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Original paragraph in
The Gazette - Monday, May 27, 1895
The Gazette - Monday, May 27, 1895
Most similar paragraph from
New York Herald - Sunday, May 26, 1895
New York Herald - Sunday, May 26, 1895
Difference
London, Mav 25.— The trial of Oscar Wilde was resumed in the Old Bailey court this morning, Sir Frank Lockwood continuing his address to
the jury for the prosecution. He dilated upon the intimacy of Wilde with Taylor, and said that leniency ought not to be shown to one and not to the other
because of the position and intellect of the one.
LONDON, May 25, 1895. The trial of Oscar Wilde was resumed in the Old Bailey Court this morning, Sir Frank Lockwood continuing his
address to the jury for the prosecution. He dilated upon the intimacy of Wilde with Taylor, and said that leniency ought not to be shown to one and
refused to the other because of the position and intellect of the one.
Sir Edward Clarke protested against counsel's contusing Taylor's case with Wilde.
Sir Edward Clarke protested against counsel's confusing Taylor's case with Wilde's.
Sir F. Lockwood expressed hope that the jury would not regard Wilde's letters as "prose poems," but would appreciate them at their proper
level, which was rather lower than that of beasts.
Sir Frank Lockwood expressed the hope that the jury would not regard Wilde's letters as "prose poems," but would appreciate them at
their proper level, which was rather lower than that of beasts.
Sir Edward Clarke angrily objected to the language need by the prosecuting counsel, and a heated argument between the two ensued. After a
protracted wrangle, the judge interfered, and advised Lockwood to confine himself to discussion of the evidence, and not start out upon any rhetorical
denunciations of the prisoner.
Sir Edward Clarke angrily objected to the language used by the prosecuting counsel, and a heated argument between the two ensued. After
a protracted wrangle the Judge interfered, and advised Sir Frank Lockwood to confine himself to discussion of the evidence, and not to start out upon any
rhetorical denunciations of the prisoner. Mr. Lockwood finished his address by saying that Wilde's own admissions pointed conclusively to his guilt.
Mr. Lockwood finished his address by saying that Wilde's own admissions pointed conclusively to his guilt. The judge, in summing up, said
that Wilde had confessed that his conduct in regard to Lord Alfred Douglas had been such that he (the judge) could not ask the jury as in the previous
trial, to say that there was no ground for charging him with having posed as a criminal. The judge, in the course of his charge to the jury, dealt with
each of the charges contained in the indictment, his opinion being plainly and strongly against the prisoner. In regard to Wilde's letters to Lord Alfred
Douglas, he said they might be "prose poems," were none the less poison to a young man's mind, and the writer was clearly not a desirable companion for
the young.
The judge finished his charge at three o'clock, and the jury retired. Before the jury retired the foreman asked the court if a warrant
had been issued for the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas.
The judge said no warrant had been issued, whereupon the foreman said: — "But if we must consider these letters they surely show that
Lord Douglas' guilt is equal to that of Wilde." The jury occupied two hours in the consideration of the case. After their verdict had been rendered, Sir
Edward Clarke, on behalf of Wilde, and counsel for Alfred Taylor, made application for a postponement of sentence. The judge peremptorily refused to grant
the application and in his remarks described the offences of which the prisoners were guilty as the most heinous that had ever come to his notice. This
view was apparently shared by the spectators as when the judge sentenced Wilde and Taylor to two years imprisonment at hard labor, many persons present
cried "shame."
When the sentence was pronounced Wilde appeared to be stunned. As the last word of the sentence was said the apostle of aestheticism was
hurried to his cell.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty against Wilde on every count of the indictment except the one with reference to Shelley. Taylor was
brought from his cell and placed in the dock with Wilde. The judge then addressed the prisoners. He said that the case was the worst he ever had dealt
with. The verdict of the jury was right. He could not persuade himself to entertain a shadow of doubt that persons who could do the things of which the
prisoners had been found guilty were dead to every sense of shame. It would be a waste of words to address them further. He could not do anything except
to pass the extreme sentence of the law, which, in his judgment, was totally inadequate.
The Judge then addressed the prisoners. He said that the case was the worst one he ever had to deal with. The verdict of the jury was
right. He could not persuade himself to entertain a shadow of doubt that persons who could do the things of which the prisoners had been found guilty were
dead to every sense of shame. It would be a waste of words to address them further. He could not do anything except to pass the extreme sentence allowed
by law namely, two years' imprisonment with hard labor, which, in his judgment, was totally inadequate.
The Public Satisfied.
NEW YORK, May 25.— The Sun’s London cable says: — An Old Bailey jury, cautiously empanelled, and, as it seemed, carefully coached by the
judge of the High court, has declared Oscar Wilde guilty of the abominable offences charged against him. Public opinion, which is often on the side of the
accused, and almost invariably sympathetic in regard to any prisoner standing a second trial for the same crime, had from the first pronounced with nearly
absolute unanimity that be was guilty of everything set forth in the indictment and or much more. The court judged him out of his own mouth, and so did
the jury to a large extent. Any other result would have been a disgrace to the intelligence of English jurymen and a crying shame upon British justice. It
is impossible, however, to conceal the fact that from the first the common people believed that Wilde would never be convicted. Instinctively they felt
that the influence behind this shameless friend of princes and nobles would prove too powerful for ordinary judicial procedure. The police had placed the
Government in possession of the names of men of rank, wealth and fashion who undeniably shared in some of Wilde's orgies, and had collected evidence fully
sufficient to place them in the criminal dock with the hearty approval of all clean men. But the Secretary of State took no step against them to vindicate
outraged morals or avenge flouted justice. The passionate shout which went up from the nation when Wilde's impudent action, designed to stop the mouths of
his accusers, ignobly collapsed, compelled the Government to take action against him and bis false accomplice Taylor. But Lord Alfred Douglas, and other
men whose evidence would have made the case against Wilde and others even more complete and irrefutable, were allowed to leave the country. They are still
abroad, but doubtlessly will return to this country in a short time, secure against punishment. Possibly it is as well, for Wilde's conviction can
scarcely fail to prove an effectual deterrent for years to come, and it will be to the public interest to let this awful scandal become forgotten. Honest
men have from the first displayed unusual, perhaps, unchristian eagerness for conviction in this case. During the last two or three days fierce and
universal resentment has been spoken and shown at what appeared to superficial observers almost collusion on the part of the judge and the lawyers in
order to save Wilde. But Justice Willis's summing up, which unexpectedly proved to be a strictly judicial piece of work, together with the
Solicitor-General's masterly speech and the common sense of a jury of plain citizens, finally prevailed. Wilde was full of confidence to the last, so that
the result was a staggering blow to him. He strove to utter something, but his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, and he sank back in his chair, a
mental and physical wreck. The final scene was truly, perhaps fittingly, dramatic.