The Freeman’s Journal - Wednesday, May 1, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
THE OSCAR WILDE CASE
THE DEFENCE.
London, Tuesday.
On the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor being resumed to-day at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Gill, on behalf of the Crown, formally withdrew the counts of the indictment alleging conspiracy, and said he did this to avoid any difficulty in calling the prisoners into the witness box.
On the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor being resumed yesterday at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Gill, on behalf of the Crown, formally withdrew the counts of the indictment alleging conspiracy, and said he did this to avoid any difficulty in calling the prisoners into the witness-box.
On the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor being resumed today at the Central Criminal Court, London, Mr Gill, on behalf of the Crown, formerly withdrew the counts of the indictment alleging conspiracy, and said he did this to avoid any difficulty in calling the prisoners into the witness box.
On the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor being resumed to-day at the Central Criminal Court, London, Mr Gill, on behalf of the Crown, formerly withdrew the counts of the indictment alleging conspiracy, and said he did this to avoid any difficulty in calling the prisoners into the witness box.
London, Tuesday.On the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor being resumed to-day at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Gill, on behalf of the crown, formally withdrew the counts of the indictment alleging conspiracy, and said he … this to avoid any difficulty in calling the prisoners into the witness box.
On Tuesday Mr Gill, on behalf of the Crown, formally withdrew the counts of the indictment alleging conspiracy, and said he did this to avoid any difficulty in calling prisoners into the witness box.
On the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor being resumed yesterday at the Central Criminal Court, Mr. Gill, on behalf of the Crown, formally withdrew the counts of the indictment alleging conspiracy, and said he did this to avoid any difficulty in calling the prisoners into the witness-box. Sir Edward Clarke asked that a verdict of "Not guilty" on the conspiracy counts be at once returned, but his Lordship did not assent to this.
London, Tuesday.On the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor being resumed to-day at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Gill, on behalf of the Crown, formally withdrew the counts of the indictment alleging conspiracy, and said he did this to avoid any difficulty in calling the prisoners into the witness-box. Sir Edward Clarke asked that a verdict of "not guilty", on the conspiracy counts be at once returned, but his lordship did not assent to this.
Mr Gill, on behalf of the Crown, formally withdrew the counts of the indictment alleging conspiracy, and said he did this to avoid any difficulty in calling prisoners into the witness box.
Sir Edward Clarke asked that a verdict of not guilty on the conspiracy counts be at once returned, but his lordship did not assent to this.
Sir Edward Clarke asked that a verdict of not guilty on the conspiracy counts be at once returned, but his Lordship did not assent to this.
Sir Edward Clarke asked that a verdict of not guilty on the conspiracy counts be at once returned, but His Lordship did not assent to this.
Sir Eward Clarke asked that a verdict of not guilty on the conspiracy counts be at once returned, but his Lordship did not assent to this.
Sir Edward Clarke asked that a verdict of not guilty on the conspiracy counts be at once returned, but his lordship did not assent to it.
Sir Edward Clarke asked that a verdict of not guilty on conspiracy counts be at once returned, but his lordship did not assent to this.
Sir Edward Clarke asked that a verdict of not guilty on conspiracy counts be at once returned, but his lordship did not assent to this.
Sir Edward Clarke having intimated that he would ask for the formal verdict on the allegation of conspiracy at a later stage of th case at once began his address for the defence of Wilde. He accused the public Press of having imperilled the interests of justice, and felt called upon to denounce the reading of Wilde's cross-examination in Wilde v Queensberry as contrary to all the rules of fairness.
Sir Edward Clarke having intimated that he would ask for the formal verdict on the allegation of conspiracy at a later stage of the case at once began his address for the defence of Wilde. He accused the public Press of having imperilled the interests of justice, and […] called upon to denounce the reading of Wilde’s cross-examination in Wilde v Queensberry as contrary to all the rules of fairness.
Oscar Wilde, at the close of Sir Edward Clarke's address, was called and sworn. He described his academical and literary career.
Oscar Wilde, at the close of sir Edward Clarke’s address, was called and sworn. He described his academical and literary career.
Oscar Wilde was, at the close of Sir Edward Clarke’s address, called and sworn. He described his academical and literary career.
Oscar Wilde was, at the close of Sir Edward Clarke's address, called and sworn. He described his academical and literary career.
Sir Edward Clarke—In cross-examination in the Wilde v Queensberry case you denied all the charges against you. Was that evidence absolutely and entirely true?
