde further stated that he had always understood Taylor to be a respectable man. The extraordinary friendship which he had contracted with Taylor and his associates was, the prisoner explained, due to the fact that he (Wilde) personally liked praise. "Lionising and being lionised were delightful," he said.

The accused was very weak and ill in appearance, and at the request of his counsel was accommodated with a seat in the witness-box.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., then addressed the jury for the defence. He urged that the witnesses for the Crown were nothing more than blackmailers, and as such quite disentitled to belief. It was impossible, he urged, that the jury could accept their stories, and blast the character of an admittedly indiscreet, but not the less innocent man. The trial, he declared, was apparently an act of indemnity for all the blackmailers in London. Those who had given evidence for the Crown had been fed and clothed by the Crown and the Marquis of Queensberry. If their evidence were accepted, blackmail would be more deadly than ever. The accused had for the third time been assailed by tainted witnesses, and had given his replies in the witness-box in a candid and lucid manner. He asked the jury to believe Wilde, and declare him innocent of the vile charges made against him.

Sir F. Lockwood, the Solicitor-General, in his address, said that in the Queensberry trial the downfall of Oscar Wilde's reputation took place. The prisoner had actually admitted as true what he had first complained of as a libel. And that amounted in substance to an admission of the truth of the present charges.

The Court then adjourned until to-morrow.