Jamaica Post - Tuesday, April 9, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
Latest Telegrams
THE GREAT LIBEL CASE
Latest advices relative to the present exciting libel case, state that yesterday while the Counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry was making his opening statement Mr Wilde's legal advisers offered to accept a verdict that the Marquis was not guilty. The judge ruled that that would imply justification for the alleged libel, as being true and had been published in the interest of the public; and the jury without retiring so found. The case, had it been proceeded with, would have, it is said, left the judge no opinion but to commit Mr Wilde upon a charge of felony involving a sentence of 20 years. As the case stood Mr Wilde was arrested and placed in custody at Bow Street, pending proceedings next May, on the charge of misdemeanour, which, if proved, will subject him to a sentence of 2 years imprisonment. The excitement over the trial is very great and it is still uncertain who else may be involved. The Cleveland Street Scandal and the Pigot Trials have now been eclipsed. The "St. James Gazette" alone suppressed the proceedings. Other journals are printing thousands of words anent the case.
Latest advices relative to the present exciting libel case, state that yesterday while the Counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry was making his opening statement Mr Wilde's legal advisers offered to accept a verdict that the Marquis was not guilty. The judge ruled that that would imply justification for the alleged libel, as being true and had been published in the interest of the public; and the jury without retiring so found. The case, had it been proceeded with, would have, it is said, left the judge no opinion but to commit Mr Wilde upon a charge of felony involving a sentence of 20 years. As the case stood Mr Wilde was arrested and placed in custody at Bow Street, pending proceedings next May, on the charge of misdemeanour, which, if proved, will subject him to a sentence of 2 years imprisonment. The excitement over the trial is very great and it is still uncertain who else may be involved. The Cleveland Street Scandal and the Pigot Trials have now been eclipsed. The "St. James Gazette" alone suppressed the proceedings. Other journals are printing thousands of words anent the case.