The Standard - Friday, May 24, 1895

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Wills.)
THE TRIAL OF WILDE.

The trial was resumed of Oscar Wilde, 40, author, on an indictment charging him with certain mis- demeanours.—The Solicitor General (Sir Frank Lockwood, Q.C), Mr. C. F. Gill, and Mr. Horace Avory prosecuted ; Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C, and Mr. Charles Mathews defended.— William Parker, the brother of Charles Parker, gave evidence as to his introduction to Wilde, aud as to partaking of a sumptuous supper with him.— Charles Robinson, bookkeeper, was called to prove that Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas had separate rooms at the Savoy Hotel in 1893.— Jane Margaret Cotter, from that hotel, repeated the evidence that she gave at the last trial of Wilde, as did other persons from the hotel relative to what occurred during Wilde's stay there. The testimony of a female lodger at the house where one of ths Parkers lodged, 50, Park-walk, Chelsea, went to show that on one occasion Parker was visited at the house by Wilde, who afterwards went away in a cab. The landlady gave Parker notice to leave in consequence of this occurrence. Mrs. Sophia Grey, of 3, Chapel-street, proved that Chas. Parker came to live with Taylor, who at that time was lodging in the house. Mrs. Grey also spoke to the visit of Wilde to Taylor, who was also visited by young men, and to handing to Inspector Turner a hat-box containing papers and two telegrams from Wilde. Evidence was given as to the visits of Charles Parker to Wilde's rooms in St. James's-place. Inspector Richards said he arrested Wilde at the Cadogna Hotel, Sloane-street, after the close of the Queensberry trial.- Seargeant Brockwell said he read the warrant upon which Wilde was arrested to him and conveyed him to Bow-street Police-station.- The transcript of the shorthand notes taken of the evidence of Wilde during the trial of the Marquess of Queensberry was put in and read, a proceeding which occupied a considerable time. The passages relied upon in the cross-examination of Wilde had reference to the persons whose names were mentioned in the indictment.- Sir E. Clarke submitted that in respect of certain counts of the indictment there was no evidence to go to the Jury. The Solicitor General submitted that there was ample evidence to go to the Jury, who alone could decide as to whether or no it was worthy of belief.- The Judge said he thought the point in respect of the Savoy Hotel incident was just on the line; but he regarded the safer course to be that of allowing the count in respect of this matter to go to the Jury. At the same time, however, he felt justified (if the occasion should arise) in reserving the point for the Court of Appeal. He was inclined to think that it was a matter the responsibility of deciding which rested with the Jury.- Sir E. Clarke submitted next that there was no corroboration of the story of Edward Shelley.- The Judge thought that there was no corroboration of tbe evidence of this Witness. The letters of Shelley pointed to the inference that the writer might have suffered from delusions; and, judging from his conduct in the witness-box, he appeared to have a peculiar sort of exaltation of himself.- The Solicitor General maintained that Shelley's evidence was corroborated, as far as it could possibly be. Of course, in a case of this kind, there was an enormous difficulty in producing corroboration of eye-witnesses to the actual commission of the alleged act.- The Judge held that Shelley must be treated on the footing of an accomplice. He adhered, after a most careful consideration of the point, to his former view that there was no corroboration of the nature required by the Act to warrant conviction, and therefore he felt justified in withdrawing that count from the Jury.- Sir E. Clarke made the same submission in the case of Wood.- The Solicitor General protested against any decision being given on these questions other than by a verdict of the Jury. In his opinion, the case of the man Wood, having regard to all surrounding circumstances, could not be withheld from the Jury. He submitted that there was every element of strong corroboration of Wood's story, having regard especially to the strange and suspicious circumstances under which Wilde and Wood became acquainted.- Sir E. Clarke quoted from the summing up to Mr. Justice Charles on the last trial, relative to the directions which he gave the Jury on the law respecting the corroboration of the evidence of an accomplice.- The Judge was of opinion that the count affecting Wood ought to go to the Jury, and he gave reasons why it ought not to be withheld.- At this stage the case was again adjourned.