New Zealand Mail - Friday, July 26, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
TOPICS OF THE DAY
From Our Special Correspondent.
THE CLOSE OF THE WILDE TRIAL
The squalid tragedy at the Old Bailey ended on Saturday evening with the conviction of Oscar Wilde, who was sentenced, as seemed probable from the first—if he were found guilty —to the extreme penalty allowed by law. The jury had been two hours away, and odds were being freely betted on a disagreement, when they reappeared and asked advice on certain points. Apparently what the Judge said smoothed all differences, as they returned in five minutes.
The squalid tragedy at the Old Bailey ended on Saturday evening with the conviction of Oscar Wilde, who was sentenced, as seemed probably from the first—if he were found guilty—to the extreme penalty allowed by law. The jury had been two hours away, and odds were being freely betted on a disagreement, when they reappeared and asked advice on certain points. Apparently what the Judge said smoothed all differences, as they returned in five's minutes.
Wilde's face as he staggered up the stairs into the dock was terrible to see. The veins in his fine forehead stood out like whipcord; his colour was a dull red; his expression agonised.
Wilde's face as he staggered up the stairs to the dock was terrible to see. The veins in his fine forehead stood out like whipcord; his colour was a dull red; his expression agonised.
The foreman of the jury glanced once at the dock, and turned very pale. He had to say "Guilty" in answer to five out of the six counts, and his voice broke and failed to a whisper whilst doing so. Those who had expected that the prisoner would break down if such a verdict were returned were mistaken. When the foreman had pronounced his last "Guilty" there were cries of "Shame" in the gallery.
The foreman of the jury glanced once at the dock, and turned very pale. He had to say "Guilty" in answer to five out of the six counts, and his voice broke and failed to a whisper while doing so. Those who had expected that the prisoner would break down if such a verdict were returned were mistaken. When the foreman had pronounced his last "Guilty" there were cries of "Shame" in the gallery.
The Judge's tones as he pronounced sentence were even severer and more cutting than his language. Wilde seemed dazed, but the hitherto brazen Taylor winced visibly. The sentence appeared to stun the older man. "Two years," he murmured in a whisper of thrilling terror, "Two years!"
The Judge's tones as he pronounced sentence were even severer and more cutting than his language. Wilde seemed dazed, but the hitherto brazen Taylor winced visibly. The sentence appeared to stun the older man. "Two years," he murmured in a whisper of thrilling terror, "Two years!"
Undoubtedly had the man possessed the means I believe he would at this moment have fulfilled his oft-repeated threat and killed himself. But, as I conjectured in my last, the authorities had taken away from him everything (even his handkerchief) which could conceivably be utilised suicidally. He stood there helpless and hopeless, staring at a vista of fearful possibilities ending in madness and death.
Undoubtedly had the man possessed the means I believe he would at this moment have fulfilled his oft-repeated threat and killed himself. But, as I conjectured in my last, the authorities had taken away from him everything (even his handkerchief) which could conceivably be utilised suicidally. He stood there helpless and hopeless, staring at a vista of fearful possibilities ending in madness and death.