The Province - Saturday, May 11, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
Sensational cases have been the order of the day in London. First the trial of Oscar Wilde, then the Russell divorce, and now the arraignment of that religious swindler, Jabez Balfour, who squandered so many millions in his "Liberator" funds, and has been given up by Argentina.
Speaking of the Wilde case, our local papers told us scarcely anything about its termination though we had any amount about the commencement. This is another example of the miserable system of telegraphic news supplied to us in British Columbia. In order to begin to keep up with the times one has to subscribe to an Eastern paper and read telegrams a week old, trying to get up some excitement over them.
What happened at the trial was this. The charges of conspiracy were withdrawn by the Crown, after deliberating three and a half hours the jury returned to the court room and announced that they had failed to agree upon a verdict. They were thereupon discharged, and the prisoners were remanded for a new trial. Application was made for the admission of Wilde and Taylor to bail, but the Judge refused to accept bail for either of them. The Jury acquired Wilde of the charges against him in connection to Atkins, and reported to the court that it was impossible for them to agree in regard to the other charges. They, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy. Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said the case would undoubtably be tried at the next session.
After deliberating three and a half hours, the jury returned to the court room and announced that they had failed to agree upon a verdict. They were thereupon discharged and the prisoners were remanded for a new trial. Application was made for the admission of Wilde and Taylor to bail, but the judge refused to accept bail for either of them. The jury acquitted Wilde of the charges against him in connection with Atkins and reported to the court that it was impossible for them to agree in regard to the other charges. They, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy.
The speech of Sir Andrew Clarke, for the defence, was a remarkable and telling one, resting its force largely on the argument that the witnesses against Wilde were avowed criminals and blackmailers. The most dramatic incident was the appearance of the prisoner in the box on his own behalf. He swore that the evidence he had given at the Queensberry trial was absolutely true. He repeated this testimony upon cross-examination without variation. Continuing his testimony, he said he had had nothing to do with the publishing of Lord Alfred Douglass’ poems, nor had he anything to do with the publication of his articles in The Chameleon (magazine). On being asked to define Lord Alfred’s expression, "I am the love that dare not speak its name," Wilde said he thought it meant spiritual love, as pure as it was perfect. He proceeded to enlarge upon the subject, and became so eloquent as to evoke a burst of applause, causing the Judge to threaten to clear the court unless silence was observed. Beyond a doubt, the disagreement of the jury is largely due to the favourable impression he made in the box.
London, April 30.- Oscar Wilde was put in the witness box on his own behalf today. He swore that the evidence he had given at the Queensbury trial was absolutely true. He repeated this testimony upon cross-examination, without variation. Wilde, continuing his testimony, said he had had nothing to do with publishing Lord Alfred Douglas' poems, nor had he anything to do with the publication of his articles in the Chameleon (magazine). On being asked to define Lord Alfred's expression, "I am the love that dare not speak its name." Wilde said he thought it meant spiritual love, as pure as it was perfect. Wilde proceeded to enlarge upon the subject, and became so eloquent as to evoke a burst of applause, causing the judge to threaten to clear the court unless silence was observed.
Wilde was called to the witness box. He swore that the evidence he had given at the Queensbury trial was absolutely true. He repeated this testimony upon cross-examination, without variation. Wilde, continuing his testimony, said he had had nothing to do with publishing Lord Alfred Douglas’ poems, nor had be anything to do with the publication of his articles in the Chameleon (magazine). On being asked to define Lord Alfred’s expression, "I am the love that dare not speak its name," Wilde said he thought it meant spiritual love, as pure as it was prefect. Wilde proceeded to enlarge upon the subject, and became so eloquent as to evoke a burst of applause, causing the judge to threaten to clear the court unless silence was observed.
Wilde was called to the witness stand and swore that the evidence he had given at the Queensberry trial was absolutely true. He repeated his testimony upon cross-examination without contradiction. Wilde, continuing his testimony, said he had had nothing to do with publishing Lord Alfred Douglas’ poems, nor had he anything to do with the publication of his articles in Chameleon (magazine). Asked to define Lord Alfred's expression, "I am the love that dare not speak its name," Wilde said he thought it meant spiritual love, as pure as it was perfect. Wilde proceeded to enlarge upon the subject, and became so eloquent as to evoke a burst of applause, causing the Judge to threaten to clear the court unless silence was observed.
Wilde was called to the witness stand. He sore that the evidence he had given at the Queensberry trial was absolutely true. He repeated this testimony upon cross-examination without variation. Wilde said he had nothing to do with the publishing of Lord Alfred Douglas’ poems, nor had he anything to do with the publication of his articles in the "Chamelion" (magazine). Asked to define Lord Alfred’s expression, "I am the love that dare not speak its name," Wilde said he thought it meant spiritual love, as pure as it was perfect. Wilde proceeded to enlarge upon the subject, and became so eloquent as to evoke a burst of applause, causing the Judge to threaten to clear the court unless silence was observed.
STATUTE.