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London, May 24.

[…] Judge said he was of opinion that Shelley suffered from delusions, and that there was nothing unnatural in his friendship with accused. The evidence did not prove otherwise than that the friendship was perfectly honorable.

In his evidence Wilde denied in toto all the charges made against him.

The trial of Oscar Wilde concluded to-day. The summing up of the Judge occupied three hours, and the jury were absent two hours in considering the verdict. At the end of that time they returned with a verdict of guilty on all counts. His Honor, in sentencing the prisoners (Wilde and Taylor) spoke with great emotion. The verdict to his mind was correct beyond all shadow of doubt, and it appeared to him useless to address the prisoners who were evidently dead to all sense of shame. The case was the worst of its kind he had ever had before him, and, in passing the most severe sentence the law permitted, he regretted that it was totally inadequate to the dastardly nature of the offence. He then sentenced each prisoner to two years' hard labor. Taylor left the dock with a firm step, but Wilde appeared haggard and dazed.

(SPECIAL TO PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Received May 25, at 8 a.m.

At the trial of Oscar Wilde the Judge said that he was of opinion that Shelly suffered delusions, and that there was nothing unnatural in his friendship with accused. The evidence too, he said, did not prove otherwise than that the friendship was perfectly honorable.

In his evidence Wilde denied in toto all the charges made against him.

In his despair Oscar Wilde, at the close of his trial, weakly murmured a request to be permitted to address the Court, but this was unheeded and the warders hurried him off to his cell. During the trial Wilde who appeared to be suffering from weakness was allowed to remain seated in the witness box. While giving evidence on his own behalf he said that he always understood Taylor to be a respectable man, and referring to his associations with him said that the reason of their friendship was because he personally liked praise and thought lionising delightful. Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the prisoners, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers and that it was impossible to believe them. The jury asked whether it was intended to arrest Lord Alfred Douglas. The Judge replied that he was not aware of the intention of the police but in any case it did not affect the present trial. The jury thought that if Wilde's letter showed him to be guilty the guilt applied equally to Lord Alfred Douglas. His Honor concurred in his opinion, but added that the jury's suspicion that the son of the Marquis of Queensberry was being allowed to escape owing to his connections was both unfounded and impossible.