Sir Edward Clarke—In cross-examination in the Wilde v Queensberry case you denied all the charges against you. Was that evidence absolutely and entirely true?
Sir E Clarke—In cross-examination in Wilde v Queensberry you denied all the charges against you, Was that evidence absolutely and entirely true?
Sir Edward — In cross-examination in Wilde v. Queensberry you denied all the charges against you. Was the evidence then given by you absolutely and entirely true evidence?
Sir Edward—In cross-examination in Wilde v Queensberry you denied all the charges against you. Was the evidence then given by you absolutely and entirely true evidence?
Sir Edward: In cross-examination in the Wilde v. Queensberry case you denied all the charges against you. Was the evidence then given by you absolutely and entirely true evidence?—Witness: Entirely true evidence.
Witness—Entirely true evidence.
Is there any truth in any one of the allegations of indecency brought against you in this case? There is no truth, whatever in any one of those allegations.
Is there any truth in any one of the allegations brought against you in this case? There is no truth whatever in any one of those allegations.
Is there any truth in any one of the allegations brought against you in this […]? There is no truth whatever in any one of those allegations.
Sir Edward: Is there any truth in any one of the allegations of indecency which have been brought against you in this case?—Witness: There is no truth whatever in any one of the allegations.
You have heard the evidence in this case; is there any truth in any one of the allegations of indecent conduct made against you? There is no truth whatsoever; no truth whatsoever in any one of those allegations.
Mr Gill, in cross-examination, quoted from a sonnet of Lord Alfred Douglas.
Mr Gill, in cross-examination, quoted from a sonnet of Lord Alfred Douglas.
Wilde replied that the love there spoken of was the love of David for Jonathan—the passion described by Plato as the beginning of wisdom—a deep, spiritual affection, as pure as it was perfect. In this century it was misunderstood, and a man was put in the pillory for it (applause in the gallery).
Wilde replied that the love there spoken of was the love of David for Jonathan—the passion described by Plato as the beginning of wisdom—a deep, spiritual affection, as pure as it was perfect. In this century it was misunderstood, and a man was put in pillory for it (applause in gallery).
Mr Gill, in cross-examination, quoted from a sonnet of Lord Alfred Douglas. Wilde replied that the love there spoken of was the love of David for Jonathan, the passion described by Plato as the beginning of wisdom, a deep spiritual affection as pure as it was perfect. In this century it was misunderstood, and a man was put in the pillory for it (applause in the gallery).
Mr Gill, in cross-examination, quoted from a sonnet of Lord Alfred Douglas. Wilde replied that the love there spoken of was the love of David for Jonathan, and the passion described by Plato as the beginning of wisdom, a deep spiritual affection as pure as it was perfect. In this century it was misunderstood, and a man was put in the pillory for it (applause in gallery).
Mr Gill, in cross-examination, quoted from a sonnet of Lord Alfred Douglas, Wilde replied that the love there spoken of was the love of David for Jonathan—the passion described by Plato as the beginning of wisdom, a deep spiritual affection as pure as it was perfect. In this century it was misunderstood, and a man was put in the pillory for it.
Mr Gill, in cross-examination, quoted from a sonnet of Lord Alfred Douglas. Wilde replied that the love there spoken of was the love of David for Jonathon--the passion described by Plato as the beginning of wisdom, a deep spiritual affection as pure as it was perfect. In this century it was misunderstood, and a man was put in the pillory for it.
His Lordship said if any further manifestation of feeling occurred he would have the court cleared.
His Lordship said if any further manifestation of feeling occurred he would have the court cleared.
His Lordship said if any further manifestation of feeling occurred he would have the court cleared.
His Lordship said if any further manifestation of feeling occurred he would have the court cleared.
Counsel then called the attention of the witness to the statements of Parker, Shelly, and Atkins, to which he gave a general denial. There was no truth, he said, in the evidence adduced from the Savoy Hotel, and the statements of Frederick Atkins as to the Paris visit were grotesque and monstrous.
Counsel then called the attention of the witness to the statements of Parker, Shelly, and Atkins, to which he gave a general denial. There was no truth in the evidence adduced from the Savoy Hotel, and the statements of Frederick Atkins as to the Paris visit were grotesque and monstrous.
Counsel then called the attention of the witness to the statements of Parker, Shelly, and Atkins, to which he gave a general denial. There was no truth in the evidence adduced from Savoy Hotel, and the statements of Frederick Atkins as to the Paris visit were grotesque and monstrous.
