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Original paragraph in
The Herald - Tuesday, May 21, 1895
The Herald - Tuesday, May 21, 1895
Most similar paragraph from
The Age - Wednesday, May 22, 1895
The Age - Wednesday, May 22, 1895
Difference
There was an enormous public interest taken to-day in the proceedings before the Criminal Court, and a very large attendance at the Old
Bailey.
The occasion was the presentation for re-trial of Oscar Wilde, the famous dramatic author, and his alleged accomplice, Alfred Taylor.
These men underwent trial at the beginning of the month, when two accusations were preferred. Oscar Wilde was charged, under the
provisions of the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, with committing an abominable offence, and also with conspiring with Alfred Taylor for
the purpose of the commission of similar offences. Like charges were made against Taylor. The conspiracy case utterly broke down and the jury, under
direction, found the accused not guilty. On the other charge the jury were unable to agree in regard to either of the accused, and the latter were
consequently remanded.
The re-trial, which opened to-day, was before Mr Justice Wills.
Charging the Grand Jury, to whom, in the first instance, the cases are sent, Sir Justice Wills suggested that as the jury had failed to
agree in the former trial, and the charge of conspiracy no longer stood, Wilde and Taylor ought now to be presented separately.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., who appeared for Oscar Wilde, approved of his Honor's suggestion, and further agreed that the case of Wilde ought
to be postponed until the next session of the Court.
The Grand Jury accepted the learned judge's view and decided that Taylor should be tried first.
The Grand Jury accepted the suggestion of the judge, and it was decided that Taylor's case should be tried first.
Sir Edward Clarke renewed his application that Wilde's trial be postponed until next session. Mr F. Lockwood, Q.C., who appeared to
prosecute for the Crown, opposed the application.
Mr Justice Wills said that he would not deal with the matter at all at that stage. He preferred to await the issue of the trial of Taylor,
when he would finally decide whether there seemed to be reason for granting a postponement of the trial of the other prisoner.
Oscar Wilde was then admitted to bail.
The taking of evidence was at once proceeded with in the case against Taylor. The principal witness again was the young man Charles
Parker, a valet out of place, who figured so prominently in both the first trial and as a witness for the defence in the abortive proceedings taken by
Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry. Parker again testified to the character of Taylor's three rooms in Little College street, Westminster. These
apartments were sumptuously furnished, and ever heavy with perfumes, and from them daylight was always excluded. The witness remained steadfast, under
cross-examination, as to the visitations to and conduct of Oscar Wilde at these rooms.
The other witnesses repeated their several stories, in much the same terms as reported in connection with the previous trial.
Counsel for the defence of Taylor claimed the discharge of the accused on the ground that the only material evidence against him came
from a tainted source — from the mouth of the witness Charles Parker.
The case was not concluded when the Court adjourned for the day.