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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 Press - Monday, May 27, 1895
LONDON, May 24.
At the trial of Oscar Wilde the Judge said that he was of opinion that 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 the friendship was perfectly honourable. The evidence adduced, which is identical with that of the former trial, remains unshaken. In his evidence Wilde denied in toto the charges made against him.
May 26
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 the counts.
His Honour, 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 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 horrorstruck. 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 a 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 association 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 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 shows him to be guilty, the guilt applies equally to Lord Alfred Douglas. His Honour 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.