Evening Herald - Monday, May 20, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
OSCAR WILDE.
SECOND TRIAL OF THE CASE.
THE PRISONERS TO BE TRIED SEPARATELY.
The calendar at the Central Criminal Court Sessions, which opened at the Old Bailey this morning, before Mr Justice Wills, contained charges against Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde, 40, author, and Alfred Taylor, 33, of no occupation.
The calendar at the Central Criminal Court Sessions, which opened at the Old Bailey this morning, before mr Justice Wills, contained charges against Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde, 40, author, and Alfred Taylor, 33, of no occupation.
The court was densely crowded in every part when Mr Justice Wills, accompanied by the Lord Mayor and several of the city aldermen, took his seat on the bench punctually at 11 o’clock, the hour specially fixed for the trial. Wilde had some time previously driven to the Old Bailey, accompanied by his sureties, Lord Douglas of Hawick and the Rev Stewart Headlam, and surrendered to his bail. When placed in the dock by the side of Taylor he looked somewhat haggard and worn, but his health had visibly improved since his release from Holloway. Taylor’s features were very pale, but he stepped into the dock with a jaunty air and seemed indifferent to his position.
The court was densely crowded every past when Mr Justice Wills, accompanied by the Lord Mayor and several of the city aldermen, took his seat on the bench punctually at 11 o’clock, the hour specially fixed for the trial. Wilde had some time previously driven to the Old Bailey, accompanied by his sureties, Lord Douglas of Hawick and the Rev Stewart Headlam, and surrendered to his bail; When placed in the dock by the side of Taylor he looked somewhat haggard and worn, but his health had visibly improved since his release from Holloway. Taylor’s features were very parle, but he stepped into the dock with a jaunty air and seemed indifferent to his position.
The Court was densely crowded in every part when at eleven o'clock Mr. Justice Wills, accompanied by the Load Mayor and several of the city aldermen, took his seat on the bench. Wilde had some time previously j driven to the Old Bailey, accompanied by his sureties—Lord Douglas ot Hawick and the Rev. Stewart Headlam—and surrendered to his bail. When placed in the dock by the side of Taylor he looked somewhat haggard and worn, but his health had visibly improved since his release from Ho loway. Taylor's features were very pale, but he stepped into the dock with a jaunty air, and seemed in- different to his position.
The Solicitor-General (Sir Frank Lockwood, Q C, M P), Mr H Sutton, Mr C F Gill, and Mr Horace Avory appeared on behalf of the Crown, while the defence of Wilde was conducted by Sir Edward Clarke, Q C, M P, and Mr Travers Humphreys. Taylor was represented by Mr P Grain.
The Solicitor-General (Sir Frank Lockwood, Q C, M P), Mr H Sutton, Mr CF Gill, and Mr Horace Avory appeared on behalf of the Crown, while the defence of Wilde was conducted by Sir Edward Clarke, Q C, M P, and Mr Travers Humphreys. Taylor was represented by Mr P Grain.
The Solicitor-General (Sir Frank Lockwood, Q.C..M. P.), Mr. H. Sutton, Mr. C. F. Gill, and Mr. Horace Avory appeared on behalf of the Crown, while the defence of Wilde was conducted by Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., M.P., and Mr. Travers Humphreys. Taylor was represented by Mr. P. Grain.
The jury having been sworn and the indictment read, Sir Edward Clarke applied that the two defendants should be tried separately. The indictment, he said, on which the defendants were tried at the last sessions contained twenty-five counts, on many of which a verdict of not guilty was entered. There now remained a certain number of counts charging the committal of offences, but not of conspiracy, by the two defendants now standing at the bar. Of those counts only eight affected Mr Wilde, and in neither of them was any charge made against Taylor. The remaining counts against Taylor were two, but in neither of them was any charge made against Wilde, so that no single count stood in the indictment on which Wilde and Taylor could be convicted.
Sir Edward Clarke applied that the two defendants should be tried separately. The indictment, he said, on which the defendants were tried at the last sessions contained twenty-give counts, on many of which a verdict of not guilty was entered. There now remained a certain number of counts charging the committal of offences, but not of conspiracy, by the two defendants now standing at the bar. Of those counts only eight affected Mr Wilde, and in neither of them was any charge made against Wilde, so that no single count stood in the indictment on which Wilde and Taylor could be convicted.
