The Boston Daily Advertiser - Thursday, May 2, 1895

London, May 1. -- The old Bailey court room was crowded at the opening of the Wilde trial this morning.

Justice Charles, in the beginning of his charge, said that the evidence had not sustained the charge of conspiracy, and he, therefeore directed the Jury to acquit the prisoners of those charges.

The judge then proceeded to analyze the evidence, solely. referring to Wilde.

He was of the opinion that there was corroboration in the testimony of all the witnesses in the sense that the law required.. It did not, it was true, amount to seeing the actual act, but it showed the relations and general conduct of the parties. The young men who had been called to the witness stand were not only accomplices but Parker, Wood and Atkins were properly described as blackmailers.

Furthermore, Atkins had told deliberate falsehoods within the hearing of the jury. In weighing the details of the evidence of these witnesses. the juFy could not overlook the fact that they were persons of the character which they themselves had asserted. The judge then proceeded to trace the history of the Queensberry trial. In regard to Wilde's literature, he did not think that in a criminal case the jury ought to base an unfavorable inference upon Wilde's authorship of "Dorian Grey."

He then proceeded to deal at length with the case of the young man Shelley, who, he said, was not tainted with blackmail. Shelley's letters showed that his mind had become excited.

The judge, in concluding his charge, said the case was one of great importance to the community. If the jury believed that the charges against the prisoners were true they should say so fearlessly.

The jury acquitted Wilde of the charges against him in connection with Atkins, and reported that it was impossible to agree in regard to the other charges. The jury, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy.

No Bail For Wilde.

London, May 1. - The jury in the Wilde case have been discharged and the prisonsers remitted for a new trial. Application was made for the admission of Wilde and Taylor to bail, but the judge refused to accept bail for either of them.

Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said that the case would undoubtedly be tried at the next sessions. Wilde and Taylor were returned to Holloway Jail.

Times Union - Wednesday, May 1, 1895

LONDON, May 1. - The jury in the Wilde case disagreed. After deliberating three and a half hours, the jury returned to the court-room and announced that they had failed to agree upon a verdict.

They were thereupon discharged, and the prisoners were recommitted for a new trial. Application was made for the admission of Wilde and Taylor to bail, but the judge refused to accept bail for either.

LONDON, May 1. - The Old Bailey courtroom was crowded at the continuation of the Wilde trial this morning. There was a good deal of speculation as to what course the judge would pursue in his charge of the jury, and the consensus of opinion seems to be that the result of the trial depended more upon the charge of the court than upon the views taken by the jurors. Wilde looked careworn and anxious, but Taylor maintained the air of unconcern which has characterized him throughout.

Justice Charles in the beginning of his charge said that the evidence had not sustained the charge of conspiracy, and he, therefore, directed the jury to acquit the prisoners of those charges. The judge then proceeded to analyze the evidence, solely referring to Wilde, and begged the jury to dismiss from their minds all press comments and other outside expressions of opinion upon the case. It was a wholesome rule, he said, to refuse to accept the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice. He was of the opinion, however, that there was corroboration in the testimony of all the witnesses in the sense that the law required. It did not, it was true, amount to seeing the actual act, but it showed the relations and general conduct of the parties.

The young men who had been called to the witness stand were not only accomplices, but Parker Wood and Atkins were properly described as blackmailers. Furthermore, Atkins had told deliberate falsehoods within the hearing of the jury. In weighing the details of the evidence of these witnesses the jury could not overlook the fact that they were persons of the character they themselves asserted.

The judge then proceeded to trace the history of the Queensberry trial. In regard to Wilde’s literature, he did not think that in a criminal case the jury ought to base an unfavorable inference upon Wilde’s authorship of "Dorian Gray." As regard to the story of the priest and acolyte in the Chameleon magazine, he thought it would be absurd to impute blame to Wilde. The sonnets of Lord Douglas, which Wilde had approved, were much more material, as were also Wilde’s letters which Mr. Carson in the Queensberry trial had described as horribly indecent. But wild denied that there was anything in them to be ashamed of. The jury, he said, must exercise their own judgment in regard to the letters.

He then proceeded to deal at length with the case of Shelley, who, he said, was not tainted with blackmail. In regard to the evidence of the hotel servants and other persons in similar positions, the judge said that what they saw was only seen when they answered bell-calls from Wilde.

The judge, in concluding his charge, said the case was one of great importance to the community. If the jury believed that the charges against the prisoners were true, they should say so fearlessly.

The jury retired at 1:30 o'clock P.M.

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