The Morning Post - Thursday, April 25, 1895

THE WILDE CASE.

At the Central Criminal Court yesterday, before Mr. Justice Charles, Mr. Charles Mathews, who, with Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., had been retained for the defence of Oscar Wilde, indicted for alleged offences under the Criminal Law Amendment Act in conjunction with Alfred Taylor, applied for a postponement of the trial until the May Sessions of this Court. The grounds for the application were that the time since the committal had not been sufficiently long in which to prepare the defence; and, secondly, that the popular feeling against Wilde at the present time, in the opinion of his solicitor, would prevent his client obtaining a fair and an impartial trial at these Sessions. Perhaps after an interval of a mouth this popular feeling would subside, and the chances of a fair and impartial trial would be increased.—Mr. Grain, who with Mr. Paul Taylor defends the prisoner Taylor, said that his client was anxious to have the case disposed of at once.—Mr. C. F. Gill, on behalf of the prosecution, opposed the application. He pointed out that the defendant Wilde had had every possible opportunity of knowing what the nature of the charges which he had to meet were, as they were contained in the plea of justification filed by the Marquis of Queensberry in answer to a charge of libel, and Wilde had been cross-examined on matters contained in that plea. When the case was before the learned Magistrate Sir John Bridge at Bow-street the proceedings were expressly shortened on the understanding that the defendants were desirous of having the charges settled, and in order that the trial might be taken at this Sessions. He thought that it would be in the interests of justice that the trial should not be postponed.—Mr. Mathews said that the plea of justification dealt with uncertain dates and uncertain acts. He thought it would be unprecedented if the Court refused the application, the defendant Wilde pleading that he had not had proper time in which to prepare his defence.—Mr. Justice Charles said that he had listened carefully to the learned counsel, and had considered the affidavit in support of the application. Upon the material before him he must refuse the application. He thought that the suggestion that the defendants would not obtain a fair trial was without foundation. He had scrutinised with care the matters referred to in the affidavit, but they did not, in his opinion, warrant a postponement of the trial. The case would stand in the list for trial on Friday, subject to the remaining business and to any application to meet the convenience of the learned counsel engaged in the case.

—

A sale of the effects of Mr. Oscar Wilde was commenced at 16, Tite-street, Chelsea, yesterday, by Messrs. Bullock, under instructions from the Sheriff.