The Standard - Monday, May 27, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Wills.)
THE TRIAL OF WILDE.
The trial of Oscar Wilde, 40, author, on an indictment charging him with certain misdemeanours, was resumed on Saturday. The Marquess of Queensberry was again in attendance, as also were the gentlemen who had been the Prisoners sureties, Lord P. Douglas and the Rev. Stewart Headlam.
The Solicitor General, resuming his speech in his reply on behalf of the Crown, dealt in detail with the arguments laid before the Jury by Sir Edward Clarke in defence of Wilde, and he commented in strong terms on observations that were made respecting the lofty situation Mr. Wilde in connection with his literary accomplishments for the purpose of unduly influencing the judgment of the Jury in considering the issue before them, and said the Jury ought to discard absolutely any such appeal, to apply their common sense to the testimony, and to form a conclusion on the evidence, which he submitted fully established the charges. He was commenting on another branch of the case when Sir E. Clarke interposed on the ground that the Solicitor General was alluding to incidents connected with another trial. The Solicitor General maintained that he was strictly within his rights.
The Judge held that the Solicitor General was entitled to make the comments he was making.
An observation from the Solicitor General bearing on the interruption of Sir Edward Clarke evoked laughter in court.
The Judge said this sort of thing was most offensive to him. It was painful enough to have to try such a case as the present and keep the scales of justice evenly balanced, and when the Court was pestered with the applause and other expressions of the feelings of senseless people, who had no business with the case, but came only to satisfy the cravings of a morbid curiosity, it was intolerable. If it were repeated he would have the court cleared.
The Solicitor General criticised the answers given by Wilde to the charges, which explanations, he submitted, were not worthy of belief. The Jury could not fail to put the interpretation on the conduct of the Prisoner that he was a guilty man, and they ought to say so by their verdict.
The Judge, in summing-up, referred to the difficulties of the case in some of its features. He regretted that, if the conspiracy counts were unnecessary, or could not be established, they should have been placed in the indictment. The Jury must not surrender their own independent judgment in dealing with the facts, and ought to discard everything which was not relevant to the issue before them, or did not assist their judgment. He did not desire to remark any more than he could help about Lord Alfred Douglas or the Marquess of Queensberry, but tbe whole of this lamentable inquiry arose through the Defendant's association with Lord Alfred Douglas. He did not think that tbe action of the Marquess of Queensberry, in leaving the card at the Defendant's club, whatever motives he had, was that of a gentleman. The Jury were entitled to consider that these alleged acts happened some years ago. They ought to be the best judges as to whether the testimony of the witnesses was worthy or not of belief. The letters written by the Prisoner to Lord Alfred Douglas were undoubtedly open to suspicion, and they had an important bearing on Wood's evidence. There was no corroboration of Wood as to the visit to Tite-street, and if his story had been true he thought that some corroboration might have been obtained. Wood belonged to the vilest class of persons that society was pestered with, and the Jury ought not to believe his story unless it was satisfactorily corroborated. Their decision must turn on the character of the first introduction of Wilde to Wood. Did they believe that Wilde was actuated by charitable motives or by improper motives ?
The Judge, in summing-up, referred to the difficulties of the case in some of its features. He regretted that, if the conspiracy counts were unnecessary, or could not be established, they should have been placed in the indictment. The jury must not surrender their own independent judgment in dealing with the facts, and ought to discard everything which was not relevant to the issue before them, or did not assist their judgment. He did not desire to comment any more than he could help about Lord Alfred Douglas or the Marquis of Queensberry, but the whole of this lamentable inquiry arose through the defendant's association with Lord Alfred Douglas. He did not think that the action of the Marquis of Queensberry, in leaving the card at the defendant's club, whatever motives he had, was that of a gentleman. The jury were entitled to consider that these alleged acts happened some years ago. They ought to be the best judges as to whether the testimony of the witnesses was worthy or not of belief. The letters written by the accused to Lord Alfred Douglas were undoubtedly open to suspicion, and they had an important bearing on Wood's evidence. There was no corroboration of Wood as to the visit to Tito Street, and if his story had been true he thought that some corroboration might have been obtained. Wood belonged to the vilest class of persons that society was pestered with, and the jury ought not to believe his story unless satisfactorily corroborated. Their decision must turn on the character of the first introduction of Wilde to Wood. Did they believe that Wilde was actuated by charitable motives or by improper motives?
