Belfast News-Letter - Tuesday, May 21, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
THE CHARGES AGAINST OSCAR WILDE.
OPENING OF THE SECOND TRIAL.
BY OUR PRIVATE WIRE.
London, Monday.—The second trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor was fixed to commence this morning at the Central Criminal Court before Mr. Justice Wills. There was a large attendance of the public while the Junior Bar was strongly represented. Wilde was accompanied by his two sureties—Lord Douglas of Hawick and the Rev. Stewart Headlam—and when called upon to surrender walked smilingly into the dock. His health benefited greatly by his temporary freedom. He was at once joined by Taylor, who was brought from the cells.
The Solicitor-General (Sir F. Lockwood, Q.C.), Mr H. Sutton, Mr C. F Gill, and Mr. Horace Avory appeared for the prosecution. Counsel for the defence of Wilde were the same as at the previous trial—namely, Sir E. Clarke, Q.C., Mr. Charles Matthews, and Mr. Travers Humphreys. Taylor was again defended by Mr. Grain, assisted by Mr W. Clark Hall, in place of Mr. Paul Taylor. The indictment differed considerably from that originally framed.
Before the jury were sworn, Sir E. Clarke asked that in this case the defendants might be separately tried. On the last occasion he said there were twenty-five counts, and on many of them a verdict of not guilty was returned. There were only eight counts affecting Wiide, none of which affected Taylor, and, therefore, he submitted that as the counts were separate the prisoners should be tried separately.
Mr. Grain concurred in Sir Edward Clarke's application.
The Solictor-Generai opposed the application, and said the evidence in two, at least, of the counts necessitated the defendants being tried jointly. The result of trying them separately would be that evidence would have to be given of the conduct of another person who would not be on his trial.
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.
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.
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.
The Solicitor-General then asked to have the case of Taylor taken first.
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 opposed the application, and asked to have Wilde's case taken before Taylor's, as Wilde's name appeared first in the calendar.
The Judge thought it was within the discretion of the prosecution to say which case they would take first.
Sir Edward Clarke next asked that Wilde's case should stand over until next sessions. He was proceeding to adduce arguments in support of his application, when The Judge stopped him, and said he had better defer his application until after the trial of Taylor.
On Sir Edward Clarke's application, His Lordship said Wilde could be allowed out on the same bail as before when the sureties were present.
Sir Edward said that they had left the court, but would be sent for.
Mr. Wilde then left the dock.
The Solicitor-General then opened the case against Taylor.
The case for the prosecution concluded at four o'clock, and Mr. Grain proceeded to address the jury for the prisoner, and had not concluded when the Court adjourned.