Wairarapa Daily Times - Monday, May 27, 1895

London, May 25.

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 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. He said that to his mind the verdict was a correct one beyond all shadow of doubt and it appeared to him useless to address the 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 sever sentence the law permitted he regretted that it was totally inadequate to the dastardly nature of the offence.

He then sentenced each of the prisoners to two years' hard labour.

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

The South Australian Chronicle - Saturday, June 1, 1895

The case against Oscar Wilde was proceeded with to-day, when the accused was allowed to give evidence, and emphatically denied all the charges laid against him.

Wilde, who was very weak, was seated in the box while giving his evidence. He stated that he always understood that Taylor was a respectable man. Referring to his other associates, he said that he personally liked them and that their praise and the lionising which they bestowed upon him were to him delightful.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., who appears for Wilde, said that the witnesses who gave evidence against his client were a lot of blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe their statements.

LONDON, May 25.

The case against Oscar Wilde was concluded to-day.

The jury having retired, were absent for two hours considering their verdict, and at the expiration of that time they returned into court, the foreman announcing that they had found the prisoner guilty on all the counts mentioned in the indictment.

Mr. Justice Wills, in passing sentence upon Wilde and Taylor, spoke in tones of great emotion, and evidently found it extremely difficult to restrain his feelings. He asserted that the verdict returned by the jury was correct beyond the shadow of a doubt, and declared that it was useless his attempting to address the prisoners, who were evidently dead to all sense of shame.

The case, continued Mr. Justice Wills, was the worst he had ever tried, and although he intended to pass the most severe sentence the law permitted he regretted that it was totally inadequate to the horrible crime of which the prisoners had been found guilty.

Wilde and Taylor were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labor.

Taylor left the court with a firm step, but Wilde, who looked worn and haggard, appeared to be completely dazed.

Oscar Wilde, after hearing the sentence passed upon him, gazed despairingly round the court as though struck with horror, and with a palpable effort weakly muttered a request that he might be permitted to address the Judge.

The request was unheeded, and Wilde was immediately escorted by the warders to the cells.

After Mr. Justice Wills had passed sentence upon Oscar Wilde and his accomplice, Taylor, the foreman of the jury enquired whether the police authorities had any intention of issuing a warrant for the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas, whose name had been repeatedly mentioned during the trial.

Mr. Justice Wills replied that he was not aware of any such intention, and that he was of the opinion that Lord Douglas was not affected by the issue of the present trial.

The foreman of the jury stated that if the letters written by Wilde showed him to be guilty of the crime with which he was charged the same would apply with equal force to those written by Lord Alfred Douglas.

His Honor concurred with this view of the case, and declared that if any suspicion existed that Lord Douglas would be allowed to escape owing to his high connections the suspicion was both unfounded and impossible.

LONDON, May 26.

The Marquis of Queensberry and his eldest son Lord Douglas of Hawick witnessed the conclusion of the trial of the charges against Oscar Wilde, and were present when both prisoners were sentenced.

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