The St. James's Gazette - Friday, April 5, 1895

QUEENSBERRY-WILDE LIBEL TRIAL.
SENSATIONAL CLOSE.
SIR E. CLARKE WITHDRAWS FROM THE CASE.
VERDICT FOR THE DEFENDANT.

The Queensberry-Wilde libel case came to a sudden and sensational close this morning.

On the resumption of the proceedings Mr. Carson proceeded with his speech for the Marquess of Queensberry, and mentioned that he should call as witnesses several persons whose names had been mentioned in the case.

Counsel had not proceeded far in his speech when Sir Edward Clarke, who had been temporarily absent from the Court, returned, and rising, desired to make a statement to the judge. He said that after the statement which had been made by Mr. Carson, that, in his opinion, the jury would have no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that the class of literature with which Mr. Oscar Wilde had been associated was sufficient reason for the Marquess of Queensberry objecting to the further association of the plaintiff with his son, he had, after a consultation with those who had been associated with him in the case, and with the plaintiff himself come to the conclusion that it would be impossible to resist a verdict of not guilty. He therefore desired to ask his lordship's permission to withdraw from the case on the understanding that a verdict for the defendant would be returned by the jury.

Mr. Carson said he presumed that they had no right to object to such a verdict, but requested his lordship to state that the justification was proved and the publication of the libel was for the public good.

VERDICT FOR THE DEFENDANT.

The jury deliberated for about a couple of minutes, and then returned a verdict accordingly, at which there was lou applause in court. The foreman said they found that the justification was proved, and that the words complained of were published for the public benefit.

Lord Queensberry was very warmly greeted by an enormous crowd when he left the court.

Mr. Oscar Wilde was not present in court.