The Morning Post - Tuesday, May 21, 1895

THE WILDE CASE.

At the Central Criminal Court, yesterday, before Sir Justice Wills, Oscar Wilde, 40, author, and Alfred Taylor, 33, of no occupation, who were severally tried at the last Sessions on an indictment charging them with certain misdemeanours, but in respect of which the Jury could not agree as to a verdict, were again placed on their trial. Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., on behalf of Oscar Wilde, applied that the cases might be taken separately, on the ground that the offences charged were distinct and stood alone. —This course was objected to by the Crown, but his Lordship sanctioned it.—Sir Edward Clarke endeavoured next to have the case of Oscar Wilde disposed of first, as he stood first in the indictment.—His Lordship left it to the discretion of the Crown to choose which case they should try first, and that of Taylor was accordingly taken.—The Solicitor-General (Sir Frank Lockwood, Q.C.), Mr. C. F. Gill, and Mr. Horace Avorv conducted the prosecution; Mr. J. P. Grain defended.—The defendant Wilde, who surrendered, was released on re-entering into his bail.—The Solicitor-General proceeded to explain to the Jury the nature of the charges made against Taylor, after which the evidence, the same as that which was adduced at the previous trial, was called in support of the case for the prosecution.—Mr. Grain submitted that there was no corroboration in law sufficient to justify the case in going to the Jury.—His Lordship allowed that there was certain corroboration, and that the matter was one for the Jury to determine.—Mr. Grain, in defence, said that his client would give an absolute denial on oath to the charges, and he asked for an acquittal on the ground that the evidence of the principal witnesses was tainted and utterly unworthy of belief.—The trial was adjourned.