The Foreman of the Jury, interposing, asked whether a warrant had been issued for the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas, and it not whether it was contemplated that a warrant should be issued.
The Foreman of the Jury, interposing, asked whether a warrant had been issued for the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas, and, if not, whether it was contemplated that a warrant be issued.
The Foreman of the Jury, interposing, asked if a warrant had been granted for the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas, and, if not, whether it was contemplated.
The Judge. — l cannot tell ; nor need we discuss that, because Lord Alfred Douglas may yet have to answer a charge. He was not called. There may be a thousand considerations of which we may know nothing that might prevent his appearance in the witness-box. I think you should deal with the matter upon tho evidence before you.
The Judge: I cannot tell; nor need we discuss that, because Lord Alfred Douglas may yet have to answer a charge. He was not called. There may be a thousand considerations of which we may know nothing that might prevent his appearance in the witness box. I think you should deal with the matter upon the evidence before you.
The Foreman.— If we are to deduce any guilt from these letters, it applies equally to Lord Alfred Douglas as to the Defendant.
The Foreman: If we are to deduce any guilt from these letters, it applies equally to Lord Alfred Douglas as to the defendant.
The Foreman—But if we are to deduce guilt from the letters it applies equally to Lord Alfred Douglas as to the defendant.
The Foreman: It seems to us that if we induce any guilt from these letters it applies as much to Lord Alfred Douglas as to the defendant.
The Foreman: It seems to us that if we adduce any guild from these letters if applies as much to Lord Alfred Douglas as to the defendant.
The Foreman of the Jury.--If we are to deduce any guilt from those letters it would apply equally to Lord Alfred Douglas.
The jury wish to know whether, if they deduce guilt from these letters, it will affect Lord Alfred Douglas as well as the defendant?
The Foreman — The jury wish to know whether, if they deduce guilt from these letters, it will affect Lord Alfred Douglas as well as the defendant.
The Judge. — Quite so ; but how does that relieve the Defendant ? We have got the testimony of his guilt to deal with now. I believe that to be the recipient of such letters, and to continue the intimacy, is as fatal to the reputation of the recipient as to the sender ; but that you have really nothing to do with at present. Our present inquiry is about the man who is in the dock, whether the guilt is brought home to him.
After a brief adjournment, the Judge alluded to the Parker case. He said the Jury had seen the Parkers as they had seen Wood, and the same question must arise in their minds. Were those the kind of young men with whom they themselves would care to sit down to dine ? Were they the sort of persons one expected to find the companions of men of education ? It was a very long time ago for the waiter to remember having served the supper at the Savoy, and the sums that appeared in the bill were high for such a supper. He (the Judge) knew nothing of the Savoy ; but he thought "chicken and salad for two, 16s." very high. He was afraid he would never have supped there himself. Having considered the whole of the evidence, he concluded that the question was whether this was evidence of guilt or of suspicion, and this question would have to be answered by the Jury, whom he desired to thank for the patience displayed through the prolonged inquiry.
The Jury retired at 3.30, taking with them a series of questions which had been written for them by the Judge.
Two hours later the Jury sent a request to the Judge that he would read certain of his notes in reference to Charles Parker. The Judge did so, and the Jury again retired. They were not absent many minutes, and returned with a verdict against Wilde on each of the six counts of the indictment. Upon the count relating to Shelley, the verdict was Not Guilty.
Alfred Taylor was then brought into the dock to receive sentence.
Sir E. Clarke asked that sentence might be postponed to the next Sessions, on the ground that a demurrer stood on the record alleging that the indictment was bad.
Mr. Grain, for Taylor, made a similar application on behalf of his client.
Mr Grain, for Taylor, made a similar application; but Sir Frank Lockwood would not consent.
