Compare Paragraphs
This page compares two reports at the paragraph level. The column on the left shows the first report in its entirety, and the column in the middle identifies paragraphs from the second report with significant matching content. The column on the right highlights any differences between the two matching paragraphs: pink shows differences in the first report and purple in the second report. The Match percentage underneath each comparison row in this column shows the percentage of similarity between the two paragraphs.
Original paragraph in
The Brooklyn Citizen - Tuesday, April 30, 1895
The Brooklyn Citizen - Tuesday, April 30, 1895
Most similar paragraph from
The Province - Saturday, May 11, 1895
The Province - Saturday, May 11, 1895
Difference
LONDON, April 30.– At the opening of to-days sitting of the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor, Counselor C. F. GIll intimated that
the prosecution withdrew the charges of conspiracy. Sir Edward Clarke on behalf of Wilde, said that if those charges had been withdrawn at the outset he
would have made application to have the prisoners tried separately. The Court said that after the evidence which had been given the counts charging
conspiracy were needless.
"Then I ask a verdict of not guilty on these counts," said Sir Edward Clarke.
The Court refused to consent to such a verdict, saying that he would simply accede to the application of Mr. Gill to have the charges
of conspiracy withdrawn.
Sir Edward Clarke then began his opening address to the jury for the defense. He intended, he said, to put Wilde in the witness box,
where he would make an unqualified denial of the charges against him. He cited Wilde’s literary works and argued that in no instance had his client
written anything that would lead anyone to suppose him guilty of the practices alleged. Sir Edward explained the end of the Queensberry trial, saying that
Wilde’s counsel were entirely responsible for its abrupt termination. It became clear, he said, that the jury would not convict Lord Queensberry and he
(Clarke), therefore, advised, Wilde to accept a verdict against himself.
Wilde was called to the witness stand. He sore that the evidence he had given at the Queensberry trial was absolutely true. He repeated
this testimony upon cross-examination without variation. Wilde said he had nothing to do with the publishing of Lord Alfred Douglas’ poems, nor had he
anything to do with the publication of his articles in the "Chamelion" (magazine). 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 speech of Sir Andrew Clarke, for the defence, was a remarkable and telling one, resting its force largely on the argument that the
witnesses against Wilde were avowed criminals and blackmailers. The most dramatic incident was the appearance of the prisoner in the box on his own
behalf. He swore that the evidence he had given at the Queensberry trial was absolutely true. He repeated this testimony upon cross-examination without
variation. Continuing his testimony, he said he had had nothing to do with the publishing of Lord Alfred Douglass’ 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. He 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. Beyond a doubt, the disagreement of the jury is
largely due to the favourable impression he made in the box.
Alfred Taylor, co-defendant with Wilde, was called to the stand, and told of his career. He was educated at Marlborough College, he
said, and became an officer in the militia, but abandoned military life upon coming into an inheritance of £45,000. He absolutely denied the charges
against him.