Reynolds's Newspaper - Sunday, June 23, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
ABOUT OSCAR WILDE.
SEEKING WILDE’S RELEASE.
An effort has been made on technical grounds to secure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. Within the last few days an application was made to the Attorney-General for his fiat to issue for writ of error in respect of a point of law raised by Sir E. Clarke as to the framing of an indictment in which, it will be remembered, there were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General, after due consideration, but he has not communicated to Wilde’s solicitors the grounds upon which he based that refusal.
The Press Association states that an effort has been made on technical grounds to scure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. Within the last few days an application was made to Sir R. Reid, Attorney-General, for his fiat to issue for writ of error in respect of a point of law raised by Sir E. Clarke as to the framing of the indictment, in which, it will be remembered, there were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General, after due consideration, but Sir R. Reid has not communicated to the prisoner's solicitors the grounds upon which he based the refusal.
The Press Association states that an effort has been made on technical grounds to ensure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. [...] the last few days an application was made to the Attorney-General for his flat to issue for writ of error in respect of a point of law, raised by Sir E. Clarke, as to the framing of the indictment, in which it will be remembered there were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General after due consideration. Sir R. Reid has not communicated to the prisoner’s solicitors the grounds upon which he based the refusal.
An effort has been made on technical grounds to secure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. Within the last few days an application was made to Sir R. Reid, Attorney-General, for a writ of error in respect of a point of law raised at the trial by Sir E. Clarke as to the framing of the indictment, in which it will be remembered there were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General after due consideration, but Sir R. Reid has not communicated to the prisoner's solicitor the grounds upon which he based his refusal.
The Press Association states that an effort has been made on technical grounds to secure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. Within the last few days an application was made to Sir R. T. Reid, the Attorney-General, for his fiat to issue for a writ of error in respect of a point of law raised by Sir E. Clarke as to the framing of the indictment, in which it will be remembered there were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General after due consideration, but Sir R. T. Reid bas not communicated to the prisoners solicitors the grounds upon which he based the refusal.
The Press Association states that an effort has been made, on technical grounds, to secure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. Within the last few days application was made to Sir R Reid, Attorney-General, for a writ of error in respect of a point of law raised at the trial by Sir E Clarke as to the framing of an indictment in which it will be remembered there were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General after due consideration, but Sir R Reid has not communicated to the prisoner's solicitors the grounds upon which he based his refusal.
The Press Association states that an effort has been made, on technical grounds, to secure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. Within the last few days application was made to Sir R. Reid, Attorney-General, for a writ of error in respect of a point of law raised at the trial by Sir E. Clarke as to the framing of an indictment in which it will be remembered there were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General after due consideration, but Sir R. Reid has not communicated to the prisoner's solicitors, the grounds upon which he based his refusal.
The Press Association states that an effort has been made, on technical grounds, to secure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. Within the last few days application was made to Sir R. Reid, Attorney-General, for a writ of error in respect of a point of law raised at the trial by Sir E. Clarke as to the framing of an indictment in which it will be remembered there were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General after due consideration, but Sir R. Reid has not communicated to the prisoner’s solicitors, the grounds upon which he based his refusal.
The Press Association states that an effort has been made, on technical grounds, to secure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. Within the last few days an application was made to Sir R Reid, Attorney-General, for a writ of error in respect of a point of law raised at the trial by Sir E Clarke as to the framing of the indictment, in which, it will be remembered, there were tow sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General after due consideration, but Sir R Reid has not communicated to the prisoner’s solicitors the grounds upon which he based the refusal.
The Press Association states that an effort has been made, on technical grounds, to secure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. Within the last few days an application was made to Sir R Reid, Attorney-General, for a [...] of error in respect of a point of law raised in the trial by Sir E Clarke as to the framing of the indictment, in which, it will be remembered, there were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General after due consideration, but Sir R Reid has not communicated to the prisoner’s [...] the grounds upon which based the refusal.
London, Monday.The Press Association states that an effort has been made, on technical grounds, to secure the release of Oscar Wild from prison. Within the last few days application was made to Sir R Reid, Attorney-General, for a writ of error in respect of a point of law raised at the trial by Sir E Clarke as to the framing of an indictment in which it will be remembered there were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General after due consideration, but Sir R Reid has not communicated to the prisoners’ solicitors the grounds upon which he based his refusal.
London, Monday. The Press Association states that an effort has been made on technical grounds to secure the release of Oscar Wilde from prison. Within the last few days an application was made to Sir R Reid, Attorney-General, for a writ of error in respect of the point of law raised at the trial by Sir E Clarke as to the framing of the indictment in which it will be remembered they were two sets of counts. The application has been refused by the Attorney-General after due consideration, but Sir R Reid has not communicated to the prisoner’s solicitors the grounds upon which he based the refusal.
In a short article on the Wilde case, published in Die Kritik––a copy of which we have received––the writer comments on the "prompt" way in which the case was dealt with, but observes that in Germany no legal judge would have had the right to decide such a case. It would have been handed over to the medical authorities. Perverse sexual tendencies (argues the Kritik) should be regarded from a pathological, not a criminal standpoint. The many unconventional traits of Wilde’s character, his aesthetic leanings, his desire to be spoken of, to be remarkable, his almost feminine way of dress – by the way, is that a reflection of his sanity? – if all these things had been taken into consideration, his destination should’ve been a hospital, not a prison. The writer goes on to compare unfavourably our prison system, with its treadmill and cat-o’-nine tails, with the universally condemned Russian prisons, and points out the utter ruin and degradation to which a high-strung organization [...] Wilde’s will be reduced by such an existence. [...] by agreeing with the Brussels Soir, from which we have quoted recently.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE REYNOLD’S NEWSPAPER.
