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Original paragraph in
Nanaimo Free Press - Monday, May 27, 1895
Nanaimo Free Press - Monday, May 27, 1895
Most similar paragraph from
The Otago Daily Times - Monday, July 1, 1895
The Otago Daily Times - Monday, July 1, 1895
Difference
London, May 25 — There was the usual crowd of interested spectators in the court room of the Old Bailey this morning all anxious to
witness the trial of Oscar Wilde. When the court adjourned yesterday, Sir F. Lockwood, solicitor-general, had just commenced his address to the jury on
behalf of the prosecution, and it was expected he would denounce Wilde in strong language when be resumed his argument today. Wilde took his seat in the
prisoners' dock, facing the jury, and looking extremely anxious. As expected, when Sir Frank Lockwood resumed his speech, he dealt very severely with
Wilde in his reference to the prisoner's intimacy with Lord Alfred Douglass. Referring to the much commented upon letters which Wilde wrote to Lord Alfred
Douglas, counsel said the jury had been told they were too low to appreciate such poetry, and he (Sir Lockwood) thanked God it was so, as be hoped they
were above the level of beasts. (Applause.) Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for Wilde, here interposed objections to such appeals as has just been made
by Sir Frank, which counsel claimed should not be allowed. Sir Frank Lockwood continued his speech. He warned the jury to render a verdict which would
prevent such "a detestable and abominable practice to rear its head unblushingly in the country."
Mr Justice Wills began summing up at 1:30 p.m. The general tenor of his address to the jury was favorable to Wilde. The Jury retired at
3:30 p.m., and after a brief absence found him guilty on all the counts of the indictment, including the charge with reference to persons unknown who were
also pronounced to be guilty.
Alter a short interval the judge called Wilde and Taylor to the bar and they were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment at hard
labor.
While the jury was out, at the request of the representative of the Associated Press, Wilde's counsel procured the following statement
from Wilde who was waiting in the prisoners' room below the dock: "The charges alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form has fascinated
me, because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artist has to try to attain. All works of art are works produced in a moment of youth, and I
have a sense of all the serial grades. I love society, the rich and well-born, on account of their luxury, culture and the graces of their lives, and the
external accidents of comely life. But anyone, plough boy, fisherman, or street arab, has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful, I do not ask
of the young what they do, I do not care who they are, their ignorance has its mode of wisdom, their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid
impressions. (Signed) Oscar Wilde."
The document of the above statement is written in Wilde's own writing.
While the jury was absent from the court room there was such a babel of voices that counsel engaged in the case went into the lobby in
order to discuss events. Everybody expected the jury to disagree, as upon the previous trial, and as the jurymen fled back into their box, every person
present rose in suppressed excitement and the court room became still as a death chamber. The jurymen answered to their names in firm and decided tones
and seemed to be immensely relieved when the ordeal was over. A stifled ejaculation of surprise went round the court when the foreman announced that the
jury found the prisoner guilty.
Immediately after the verdict was rendered, Mr. C J Gill, the counsel for the prosecution, said to the Associated Press reporter: I am
somewhat surprised at the verdict myself. I thought that surely one member of the jury would stand out.
When Mr. Gill was asked if there was any chance of a new trial, he replied; "No indeed, it is now disposed of for ever, thank Heaven."
Mr. Travers Humphreys, of counsel for Wilde, also told the reporter of the Associated Press, that the verdict was a surprise to him. He
added: "The sentence is for two years on all the counts of the indictment, and on each count separately. Now that they have hit their man, I am certain
his health will break down and possibly the authorities will favorably entertain the idea of a pardon.
Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for Wilde, applied to Mr. Justice Wills to postpone passing sentence upon his client until the next
session of the Central Criminal Court, but the judge refused to do so.
Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor were, after the conclusion of the trial, taken without delay to the Newgate jail, where they waited until
warrants were signed for their detention. Both men were then conveyed in the prison van to Pentonville where they will serve out their sentences unless a
petition should be granted or they should be transferred to another prison before the expiration of the term of their imprisonment.
Wilde and Taylor were, after the conclusion of the trial, conveyed without delay to the Newgate Gaol, where they waited until
warrants were signed for their sentence. Both men were then conveyed in the prison van to Pentonville, where they will serve out their sentences, unless a
pardon should be granted, or they should be transferred to another prison before the expiration of their sentences.
The punishment which Oscar Wilde is sentenced to undergo is the severest known to the law. It practically means a continuous period of
solitary confinement for the two years term of his sentence. Regular "jail birds" always prefer five years of penal servitude to two years imprisonment,
owing to the easier conditions of the former. Wilde will not be permitted to see any visitor for three months, but by exceptionally good conduct he can
secure a slight reduction of his sentence. Lord Alfred Douglass said that if Wilde were convicted he would take a house near the prison until his release,
but it is now clear that if Lord Alfred returns to England be will be arrested on the same charge Wilde is.