San Francisco Chronicle - Thursday, May 2, 1895

The disagreement of the jury in the case of Oscar Wilde shows the powerful influence that is exerted on the minds of men by suspicion of foul play. Wilde's own testimony was sufficient to condemn him, but when professional blackmailers are brought forward by the prosecution and one of these men was shown to have lied on the witness stand, The English jury evidently decided that there was some conspiracy to ruin Oscar and a reaction set in. This was helped by the Judge, who laid down the broad ruling that a man should not be judged by what he writes.