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Original paragraph in
The Evening Journal - Wednesday, May 1, 1895
The Evening Journal - Wednesday, May 1, 1895
Most similar paragraph from
The Sun - Thursday, May 2, 1895
The Sun - Thursday, May 2, 1895
Difference
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.
LONDON, May 1. - The Old Bailey court room was crowded at the opening of the Wilde trial this morning. There was a good deal of
speculation as to what course the Judge would pursue in his charge to the jury. Wilde looked careworn and anxious, but Taylor maintained the air of
unconcerned 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.
Justice Charles, in his charge, said the evidence had not sustained the charge of conspiracy, and he therefore directed the jury to
acquit the prisoners of that charge. 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. And 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 "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.
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." In 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 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.
He then proceeded to deal at length with the case of 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 in similar positions, the Judge said that what they
saw was only seen when they answered a bell call from Wilde. An instance 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 fire.
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.
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.
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.
The jury retired at 11:30. 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 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.
Mrs. Oscar Wilde has commenced proceedings for divorce.