The Boston Globe - Sunday, May 26, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
WILDE FOUND GUILTY.
Sentenced to Two Years at
Hard Labor.
Was Full of Confidence Up to the Very
Last - Staggered by Blow.
Strove to Speak but Sank Into Chair a
Mental and Physical Wreck.
(Copyright.)
LONDON, May 25 - An Old Bailey jury, cautiously empanelled, and, as it seemed, carefully coached by the judge of a high court, has declared Oscar Wilde guilty of the abominable offenses charged against him.
Wilde was sentenced to two years in prison at hard labor.
Taylor, whose sentence had been suspended, was also given two years at hard labor.
Taylor, whose sentence had been suspended, was also given two years at hard labor.
Public opinion, which is usually on the side of the accused and almost invariably sympathetic in regard to any prisoner standing a second trial for the same crime, had from the first pronounced with nearly absolute unanimity that he was guilty of everything set forth in the indictment, and of much more. The country judged him out of his own mouth, and so did the jury to a large extent, and any other result would have been a disgrace to the intelligent English jurymen and a crying shame upon British justice.
NEW YORK, May 25. - A cable special to the Sun from London says: "An Old Bailey jury, cautiously impaneled and, as it seemed, carefully coached by the Hudge of the High Court, has declared Oscar Wilde guilty of the abominable offences charged against him. Public opinion, which is often on the side of the accused and almost invariably sympathetic in regard to any prisoner standing a second trial for the same crime, had from the first pronounced with nearly absolute unanimity that he was guilty of everything set forth in the indictment and of much more. The country judged him out of his own mouth, and so did the jury, to a large extent. Any other result would have been a disgrace to the intelligence of English jurymen and a crying shame upon British justice.
It is impossible, however, to conceal the fact that from the first the common people believed that Wilde would never be convicted. Instinctively they felt that the influence behind this shameless friend of princes and nobles would prove too powerful for any ordinary judicial procedure.
The police had placed the government in possession of the names of men of rank, wealth and fashion who undeniably shared in some of Wilde’s orgies, and had collected evidence amply sufficient to place them in the criminal dock with the hearty approval of all clean men, but the secretary of state took no step against them to vindicate outraged morals.
Lord Alfred Douglas and other men whose evidence would have made the case against Wilde and others even more complete and irrefutable, were allowed to leave the country. They are still abroad, but doubtless they will return to this country in a short time, secure against punishment. Possibly it is as well, for Wilde’s conviction can scarcely fail to prove an effectual determent for years to come, and it will be to the public interest to let this awful scandal become forgotten.
The passionate shout which went up from the nation when Wilde’s impudent action, designed to stop the mouths of his accusers, ignobly collapsed, compelled the government to take action against him and his foul accomplice, Taylor. But Lord Alfred Douglas and other men whose evidence would have made the case against Wilde and others even more complete and irrefutable were allowed to leave the country. They are still abroad, but doubtless they will return to this country in a short time, secure against punishment. Possibly it is as well, for Wilde’s conviction can scarcely fail to prove an effectual deterrent for years to come, and it will be to the public interest to let this awful scandal become forgotten.
The passionate shout which went up from the nation when Wilde’s impudent action, designed to stop the mouths of his accusers, ignobly collapsed, compelled the Government to take action against him and his foul accomplice, Taylor. But Lord Alfred Douglas and other men whose evidence would have made the case against Wilde and others even more complete and irrefutable were allowed to leave the country. They are still abroad, but doubtless they will return to this country in a short time, secure against punishment. Possibly it is as well, for Wilde’s conviction can scarcely fail to prove an effectual deterrent for years to come, and it will be to the public interest to let this awful scandal become forgotten.
The passionate shout which went up from the nation when Wilde’s impudent action, designed to stop the mouths of his accusers, ignobly collapsed, compelled the Government to take action against him and his foul accomplice, Taylor. But Lord Alfred Douglas and other men whose evidence would have made the case against Wilde and others even more complete and irrefutable, were allowed to leave the country. They are still abroad, but doubtless they will return to this country in a short time, secure against punishment. Possibly it is well, for Wilde’s conviction can scarcely fail to prove an effectual deterrent for years to come, and it will be to the public interest to let this awful scandal become forgotten.
Honest men have, from the first, displayed an unusual, perhaps an unchristian, eagerness for a conviction in this case during the last two or three days. A fierce and universal resentment was shown at what appeared to superficial observers to be almost a collusion between judge and lawyers in order to save Wilde, but Justice Willis’ summing up, which unexpectedly proved to a strictly judicial piece of work, together with the solicitor general's masterly speech and the common sense of the jury of plain citizens finally prevailed.
Honest men have from the first displayed unusual, perhaps unchristian eagerness, for conviction in this case. During the last two or three days fierce and universal resentment has been spoken and shown at what appeared to superficial observers almost collusion on the part of the Judge and the lawyers in order to save Wilde. But Justice Wills’ summing up, which unexpectedly proved to be a strictly judicial piece of work, together with the Solicitor-General's masterly speech and the common sense of a jury of plain citizens, finally prevailed.
Honest men have from the first displayed unusual, perhaps unchristian eagerness for conviction in this case. During the last two or three days fierce and universal resentment has been spoken and shown at what appeared to superficial observers almost collusion on the part of the Judge and the lawyers in ordering to save Wilde. But Justice Willis’s is summing up, which unexpectedly proved to be a strictly judicial piece of work, together with the Solicitor-General's masterly speech and the common sense of a jury of plain citizens, finally prevailed.
Honest men have from the first displayed unusual, perhaps unchristian, eagerness for conviction in this case. The last two or three days fierce and universal resentment has been spoken and shown at what appeared to be superficial observers almost collusion on the part of the judge and the lawyers in order to save Wilde. But Justice Willis’ summing up, which unexpectedly proved to be a strictly judicial place of work, together with the Solicitor-General’s masterly speech and the common sense of a jury of plain citizens, finally prevailed.
Wilde was full of confidence to the last, so that the result was a staggering blow to him. He strove to utter something, but his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, and he sank back in his chair, a mental and physical wreck. The final scene was truly and perhaps fittingly dramatic.
Wilde was full of confidence to the last, so that the result was a staggering blow to him. He strove to utter something, but his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, and he sank back in his chair a mental and physical wreck. The final scene was truly, perhaps fittingly, dramatic.
Wilde was full of confidence to the last, so that the result was a staggering blow to him. He strove to utter something, but his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, and he sank back in his chair a mental and physical wreck. The final scene was truly, perhaps fittingly, dramatic.
Wilde was full of confidence to the last, so that the result was a staggering blow to him. He strove to utter something, but his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, and he sank back in his chair, a mental and physical wreck. The final scene was truly, perhaps, fittingly, dramatic.