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Original paragraph in
Sydney Evening News - Monday, May 27, 1895
Sydney Evening News - Monday, May 27, 1895
Most similar paragraph from
New Zealand Mail - Friday, May 31, 1895
New Zealand Mail - Friday, May 31, 1895
Difference
London, May 24. --While giving evidence to-day, Oscar Wilde, who. appeared very weak, was allowed to be seated in the witness box. He said
he always understood Taylor to be a respectable man. Referring to the station in life of the people with whom he had associated, he said the reason for
his friendship with them, was that he personally liked praise, and lionising was delightful.
Sir Edward Clarke, in addressing the jury for the defence, said the witnesses were blackmailers, whose evidence it was impossible to
believe.
Sir Edward Clark, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe
them.
London, May 25. -- The trial of Oscar Wilde concluded to-day.
The trial of Oscar Wilde concluded to-day.
Mr. Justice Wills at great length summed up the case to the jury, placing the facts with great care before them. His speech occupied three
hours. The jury then retired and, after an absence of two hours, returned into court with a verdict of guilty on all counts submitted. Wilde and Alfred
Taylor, his associate, who was found guilty on two charges on Tuesday were then brought up for sentence. In passing sentence, Mr. Justice Wills was deeply
affected. He spoke with great emotion, and evidently experienced some difficulty in restraining his feelings. He said, that the verdict was correct beyond
the shadow of a doubt. It was useless to address the prisoners at any length, as they were dead to all sense of shame. It was the worst case he had ever
tried, and he must pass the severest sentence the law permitted. He regretted that this was totally inadequate for their offence. He then, sentenced Wilde
and Taylor each to two years' imprisonment, with hard labor. Taylor left the dock with a firm step, but Wilde had a haggard look, and appeared to be
dazed. He gazed in a despairing manner at the judge, and was apparently horror-stricken, at the sentence. In a weak voice he muttered a request to be
permitted to address the judge, but this was unheeded, and he was immediately re-moved by the warders from the dock. After sentence had been passed upon
Wilde and. Taylor, the jury asked whether it was intended to arrest Lord Alfred Douglas. Mr. Justice Wills replied that he was not aware of what was
intended to be done, but pointed out that Lord Alfred Douglas was not affected by the present trial. The jury said that if the letters addressed by Wilde
to Lord Alfred Douglas showed Wilde to be guilty, the guilt applied equally to Lord Alfred Douglas.Mr. Justice Wills concurred in this remark, and added
that any suspicion that might exist that Lord Alfred Douglas would be allowed to escape owing to his high family connections, was not only unfounded, but
impossible. The Marquis of Queensberry and his son, Lord Douglas of Hawick witnessed the end of the trial.