The Solicitor General opposed the application, on the ground that sentence being passed could not prejudice any future argument.
The Judge. — It is not a matter about which I entertain any doubt, and to pass sentence now would in no sense prejudice the result of the inquiry. I think it may be well to complete the proceedings here on the other count.
In passing sentence, the Judge, speaking with great emotion, said — Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor, it has never been my lot to try a case of this kind so bad. One has to put a certain constraint upon oneself to prevent one from describing in language which I would rather not use the sentiments which must arise in the breast of every man who has a spark of decent feeling left in him, and who has heard the details of these two terrible trials. That the Jury have arrived at a correct verdict I cannot persuade myself to entertain a shadow of a doubt ; and I hope that at all events those who sometimes imagine that a Judge is half-hearted in cases of indecency and immorality, because he takes care that no prejudice shall enter into them, may see that that is consistent at least with the utmost sense of indignation at the horrible crimes brought home to both of you. It is of no use my addressing you. People who can do these things must be dead to every sense of shame, and one cannot hope to produce any effect upon them. It is the worst case I have ever tried. That you, Taylor, kept an infamous house it is impossible to doubt, and that you, Wilde, have been the centre of a circle of extensive corruption among young men of the most hideous kind, it is equally impossible to doubt. I shall, under such circumstances, be expected to pass the severest sentence that the law allows ; in my judgment it is utterly inadequate for such cases. The sentence upon each of you is imprisonment with hard labour for two years.
The Judge, in sentencing the prisoners, then said: Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor, the crime of which you have been convicted is so bad that one has to put stern constraint upon one's self to prevent one's self from describing in language which I would rather not use the sentiments which must rise to the breast of every man of honour who has heard the details of these two terrible trials. That the jury have arrived at a correct verdict in this case I cannot persuade myself to entertain the shadow of a doubt, and I hope at all events that those who sometimes imagine that a Judge is half-hearted in the cause of decency and morality because he takes care that no prejudice shall enter into the case, may see that what is consistent at least with a stern cause of indignation at the horrible crimes which have been brought home to both of you. It is of no use for me to address you. People who can do these things must be dead to all sense of shame, and one cannot hope to produce any effect upon them. It is the worst case I ever tried. That you, Taylor, kept a kind of male brothel it is impossible to doubt. I cannot in such circumstances do anything except pass the severest sentence which the law allows--in my judgment totally inadequate to such a case as this. The sentence of the Court is that each of you be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for two years.
The Judge, in sentencing the prisoners, then said: Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor, the crime of which you have been convicted is so bad that one has to put stern constraint upon one's self to prevent one's self from describing in language which I would rather not use the sentiments which must rise to the breast of every man of honour who has heard the details of these two terrible trials. That the jury have arrived at a correct verdict in this case I cannot persuade myself to entertain the shadow of a doubt, and I hope at all events that those who sometimes imagine that a Judge is half-hearted in the cause of decency and morality because he takes care that no prejudice shall enter into the case, may see that what is consistent at least with a stern cause of indignation at the horrible crimes which have been brought home to both of you. It is of no use for me to address you. People who can do these things must be dead to all sense of shame, and one cannot hope to produce any effect upon them. It is the worst case I ever tried. That you, Taylor, kept a kind of male brothel it is impossible to doubt. I cannot in such circumstances do anything except pass the severest sentence which the law allows--in my judgment totally inadequate to such a case as this. The sentence of the Court is that each of you be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for two years.
As the Judge concluded, Wilde, clutching the front of the dock and holding himself back at arms' length, said, "May I say nothing, my Lord ? "
As the judge concluded, Wilde clutching the front of the dock, and holding himself back at arms’ length, said pathetically, "May I say nothing, my lord?"
As the judge concluded, Wilde, clutching the front of the dock and holding himself back at arms’ length, said pathetically, "May I say nothing, my lord?"
The Judge looked at him, but did not speak. For a moment the silence in court was painful, and then there burst forth loud hisses and cries of "Shame!" which the ushers failed to suppress. Before the convict Wilde could repeat his question, two warders seized him, and hurried him below to tbe cells.