The Argus - Monday, July 8, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
NEWS BY THE MAIL.
TOPICS OF THE WEEK.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
LONDON, MAY 31.
The charges against Oscar Wilde and Taylor, which have occupied much public attention for many weeks, were bought home to those persons on Saturday last, and the prisoners were both sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour. Mr. Justice Wills took a more serious view of the case than Mr. Justice Charles had done at the first hearing, and the result was also largely due to the more combative attitude of Sir F. Lockwood, Solicitor-General, who, on this occasion, appeared to conduct the prosecution. Mr. Justice Wills expressed his great regret that he could not give a heavier sentence. It is significant of the necessity for severe punishment in such cases that at the sessions at which Wilde and Taylor were tried two other persons of supposed respectability were found guilty of a similar offence.