The Thames Advertiser - Saturday, May 25, 1895

London, May 24.

Oscar Wilde's case was adjourned. The charge against him in connection with Shelley has been withdrawn as there is no corroborative evidence.

The Otago Witness - Thursday, May 30, 1895

London, May 21.

The relations existing between the Marquis of Queensberry and his son (Lord Alfred Douglas), arising out of the Oscar Wilde scandal, continue strained, and in Piccadilly to-day the Marquis severely chastised his son. Both were arrested, and subsequently admitted to bail.

Taylor was convicted on two counts in connection with the charges by William Parker. Sentence has been postponed.

Lord Alfred Douglas began the quarrel by calling the Marquis of Queensberry a liar and a slanderer. The latter eventually knocked his son down. A furious struggle resulted, until the police interfered and separated the pair.

Oscar Wilde is being retried to-day before a fresh jury.

Wilde is being tried on a charge of indecency in conjunction with Taylor, Woods, and Shelley. The Marquis of Queensberry is attending the trial.

It was not Lord Alfred Douglas, but Lord Douglas of Hawick, with whom the quarrel occurred. The latter accused his father of sending insulting letters to Lady Douglas because he was one of Wilde's sureties. The Marquis of Queensberry cried out that he was anxious to renew the fight for L10,000, and, addressing the crowd, said he disowned his son. Both defendants were bound over in sureties of L500 each to keep the peace.

May 24.

Oscar Wilde's case has been adjourned. The charge against him in connection with Shelly has been withdrawn as there was no corroborative evidence.

At the trial of Oscar Wilde the presiding judge said he was of opinion that the prisoner Shelley suffered from delusions, and that there was nothing unnatural in his friendship with the accused. The evidence, too, he said, did not prove otherwise than that their friendship was of a perfectly honourable nature.

The evidence adduced, which was identical with that given at the former trial, remained unshaken.

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

May 25.

The trial of Oscar Wilde was concluded to-day. The summing up of the judge occupied three hours, and the jury were absent two hours in considering their 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 right 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 labour.

Taylor left the dock with a firm step, but Wilde appeared haggard and dazed.

Wilde, after being sentenced, appeared quite dazed and horror-struck. In his despair he weakly murmured a request to be permitted to address the court, but this was unheeded, and the warders hurried him off to the 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 he always understood Taylor to be a respectable man; and referring to his associations with him, said the reason of the friendship was because he personally liked praise, and lionising was delightful.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, 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 if Wilde's letter showed him to be guilty, the guilt applied equally to Lord Alfred Douglas.

His Honor concurred in this 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.

May 27.

The Marquis of Queensberry and his two sons, Lord Alfred Douglas and Lord Douglas of Hawick, were all present at the close of the trial of Wilde and Taylor.

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