London Daily News - Tuesday, May 21, 1895

(Before Mr. Justice Wills.)
THE CHARGES AGAINST OSCAR WILDE.—

Oscar F. O’Flahertie W. Wilde, 40, surrendered to his bail to answer an indictment charging him, and a man named Alfred Taylor, 33, described of no occupation, in custody, with various grave offences under the Criminal Law Amendment Act. The Solicitor-General (Sir. F. Lockwood), Mr. C.F. Gill, and Mr. H. Avory prosecuted for the Treasury, Sir E. Clarke, Q.C., Mr. Chas. Mathews, and Mr. Travers Humpreys appeared for Wilde, and Mr. Grain represented Taylor. It will be remembered that the case was tried last sessions, when the jury were unable to agree. Before the jury were sworn Sir Edward Clarke said he had to apply that the defendants should be separately tried. He pointed out that at the former trial the jury found the prisoner Wilde not guilty on certain counts of the indictment, and that as the present indictment stood there was not now a single count in which the prisoners were in any way connected in the acts which were charged.—Mr. Grain joined in the application on behalf of Taylor.—The Solicitor-General opposed the application.—Mr. Justice Wills said he could not affect to be entirely ignorant of what had taken place at the former tial, and he had considered the possibility of such an application. Having in view the evidence, he thought it would be much fairer that the accused should be separately tried.—The Solicitor-General: I propose, then, to take the case of Taylor first.—Sir E. Clarke objected. Wilde was entitled to be tried first, as he was first charged.—Mr. Justice Wills said this was a matter for the discretion of the prosecution, and he should not interfere.—Sir E. Clarke said that in that event he wished to intimate at once that at the close of the case against Taylor he should ask for the postponement of the trial of Wilde until the next sessions.—Mr. Justice Wills: Don’t you think, Sir Edward, you had better wait until you see the result in Taylor’s case. If it should be an acquittal, it should be much better for you.—Sir E. Clarke: If your lordship pleases. Subsequently, upon the application of Sir E. Clarke, Wilde was admitted to bail upon the same recognizances as before. The Solicitor-General then proceeded to open the case, which, having been concluded, Mr. Grain addressed the jury for Taylor. The hearing was adjourned.