LONDON, April 27. — The trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor, charged with serious misdemeanors, was resumed at the Old Bailey Court to-day, with a large attendance.
Frederick Atkins, described as a variety singer, gave evidence as to knowing Alfred Taylor and others mentioned during the trial.
This witness was also questioned by counsel with the view of showing that he received £500 from a foreign Count, whose yacht was lying at Scarborough, but the witness denied having received the money.
After Atkins had repeated his previous testimony concerning his intimacy with Wilde, and told how he accompanied him to Paris as his secretary, Sir Edward Clarke severely cross-examined him, endeavoring to show that Atkins was a professional blackmailer, and that he had blackmailed gentleman at Nice, Paris and various other places. During the cross-examination, Sir Edward Clarke asked:
"Did you, two years ago, extort a large sum of money from two Americans who were staying at the Hotel Victoria?"
Atkins, in reply said he had not blackmailed the two Americans. The names of the Americans alleged to have been blackmailed did not transpire.
When Edward Shelley, the former employe of the publishers Matthews & Lane, was testifying, and was asked to tell the jury what had occurred in Oscar Wilde's rooms, the witness pathetically appealed to counsel to read it from his previous deposition, and thus spare him the shame of repeating it. Counsel, however, made the witness repeat his story. The day was occupied by the examination of the same witnesses who have been called to the stand, and the testimony was of the same character as already outlined.
When Edward Shelly, formerly employed by publishers Matthews & Land, was asked to tell the jury what had occured in Oscar Wilde's rooms, he particularly appealed to counsel to read it from his previous deposition and thus spare him the shame of repeating it. Counsel, however, made him repeat the story. Other evidence of the character already outlined was given, and the trial was then adjourned until Monday.