Quebec Morning Chronicle - Saturday, May 25, 1895

THE TRIAL OF OSCAR WILDE.

Upon the resumption of the trial of Oscar Wilde in Old Bailey Court today, Sir Frank Lockwood, Solicitor-General, made application for the reinstatement in the case of the evidence in regard to Shelley, which the Court eliminated in the case. The Court re fused to grant the application. Sir Edward Clarke then opened the case for the defence. He complained of the unjust manner in which the prosecution of the case had been conducted and declared that because of this the defendant could answer only to a remnant of the charges. Wilde was then called to the stand and repeated the testimony he gave in his previous trial. Wilde was physically weak and was allowed to sit while testifying. Wilde was cross-examined by Sir Francis Lockwood, who questioned him in regard to his letter to Lord Alfred Douglas in which he wrote:— "I know that Hyacinthus, who was loved by Apollo, was you in the Greek days." Wilde said he did not refer to love between men, but to an old poetic idea, not to a sensual, ignoble love. Regarding the young men he had met in Taylor’s rooms, he said he had not asked their business. He liked them, he said, because they admired and praised him. He repeatedly denied he had been guilty of any misconduct. Wilde’s testimony brought out nothing new. Sir F. Lockwood throughout his cross-examination carefully avoided giving the defen­dant any opening for a literary speech. Sir Edward Clarke maintained that the coherent account which Wilde had given of his relations with Taylor and others entitled his word to he accepted in preference to the allegations of a band of blackmailers who had long been the pests of London. Sir Francis Lockwood was addressing the jury when the Court adjourned.