SIR,––There is one important question which has not been raised: "How came this [...] its prominent position in the criminal system [...] to murder?" The historical fact appear to be [...]. Until the reign of Henry VIII, it was an [...] offence––a sin only; but being found a [...] charge to bring against the heads of the monster, [...] in process of suppression, it was created a [...] supplying a simple mode of seizing their [...] forfeiture, as felons. The apendix to [...] "History of the Reformation" contains [...] structions to the Commissioners to [...] "if the abbot had any boys lying with him.
While other cruel and unjust [...] swept away, no legal reformer has ever [...] touch his own; for the simple reason that he [...] the pluck to face retort that he sympathise [...] bestialty.
As for the exggerated languate which [...] indulged in, it condemns itself as showing the [...] of reasonable arguments. When [...] to hang an innocent prisoner, he overwhelmed [...] a flood of abuse. Was there any ranking [...] Justice Wills' breast that the harsh [...] by law was not justified by common sense, [...] indulge in such diatribes? Would he dare to apply the same language as Shakespeare and William of [...] not to speak ot Cato, Cesar, and the great Emperor Hadrian? Was his lordship among the great [...] and clerical dignitaries who lately unveiled [...] Christopher Marlow: To Marlow, [...] the love between Jesus and his boy disciple, [...] was of a carnal nature:
The advocates for the [...] of this [...] appeal to the Penta[...]. Are they of a [...] the same authority, to sanction a death punishment for adultery? The object of Moses was sin[...]. He wanted to make a small trive into a [...] and has succeeded with a vengeance. Had others been multiplied tothe same extent, [...] be legalized; and curateswith twelve or [...] or be punished for their reprehensible over[...] not but that the doctrines of perfect chasm[...] they read every Sunday, [...] not more [...] than the glory [...] practices which have been [...] all their nauscous details before the public. [...] we can express but one feeling: but is it a [...] honour to you and your paper thatyou have [...] the natural prejudice to overpower the sese of right.––
Yours, &.,
J.LAN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE REYNOLD'S NEWSPAPER.
SIR,— We have heard a great deal about the French and with regard to certain forms of sensuality. It is to say that our gifted neighbors are not actually so Ill-advised as to suffer anything like sacred the act of 1885 to disclose their local code.
In dealing with passionate intercourse like Napoleon – the production of that great time bacérés– aims at the protecting of the young and highd helpless, and at the preservation of public decency order.
Private life is not touched, because it is practically impossible to regulate it where people are actuated by the intense impulses, for good or evil, implanted in them by Nature, and also because it would be highly undesirable to interfere with these acts which obviously concern the individual alone.
Italy adopted the French treatment of this practice in 1889, and no doubt the rest of Europe will likewise before very long. Meanwhile let us look at what has been the last, so far, of a series of tragedies occasions by the most foolish and dangerous Act passed within recent time.
A "loving" father – I scarcely like to use this audit a word in reference to this man – who has some self figure it in the matrimonial courts, and was secretly bound over for fighting with his eldest married son in the streets of London, wishes to "protect and "his child – a man of twenty-four - from his friend Mr. Wilde, and buy a course of contact "such as no gentlemen would have adopted, and "the "the remarks from the bench, places Mr. Wilde first in the witness box and ultimately in the cell. He has been convicted of prostitution – or in my opinion a degrading and hateful vice, what are practised as in commonly is with women or as it more rarely is with men. But not let us consider how this conviction has been obtained stop with infinite trouble, with huge expenditure of money, and by means of the highest foreign talent we saw brought together about so disgracefully a gang as ever bad laws furnished with the means of praying upon Society. One of those reliable witnesses committed perjury under the very eyes of a Judge and jury. The alleged offences occurred two years back, and even longer ago than that, since which time the witnesses, on their own stoning, worked steadily at their profession of blackmailing. Scarce of these "injured" young men, who kept silence until the "affectionate parents" require their assistance, have confessed not only to be in prostitutes, but to having attempted to exhort money by means. This they did over long periods with perfect impunity, and for so doing reliable to penal servitude for life.
When I read the case carefully I felt the force of Mr. Justice Charle’s observations – that the one serious witness was the man Shelley; but now it appears that he is partly insane, or something very like it and that his testimony so uncorroborated that at the main trial, it was withdrawn from the consideration of the jury.
So much for the nature of the evidence and for the means by which it was obtained. But now I suppose, though I scarcely like to think it, that Mr. Wilde or guilty. I have already given my opinion as to the disgusting nature of all forms of prostitution but beyond that we have to ask, before talking about crime, who has been injured? Who is to say the worst? Who, being young and weak, has been cruelly treated and forced into anything against as well? And the answer we must give is, nobody!
Then, what reason is there for this fearful sentence which is seldom past even for brutal assaults, and which some think will prove fatal? There is no reason at all. If it is asked, "then why was it inflicted?" I replied, why did the man get six months the other day for attempted suicide?
It has been the sad tale of history how long these sentences have been continually passed for "offensive" which or not now punishable by a fine of eight shillings, and this sentence will be classed among those inconceivable barbarities by amazed posterity.
Meanwhile, when we read of "honours" of public men, authors, and dramatists, we may fully remember that one of the most brilliant and generous men in England, who, with many faults, was, at least, neither mean nor cruel, is wasting away in prison solitude. —Yours sincerely, &,
A GRADUATE.