The Leader - Saturday, June 1, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
THE WILDE SCANDAL
LONDON, 25TH MAY.
The trial of Oscar Wilde, the dramatic author, on charges of criminal indecency, was resumed before Mr. Justice Wills to-day.
The trial of Oscar Wilde, the dramatic author, on charges of criminal indecency, was resumed before Mr. Justice Wills to-day.
The trial of Oscar Wilde, the well-known dramatic author, on five charges of abominable indecency, was continued at the Old Bailey to-day, before Mr Justice Wills and a jury.
The trial of Oscar Wilde, the well-known dramatic author, on five charges of abominable indecency, was continued at the Old Bailey to-day, before Mr Justice Wills and a jury.
Wilde, who was so weak that he could not stand, was accommodated with a seat in the witness box while giving evidence on his own behalf.
Wilde, who was so weak that he could not stand, was accommodated with a seat in the witness box while giving evidence on his own behalf.
He denied absolutely all the charges, and said that he had always understood that Taylor, who had been previously charged with the same offence and convicted, was a respectable man. With reference to the low social grade of the persons with whom during the trial he had been proved to have associated, Wilde stated that the reason of his friendship was that personally he liked them, and considered to be "lionised" delightful.
He denied absolutely all the charges, and said that he had always understood that Taylor, who had been previously charged with the same offence and convicted, was a respectable man. With reference to the low social grade of the persons with whom during the trial he had been proved to have associated, Wilde stated that the reason of his friendship was that personally he liked them, and considered "lionised" delightful.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the prisoner, in addressing the jury, characterised the witnesses against his client as blackmailers, and urged that it was impossible to believe their evidence.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the prisoner, in addressing the jury, characterised the witnesses against his client as blackmailers, and urged that it was impossible to believe their evidence.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q. C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edwd. Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clark, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edwd. Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
Sir Edward Clarke, counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
The jury, after deliberating in retirement for two hours, returned a verdict against Wilde of guilty on all the counts.
The jury, after deliberating in retirement for two hours, returned a verdict against Wilde of guilty on all the counts.
Mr. Justice Wills, in passing sentence on the two convicted men, Taylor and Wilde, spoke with great emotion, and said he found it difficult enough to restrain his feelings. The verdict of the jury was, his Honor said, correct beyond the shadow of a doubt. He felt that it would be useless to address the prisoners, as they must be dead to all sense of shame. The case was the worst that had ever been tried before him, and he must pass the severest sentence which the law permitted, though he regretted that this was totally inadequate.
Mr. Justice Wills, in passing sentence on the two convicted men, Taylor and Wilde, spoke with great emotion, and said he found it difficult enough to restrain his feelings. The verdict of the jury was, his Honor said, correct beyond the shadow of a doubt. He felt that it would be useless to address the prisoners, as they must be dead to all sense of shame. The case was the worst that had ever been tried before him, and he must pass the severest sentence which the law permitted, though he regretted that this was totally inadequate.
Justice Wills then sentenced Wilde and Taylor each to two years' imprisonment, with hard labor.
Justice Wills then sentenced Wilde and Taylor each to two years' imprisonment, with hard labor.
Justice Wills sentenced Wilde to two years' imprisonment at hard labor.
Oscar Wilde has been found guilty and sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour.
Oscar Wilde has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour.
Taylor bore the sentence well, and left the dock with a firm step, but Wilde seemed quite dazed and stunned. His face was frightfully haggard, and for a few moments he stared with despairing, horror-struck looks straight before him.
Taylor bore the sentence well, and left the dock with a firm step, but Wilde seemed quite dazed and stunned. His face was frightfully haggard, and for a few moments he stared with despairing, horror-struck looks straight before him.
Then he muttered weakly a request that he might be permitted to address the judge. No attention was paid to the request, and the gaol warders immediately removed him to the cells.
Then he muttered weakly a request that he might be permitted to address the judge. No attention was paid to the request, and the gaol warders immediately removed him to the cells.
LONDON, 26TH MAY.
After the removal of Wilde from the court Mr. Justice Wills was asked by the jury whether Lord Alfred Douglas was being arrested.
The judge replied that he was not aware of action being taken in that respect. So far as the present trial was concerned it did not affect Lord Alfred Douglas.
One of the jurymen remarked that if Wilde's letters produced at his trial showed him to be guilty of the offence charged against him, the same evidence applied equally to Lord Alfred Douglas.
Mr. Justice Wills concurred in this statement, but said that the suspicion that Lord Alfred Douglas was being allowed to escape trial on account of his family connections was unfounded and impossible.
Mr. Justice Wills concurred in this remark, and added that any suspicion that might exist that Lord Alfred Douglas would be allowed to escape owing to his high family connections, was not only unfounded, but impossible.
Mr. Justice Wills concurred in this remark, and added that any suspicion that might exist that Lord Alfred Douglas would be allowed to escape owing to his high family connections, was not only unfounded, but impossible.
The Marquis of Queensberry and his eldest son, Lord Douglas of Hawick, who recently fought in Piccadilly over a family quarrel arising out of the Wilde case, were present in court and witnessed the end of the trial.