The Standard - Tuesday, April 30, 1895

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT
(Before Mr. Justice CHARLES.)
THE CASE OF WILDE AND TAYLOR

The trial was resumed yesterday of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor, on an indictment charging them with certain misdemeanours. — Mr. C. F. Gill and Mr. Horace Avory prosecuted ; Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., Mr. Charles Mathews, and Mr. Travers Humphreys defended Wilde ; Mr. J. P. Grain and Mr. Paul Taylor defended Taylor ; Mr. Leonard Kershaw watched the case on behalf of persons interested. — Further evidence was given in support of the case for the prosecution. — A transcript of the shorthand notes taken of the evidence in the case of the Marquess of Queensberry was produced, and after some further evidence the police repeated the evidence already given as to what took place at the arrest of Taylor and Wilde. — In answer to the warrant, Taylor said, "Is that the only charge." The officer said, "I don't know." — Sir E. Clarke desired to have put in evidence a document found on Wilde. — The Judge said the document amounted to a sympathetic letter sent to Wilde by a friend. He did not feel called upon to ask Mr. Gill to have the letter put in evidence. — Sir E. Clarke did not press the point.— Mr. Gill produced documents bearing on the charge, and they were put in, read, and explained. — A discussion took place as to the admission in evidence of the examination in chief and the cross-examination of Mr. Oscar Wilde. — Sir E. Clarke submitted that the examination in chief had no bearing on the present charges. — Mr. Gill said he was content to have the denial of Oscar Wilde read to the charges made in the plea of justification filed by the Marquess of Queensberry to the charge of libel, in his examina- tion in chief, and the whole of the cross-examination read, in order to show the worth of that denial. — Sir E. Clarke agreed to this course, and the transcript of the shorthand notes was read, and occupied the Court a considerable time.— Mr. Grain took exception to the reading of certain portions of the transcript, on the ground that it was not evidence against his client Taylor. — The Judge said the primary object of reading the transcript was to support the charge against Wilde, it being evidence against the Prisoner. Whether it was evidence against Taylor depended on a number of considerations which he would not lose sight of. It would be well for the Jury to bear in mind that this evidence was directed against Wilde alone.