Ceylon Examiner - Tuesday, April 23, 1895

THE QUEENSBERRY-WILDE LIBEL
TRIAL
SENSATIONAL CLOSE: VERDICT

The Queensberry-Wilde libel case came to a sudden and sensational close this morning, says a paper of the 3rd instant brought by the mail. Mr Carson was proceeding with his speech for the Marquis of Queensberry, when Sir Edward Clarke asked to be allowed to withdraw from the case, saying his client would consent to a verdict of not guilty. His Lordship thereupon asked the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. The foreman said they found that the justification was proved and that the words complained of were published for the public benefit. Mr Oscar Wilde was not present in Court.

Another mail paper says: - To-day the Queensberry-Wilde case terminated, as most people expected, sensationally, but ingloriously. Sir E. Clarke and the other counsel retired from the case, and a verdict of "Not Guilty" was recorded. Thus exit Oscar Wilde -- no loss to literature, and a gain to decent society.

Also: - As the Central Criminal Court on April 3, before Mr. Justice Collins, the Marquess of Queensberry was charged with having published a malicious and defamatory libel concerning Mr. Oscar Wilde. He pleaded not guilty, and also that the libel was true, and that its publication was for the public benefit. What is not for the public benefit is the publication of the report of the proceedings. [Precisely: we could only hope that the whole of the English Press is of the same opinion as our contemporary of the O Mail. Ed. Ex.]