Counsel then called the attention of witness to the statements of Parker, Shelly and Atkins, on which he gave a general denial. There was to truth in the evidence adduced from the Savoy Hotel, and the statements of Frederick Atkins as to the Paris visit were grotesque and monstrous.
Mr. Gill then called the attention of the witness to the statements of Parker, Shelly, and Atkins, to which he gave a general denial. There was no truth in the evidence adduced from Savoy Hotel, and the statements of Frederick Atkins as to the Paris visit were grotesque and monstrous.
At the close of his examination Wilde again took his place in the dock, and
Alfred Taylor, his companion, entered the witness box. He said he was educated at Marlborough; and was formerly in the Militia. In 1883 he came into £45,000, and had since lived a life of pleasure. The allegation brought against him by Chas Parker was absolutely untrue.
At the close of his examination Wilde again took his place in the dock, and Alfred Taylor, his companion, entered the witness box. He said he was educated at Marlborough, and was formerly in the militia. In 1883 he came into £45,000, and had since lived a life of pleasure. The allegation brought against him by Charles Parker was absolutely untrue.
At the close of his examination Wilde again took his place in the dock, and Alfred Taylor, his companion, entered the witness-box. He said he was educated at Marlborough, and was formerly in the militia. In 1883 he came into £45,000, and had since lived a life of pleasure. The allegation brought against him by Charles Parker was absolutely untrue.
At the close of his examination Wilde again took his place in the dock, and Alfred Taylor, his companion, entered the witness-box. He said he was educated at Marlborough; and was formerly in the Militia. In 1883 he came into £45,000, and had since led a life of pleasure. The allegation brought against him by Chas Parker was absolutely untrue.
At the close of his examination Wilde again took his place in the dock, and Alfred Taylor, his co-prisoner, entered the witness box. He said he was educated at Marlborough, and was formerly in the Militia. In 1883 he came into £45,000, and had since lived a life of pleasure. The allegation brought against him by Charles Parker was absolutely untrue.
At the close of his examination Wilde again took his place in the dock, and Alfred Taylor, his co-prisoner, entered the witness box. He said he was educated at Marlborough, and was formerly in the Militia. In 1883 he came into £45,000 and had since lived a life of pleasure. The allegation brought against him by Charles Parker was absolutely untrue.
At the close of his examination Wilde again took his place in the dock, and Alfred Taylor, his prisoner, entered the witness box. He said he was educated at Marlborough, and was formerly in the Militia. In 1883 he came into £45 000, and had since lived a life of pleasure. The allegation brought against him by Charles Parker was absolutely untrue.
On the Court re-assembling after luncheon, Sir Edward Clarke again addressed the jury, and intimated his intention of dealing with the evidence as distinct from topics prejudicially imported into the case. He did not remember the course adopted early in the day by Mr Gill to have been followed in any previous case, and he complained that for three days the defence had been subjected to embarrassment. The Crown rested their case upen the tainted evidence of a band of blackmailers, and had Mr Oscar Wilde been a guilty man he would have avoided the ordeal of the witness box. Charles Parker, Atkins, and Wood were three young men who had appeared in court under circumstances which should disentitle them to the regard of any jury that ever sat, and he asked the jury in this case to clear off these foul accusations against one of the most renowned and accomplished men of letters.
On the Court re-assembling after luncheon, Sir Edward Clarke again addressed the jury, and intimated his intention of dealing with the evidence as distinct from topics prejudicially imported into the case. He did not remember the remarkable course adopted early in the day by Mr Gill to have been followed in any previous case; and he complained that for three days the defence had been subjected to embarrassment. It was astounding that Mr Gill should have devoted so much cross-examination to the poems of Lord Alfred Douglas. The Crown rested their case upon the tainted evidence of a band of blackmailers, and had Mr Oscar Wilde been a guilty man he would have avoided the ordeal of the witness-box. He trusted to the letters of the witness Edward Shelley to erase the impressions created by his evidence. Charles Parker, Atkins, and Wood were three young men who had appeared in court under circumstances which should disentitle them to the regard of any jury that ever sat, and he asked the jury in this case to clear of these foul accusations one of the most renowned and accomplished men of letters.
Mr Grain addressed the jury for Taylor.
Mr C F Gill replied on behalf of the Crown, and contended that the facts that had been disclosed in the cross-examination of the witnesses for the prosecution really strengthened the case against the accused. Admitted that the witnesses were all that Sir Edward Clarke alleged one naturally asked why Oscar Wilde should select them as his guests and companions. Mr Gill did not conclude until seven o'clock, and The Judge postponed his summing up until to-morrow.