Mr Grain made a similar application on behalf of Taylor.
The Solicitor-General opposed the application in each case on the ground that there were certain matters in the charges which necessitated the joint indictment of both defendants. The result of trying the defendants separately would be this—It would be necessary to take Taylor’s case first. It would be an inquiry into the conduct of one person on his trial, and necessarily evidence would have to be given against another person not on his trial, and whose responsible for this indictment felt that it might be considered a hardship on the other person that any question or consideration of his conduct might arise in a trial at which he was not represented. Indeed the history of this case was so bound up together that it was impossible to deal with the conduct of the one person without inquiring into that of the other.
The Solicitor-General opposed the application in each case on the ground that there were certain matters in the charges which necessitated the joint indictment of both defendants. The result of trying the defendants separately would be this — it would be necessary to take Taylor’s case first. It would be an inquiry into the conduct of one person on his trial, and necessarily evidence would have been to be given against another person not on his trial, and those responsible for this indictment felt that it might be considered a hardship on the other person that any question or consideration of his conduct might arise in a trial at which he was not represented. Indeed the history of this case was so bound up together that is was impossible to deal with the conduct of the one person without inquiring into that of the other.
Mr Justice Wills said that he had anticipated that this application would be made, and having in view what the evidence was, he thought it would be much fairer that the defendants should be tried separately.
Mr Justice Wills said that he had anticipated that this application would be made, and having in view what the evidence was, he thought it would be much fairer that the defendants should be tried separately.
Mr. Justice Wills said he had anticipated that this application would be made, and having in view what the evidence was he thought it would be much fairer that the defendants should be tried separately.
The Judge said he anticipated that such an application might be made, and had given the subject careful consideration. He thought it would be best that the defendants should be tried separately.
The Solicitor General intimated that he would first take the case of Taylor.
The Solicitor General intimated that he would first take the case of Taylor.
The Solicitor-General intimated that he would first take the case of Taylor.
The Solicitor-General said he proposed, then, to take the case of Taylor.
The Solicitor-General said he proposed, then, to take the case of Taylor.
THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that he proposed to take the case of Taylor first.
The Solicitor General elected to proceed with the case of Taylor first.
The Solicitor General elected to proceed with the case of Taylor first.
Sir Edward Clarke submitted that the charge against his client Wilde ought first to be taken. There were, he said, obvious reasons why it would be unfair to take Taylor’s case first, and he respectfully asked that inasmuch as Wilde’s name stood first on the indictment and as the first count in that indictment was one directed against him he should be taken first.
Sir Edward Clarke submitted that the charge against his client Wilde ought first to be taken. There were, he said, obvious reasons why it would be unfair to take | Taylor's case first, and he respectfully asked that, inasmuch as Wilde's name stood first on the indictment, and as the first count in that indictment was one directed against him. he should be taken first.
Sir Edward Clarke submitted that the charge against his client Wilde ought first to be taken. There were, he said, obvious reasons why it would be unfair to take Taylor’s case first, and he respectfully asked that inasmuch as Wilde’s name stood first on the indictment and as the first count in that indictment was one directed against him he should be taken first.
Mr Justice Wills said he did not see how he could very well interfere with the rights of the prosecution. It was well within the rights of the prosecution to elect which defendant should first be placed on his trial.
Mr. Justice Wills said he did not see how he could very well interfere with the rights of the prosecution. It was well within the rights of the prosecution to elect which defendant should first be placed on his trial.
Mr Justice Wills said he did not see how he could very well interfere with the rights of the prosecution. It was well within the rights of the prosecution to elect which defendant should first be placed on his trial.
Sir Edward Clarke—Then I shall ask in the event of Taylor being tried first that Wilde’s case shall stand over till the next sessions.
Sir Edward Clarke — Then I shall ask in the event of Taylor being tried first that Wilde’s case shall stand over till the next sessions.
Sir Edward Clarke : Then I shall ask, in the event of Taylor being tried first, that Wilde's case shall stand over til! the next sessions.
Sir Edward Clarke: Then I make a further application, which I shall repeat at the end of Taylor's trial, and that is that Wilde's case may stand over till the next sessions.
