The New York Times - Thursday, May 2, 1895

LONDON, May 1. -- The Old Bailey courtroom was crowded at the opening: of the Wilde trial this morning. Wilde looked careworn and anxious, but Taylor maintained his air of unconcern.

Justice Charles said that the evidence had not sustained the charges of conspiracy. 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.

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 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." As regarded the story of the "Priest and Acolyte," in The Chameleon, he thought it would be absurd to impute blame to Wilde. The sonnets of Lord Alfred Douglas, which Wilde had approved, were much more material, as were also Wilde's letters.

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

Sir Edward Clarke asked that Wilde be admitted to bail, but the court refused the request.

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.

Several newspapers say that Wilde's speech may have saved him from a verdict of guilty. They quote as the most eloquent part of his plea the following phrases:

"It is such a great affection of the elder for the younger man as existed between David and Jonathan; such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy; such as we find in the sonnets of Michael Angelo and Shakespeare. It is that deep spiritual affection which is as pure as it is perfect, and dictates great works of art like those of Shakespeare and Angelo and these two letters of mine, such as they are.

"This love is misunderstood in the present century--so misunderstood that on account of it I am placed where I now am. It is beautiful; it is fine; it is the noblest form of affection. It is intellectual and has existed repeatedly between an elder and a younger man when the elder has the intellect and the younger has all the joy and hope and glamour of life. That it should be so the world does not understand. The world mocks at it and sometimes puts one in the pillory for it."

The Evening Journal - Wednesday, May 1, 1895

London, April 30.- Oscar Wilde was put in the witness box on his own behalf today. He swore that the evidence he had given at the Queensbury trial was absolutely true. He repeated this testimony upon cross-examination, without variation. Wilde, continuing his testimony, said he had had nothing to do with publishing Lord Alfred Douglas' poems, nor had he anything to do with the publication of his articles in the Chameleon (magazine). On being asked to define Lord Alfred's expression, "I am the love that dare not speak its name." Wilde said he thought it meant spiritual love, as pure as it was perfect. Wilde proceeded to enlarge upon the subject, and became so eloquent as to evoke a burst of applause, causing the judge to threaten to clear the court unless silence was observed.

The Judge's Charge.

London, April 1.- The old Bailey court room was crowded at the opening of the Wilde trial this morning. 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 charges 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 is 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, who in weighing the details of the evidence of these witnesses, could not overlook the fact that they were persons of a 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 "Doran Grey." As regarded the story of the priest and Acolyte, he thought it would be absurd to inpute it to Wilde. Sonnets of Lord Alfred 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 These letters were couched in the language of passionate love but Wilde 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 the young man Shelley, who, he said, was not tainted with blackmail. Shelley's letters showed that his mind had become excited. In regard to the evidence of the hotel servants and other persons of similar positions, the judge said that what they saw was only seen when they answered a bell-call from Wilde's room. Instances of this was shown in the testimony of the chambermaid, who swore to having seen a boy in the room, but admitted that Wilde had asked the boy to come to the room and light the tire.

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

Given to the Jury.

At 1.30 p.m. the case was given to the jury and the jury retired. After deliberating 3 1-2 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 remanded 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.

Mrs. Oscar Wilde has commenced proceedings for divorce.

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