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Original paragraph in
The Gazette - Thursday, May 2, 1895
The Gazette - Thursday, May 2, 1895
Most similar paragraph from
The Sun - Thursday, May 2, 1895
The Sun - Thursday, May 2, 1895
Difference
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 and the consensus of opinion seemed to be that the result of the trial
depended more upon the charge of the court than upon the views taken by the jurors. 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 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 the accomplices, but 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 be 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, be thought it would be aboard 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 exercice 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 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. It the jury believed that the charges against the prisoners were true, they should say so fearlessly.
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 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. 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.
Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said the case would undoubtedly be tried at the next session.
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.