Mr Justice Wills—Don’t you think you had better wait until the end of the trial before making such an application. If there should be an acquittal of Taylor it would be so much the better for Wilde.
Mr Justice Wills — Don’t you think you had better wait until the end of the trial before making such an application. If there should be an acquittal of Taylor it would be so much the better for Wilde.
Mr. Justice Wills: Don't you think you had better wait until the end of the trial before making such an application? If there should be an acquittal against Taylor it would be so much the bett6r for Wilde.
Sir Edward Clarke—If your lordship pleases, will your lordship allow Wilde to be out on the same bail as before?
Sir Edward Clarke: If your lordship pleases, will your lordship allow Wilde to be nut On the same bail as before?
Sir Edward Clarke — If you lordship pleases, will your lordship allow Wilde to be out on the same bail as before?
Mr Justice Wills—Are the bails here?
The Solicitor-General—It is a matter entirely within your lordship’s discretion.
The Solicitor-General: It is a matter entirely within your lordship's discretion.
The Solicitor-General — It is a matter entirely within your lordship’s discretion.
The Solicitor-General said he would leave the matter entirely in his Lordship's discretion.
Mr Justice Wills—Certainly, I will grant the application.
Sir Edward Clarke—They have been here, but they are gone. They would have been back in the afternoon, but, after your lordship’s instruction, they shall be sent for.
Sir Edward Clarke — They have been there, but they are gone. They would have been back in the afternoon, but, after your lordship’s instruction, they shall be sent for.
Sir Edward Clarke: They have been here, but they are gone. They would have lieen hack in the afternoon but after your lordship's instruction they shall be sent for.
The defendant Wilde then left the dock, and the charges against Taylor were at once proceeded with.
The defendant Wilde then left the dock and the charges against Taylor were at once proceeded with.
The defendant Wilde then left the dock, and the charges against Taylor were at once proceeded with.
Sir Frank Lockwood opened at length the case against Taylor, and called Charles Parker. Witness repeated the well-known history of the meeting of himself and brother with Taylor, and of their visit to Taylor’s house, Little College street. He also spoke of their visit with Wilde to the Savoy Hotel.
Sir Frank Lockwood opened at length the case against Taylor, and called Charles Parker. Witness repeated the well-known history of the meeting of himself and brother with Taylor, and of their visit to Taylor’s house, Little College street. He also spoke of their visit with Wilde to the Savoy Hotel.
Witness was cross-examined as to his relations with certain gentlemen, but denied that he ever threatened them with exposure if they did not give him money. He however admitted receiving money, and also made other damaging admissions.
Witness was cross-examined as to his relations with certain gentlemen, but denied that he ever threatened them with exposure if they did not give him money. He however admitted receiving money, and also made other damaging admissions.
William Parker, the elder brother, corroborated the evidence as to the introduction to Wilde.
William Parker, the elder brother, corroborated the evidence as to the introduction to Wilde.
Alfred Wood was the next witness called to prove the relationship which it was alleged existed between himself, Taylor, and Oscar Wilde. He detailed how he received money from Wilde to go to America, and referred to copies of correspondence which figured prominently during the last trial.
Alfred Wood was the next witness called to proved the relationship which it was alleged existed between himself, Taylor, and Oscar Wilde. He detailed how he received money from Wilde to go America, and referred to copies of correspondence which figured prominently during the last trial.
Emile Becker, a fresh witness, a waiter at the Savoy Hotel, said that he remembered Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas coming to live at the hotel. After Lord Alfred Douglas left, Wilde had two more rooms for himself—a bed and a sitting room. He used to take refreshments to the rooms of Oscar Wilde, who was visited at the hotel by young men. The witness remembered a supper being ordered by Mr Wilde on one occasion when a "young gentleman" was with Wilde.
Emile Becker, a fresh witness, a waiter at the Savoy Hotel, said that he remembered Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas coming to live at the hotel after Lord Alfred Douglas left. Wilde had two more rooms for himself — a bed and a sitting room. He used to take refreshments to the rooms of Oscar Wilde, who was visited at the hotel by young men. The witness remembered a supper being ordered by Mr Wilde on one occasion when a young gentleman was with Wilde.
Other witnesses followed, and the case for the Crown closed.
Mr Grain submitted certain counts should be withdrawn.
His Lordship thought the case should go to the jury.