Reynolds's Newspaper - Sunday, May 12, 1895

OSCAR WILDE'S TRIAL

Mr. Balfour, one of the leaders of the Tory party, paid a high compliment to the Press of the United Islands for its honesty, ability, and fairness. What, then, will be the surprise of the public to learn that, just as he was uttering the words, a Tory organ, the Morning, was publishing a piece of alleged news which, whether true or not, is disgraceful to the traditions of English journalism? We refer to its analysis of the votes of the jurymen on the different counts in the indictment against Mr. Oscar Wilde.

Now the theory of the English law is that a man is supposed to be innocent until he is proved guilty. Wilde has not been convicted of any crime. A week hence he is to take his trial. Anything more cruel, heartless, and reckless than the publication of these details we are happy to say is rare in the journalism of to-day. It is not for the first time that the Morning has been before the High Court for contempt. Much as we abhor the harassing of the Press by blackleg solicitors and others, we certainly would not be pained if some judicial notice were taken of the conduct of the Morning.