The Evening News - Friday, April 5, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
THE CASE ENDS
[...] Verdict Against Oscar.
SIR EDWARD CLARKE
[...] Withdraw From the Prosecution.
[...] is sinking deeper and deeper [...] where it becomes increasingly difficult to follow it. The fine verbal fencing of the first day has done little to relieve the horrible darkness of the succeeding passages of the trial, and even the Old Bailey recoiled with loathing from the long ordeal of terrible suggestion that occupied the whole of yesterday when the cross-examination left the artistic literary plane and penetrated the dim-lit, perfumed rooms where the poet of the beautiful joined with valets and [...] bond of the silver cigarette [...] And when Oscar Wilde left [...] the little light that had relieved the [...] of the picture died out, as Mr. [...] to paint a horrid nocturne of [...] suggestions, a thing of [...] only [...] but wholly horrible.
Curiosity, however, was as strong to-day as ever, and brought together if possible a larger crowd than that which on the two preceding days has filled the court. It was known that the defence had a large number of witnesses, [...] how many were to be called of the 15 persons as to whom Mr. Wilde was examined was unknown.
THE ABSENT OSCAR.
Day by day, in the miserable hour of waiting that precedes the sitting of the court, the scene is is curiously the same. Everyone is in the same seat, wedged in the same angle, or standing in the same corner: looking around not a face seems missing that was present on the morning the trial begun. As the time wears on, Lord Queensberry enters and leans nonchalantly against the dock, and after looking about him a moment climbs inside and sits down to read a paper. Everyone is looking for the prosecutor, who does not put in an appearance in court, though several letters addressed to "Oscar Wilde, Old Bailey, London," are awaiting him.
When the Judge taken his seat he is handed a cablegram from America, which he reads slowly.
FOR THE DEFENCE.
Mr. Carson at once went on with his speech. He had dealt fully, he said, with the literature in the case, and almost hoped that, so far as Lord Queensberry was concerned, he was absolutely on that ground [...] in bringing to a climax the connection between Mr. Wilde and his son. The rest of his duty was more painful, to comment on the remaining portion of the case. He had to bring before them the young men, one after the other, to tell their tales, for an advocate a most distasteful task. One word he would say—let those who would blame these young men remember they were mere sinned against than sinning. Mr. Carson then dealt with Mr. Wilde’s admission in cross-examination.
The learned judge sat with his face hidden in his hands, never raising it till Mr. Carson [...] the awful character of his speech by a protest against the slippancy of Mr. Wilde’s answers in the box. "No doubt he thought he was making smart repartees, souring off counsel, that is as it may be." Then to the [...] again.
SIR EDWARD INTERPOSES.
In the middle of Mr. Carson’s speech, Sir Edward Clarke rose and interposed. At once there was an electric shock, everyone knew something had happened.
Sir Edward, looking pale, said "My Lord, I interpose with a sense of great responsibility to make a statement as to what my friend said yesterday in addressing the jury on the question of the literature involved in this case and [...] references he had drawn from the [...] with regard to the letters by Mr. Oscar Wilde yesterday. My friend began his address this morning by saying he hoped yesterday that he had said [...] dealing with [...] to [...] detail with the other [...] who represent Mr. Oscar Wilde [...] have before them a [...] They could not [...] a judgment might be [...] improbably induce the [...] Lord Queensberry in [...] justification to [...] that he should be relieved .. forward [...] which [...] Under these [...] lordship [...] Mr. Oscar Wilde [...] guilty, having reference to that part of the particulars in connection with the literature of the case.
MR. CARSON SPEAKS.
Mr Carson, in a few words, raised no objection, but insisted on the point that Lord Queensberry had justified the libel, had said it was for the public benefit it should be published, and the verdict must be taken on those issues.
WHAT THE JUDGE SAID
The learned Judge then said that if both parties acquiesced it was not within his province or that of the jury to stand in the way of taking a [...] which would avoid going into prurient [...] But there would be no limitation of the verdict. The libel is either justified or not; there can be no limitation to the terms of the verdict, and I shall direct the jury to return a verdict that the libel was true in substance and a fact, and that it was for the public benefit that it was published.
THE VERDICT.
After a few moments consultation together on the part of the jury, the foreman intimated that they had arrived at their verdict that the libel was true.
After a few moments' consultation together on the part of the jury, the foreman intimated that they had arrived at their verdict.
After a few moments' consultation together on the part of the jury, the foreman intimated that they had arrived at their verdict.
The Clerk of Arraigns : Do you find the plea of justification proved?—Yes.
The Clerk of the Arraigns: Do you find the plea of justification proved? - Yes.
The Clerk of Arraigns.— Do you find the complete justification proved or not ?
The Clerk of Arraigns—Do you find the complete justification proved or not?
Mr. Carson: Lord Queensberry may be discharged ?
Mr. Justice Collins: Oh, certainly.
Lord Queensberry at once stepped out of the dock and joined his solicitor in the wall of the court.
There was applause in court, which, in contradiction to usual custom, was not immediately suppressed. There was little excitement outside the Court, very few people being present.
WHERE OSCAR WAS.
Oscar Wilde went to the Old Bailey, but did not enter the court. He had a consultation with Sir Edward Clarke in a room off the court, and while the learned gentleman was making his statement to the judge Wilde hurriedly left the building. The Exchange Telegraph Company has authority for stating that no warrant has been applied for, but on leaving the Court Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry’s solicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor :
The Exchange Telegraph Company states that Oscar Wilde went to the Old Bailey this morning, but did not enter the precincts of the court. He held a consultation with Sir Edward Clarke in a room off the court, and while the learned gentleman was making his statement to the judge Wilde hurriedly left the building. No warrant has been applied for, but on leaving the court Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry's sollicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor:--
"37, Norfolk-street, Strand.
"The Hon. Hamilton Cuffe, Esq.,
"Director of Prosecutions.
"Dear Sir—In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses
statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial.
"Yours faithfully,
CHARLES RUSSELL,
"The Treasury, Whitehall."
"Dear Sir,—In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses' statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial—Yours faithfully,
"37, Norfolk-street. Strand. " Dear Sir,— In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice. I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our Witnesses' statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of trial. — Yours faithfully, "Charles Russell."
Dear Sir,--In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial.
37, Norfolk Street, Strand. The Hon. Hamilton Cuffe, E-q., Director of Prosecutions. Dear Sir,—In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses' statements together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial.—Yours faithfully, Charles Russell. The Treasury, Whitehall.
"In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses’ statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial."
37, Norfolk-street, Strand. The Hon Hamilton Caffe, Esq., Director of Prosecutions. Dear Sir,- In order that there may be a miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of our witness's statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial. -Yours faithfully, CHARLES RUSSELL The Treasury, Whitehall.
To the Hon. HAMILTON CUFFE, Director of Prosecutions.DEAR SIR,--In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witness's statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial. Yours faithfully, CHARLES RUSSELL.
37, Norfolk-street, Strand. To the Hon. HAMILTON CUFFE, Director of Prosecutions. DEAR SIR,-In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witness's statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial.-Yours faithfully, CHARLES RUSSELL.
AT THE HOLBORN VIADUCT.
When Oscar left the Old Bailey he drove, in company with a companion, in his carriage which was in waiting, to the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. Shortly afterwards he was joined by Lord Alfred Douglas and another person and the four remained closeted in a private room. At one o’clock the four ordered luncheon to be served in another private room. Wilde’s carriage remains outside the hotel.