The New York Herald (European Edition) - Sunday, April 28, 1895

OSCAR WILDE'S TRIAL
SOME CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE GIVEN IN THE CASE-AGAIN ADJOURNED.
[BY THE HERALD'S SPECIAL WIRE.]

LONDON, April 28.-Perhaps owing to the sameness of the evidence produced on Friday, perhaps the fact that the public has had enough of the subject, yesterday's proceedings in the trial of Wilde and his fellow prisoner at Bow Street, took place in a court that was not even comfortably filled, and those who were there seemed dull and listless and not at all expectant of anything interesting or sensational.

Wilde was again pale and heavy-eyed, with tumbled locks and careworn mien. Taylor, outwardly perky, but with a latent uneasiness, showing his in his restless, shifting eyes.

The youth Wood, who, it was alleged, received money from Wilde for returning the Douglas letters, gave evidence corroborating previous statements.

Frederick Atkins, a bucolic youth, who acted as a private secretary and wrote some of the Woman of No Importance, came next. He detailed the incidents of a visit to Paris and his late connection with Wilde, and spoke of their acquaintances, one of whom, Sidney Mavor, was known by the name of "Jenny."

Atkins was keenly cross-examined by Sir E. Clarke on alleged blackmailing practices. He denied, however, that he had ever attended theatres dressed as a woman, taken men home with him and then blackmailed them with the help of an accomplice. Sidney Mavor and Edward Shelley also gave evidence. The former, while admitting he had several times stayed the night with Wilde and Taylor, denied all allegations of impropriety. Shelley stood to his former evidence, but when confronted with a series of contradictory and extravagantly worded letters, he said he thought at times his mind was disordered-an admission which Sir Edward Clarke at once seized upon and made the most of.

The day's trial ended with a slightly dramatic incident, Atkins being recalled, and confronted by a policeman who had once arrested him and in the presence of which he broke down and admitted several things in connection with taking men to his rooms, which he had vigorously denied.

The trial was eventually adjourned until tomorrow.