The Boston Globe - Sunday, May 5, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
Oscar Wilde Case Bids Fair to End in a
Conspicuous Fiasco.
A very sinister impression has been made upon the public mind by the fiasco in the Oscar Wilde case. Your correspondent is stating a fact, which no English newspaper dares to print, but which is recognized throughout London, when he says that it has come to be generally believed within the past few days that influences are at work sufficiently powerful to check further exposures of scandal and to open a loophole for the escape of those already charged.
The New York Sun's London correspondent cables: A very sinister impression has been made upon the public mind by the fiasco in the Oscar Wilde case. It is a fact that no English newspaper dares to print, but which is recognized throug-out London, when I say it has come to be generally believed within the past few days that influences are at work sufficiently powerful to prevent any further exposure of the scandal and re-open a loophole for the escape of those already accused.
NEW YORK, May 4. - The Sun’s London correspondent cables: A very sinister impression has been made upon the public mind by the fiasco in the Oscar Wilde case. It is a fact which no English newspaper dares to print, but which is recognized throughout London, when I say it has come to be generally believed within the past few days that influences are at work sufficiently powerful to prevent further exposure of the scandal and reopen a loophole for escape for those already accused.
The manner in which the prosecution of Wilde and Taylor was conducted has aroused universal public suspicion. It lacked entirely the vigor and skill with which the case for the Marquis of Queensberry was handled in its recent trial, when the jury, without leaving their seats, declared that Wilde was guilty of what the marquis had charged. It seemed in some matters as if the prosecution was deliberately playing into the hands of the defence, while the cross-examination of Wilde, which, in the Queensberry case almost alone sufficed for his conviction, was a mere farce.
The manner in which the prosecution of Wilde and Taylor was conducted aroused universal suspicion. It lacked entirely the vigor and skill with which the case for the Marquis of Queensberry was handled in the recent trial, when the jury, without leaving their seats, declared that Wilde was guilty of what the Marquis had charged. It seemed at the second trial in some matters as if the prosecution was deliberately playing into the hands of the defense, while the cross-examination of Wilde, which in the Queensberry case almost alone sufficed for his conviction, was a mere farce, instead of making the testimony overwhelming, which the police say might have been done.
The manner in which the prosecution of Wilde and Taylor was conducted aroused universal suspicion. It lacked entirely the vigor end kill with which the case for the Marquis of Qeeensberry was handled in the recent trial, when the jury, without leaving their seats, declared that Wilde was guilty of what the Marquis had charged. It seemed at the second trial, in some matters, as if the prosecution was deliberately playing into the hands of the defense, while the cross-examination of Wilde, which in the Queensberry case almost alone sufficed for his conviction, was a mere farce, instead of making the testimony overwhelming, which the police say might have been done.
Instead of making the testimony overwhelming, which the police say might have been done, everybody present at the trial gained the impression that it was the policy of the prosecution to limit the disclosures as much as possible. More than one reporter attending the trial said to The Globe correspondent before the case went to the jury that the conduct of the prosecution had been so peculiar they did not believe conviction possible.
Everybody present at the trial gained the impression that it was the policy of the prosecution to limit the disclosures as much as possible. More than one reporter attending the trial said to me, before the case went to the jury, that the conduct of the prosecution had been so peculiar they did not believe conviction was possible.
The public has been quick to detect and resent the same thing, and the persistent coupling of great names with stupendous scandals awaiting exposure has increased the popular suspicion, and it is this feeling which may be seized upon by the Queensberry Association may as a potent weapon of an angry public opinion.
The progress of the Oscar Wilde case at the next session, if he appears for trial, will therefore be watched with the keenest suspicion by the general public. The suspicion may find such emphatic expression before that time that even the highest power in the land will not deem it prudent to put the smallest obstacle in the way of the natural course of events.
The progress of the Oscar Wilde case next session, if he appears for trial, will be watched with the keenest suspicion by the general public. This suspicion may find such emphatic expression before that time that even the highest power in the land will not deem it prudent to put the smallest obstacle in the way of the natural course of events. It need hardly be said that no escape from legal penalties, however obtained, will change the opinion which had been produced by Wilde’s own testimony in the Queensberry trial.
The progress of the Oscar Wilde case next session, if he appears for trial, will be watched with the keenest suspicion by the general public. This suspicion may find such emphatic expression before that time that even the highest power in the land will not deem it prudent to put the smallest obstacle in the way of the natural course of events. It need hardly be said that no escape from legal penalties, however obtained, will change the opinion which has been produced by Wilde's own testimony in the Queensberry trial.
It needs hardly be said that no escape from the legal penalties, however obtained, will change the opinion which was produced by Wilde’s own testimony in the Queensberry trial. A member of the jury which was unable to agree this week says that from almost the outset of the trial one member of the panel declared that he would not find Wilde guilty. The jury had a stormy time trying to agree, but the obstinate juror, who is an ex soldier, said in effect that he would not vote guilty on any evidence, no matter how complete. The actual polling was 10 to 2 in favor of conviction.
A member of the jury which was unable to agree says that almost from the outset of the trial a member of the panel declared that he would not find Wilde guilty. The jury had a stormy time trying to agree. The obstinate juror, who is an ex-soldier, said in effect that he would not vote guilty on any evidence, no matter how complete. The actual pooling was 10 to 1 in favor of conviction.
A member of the jury which was unable to agree says that almost from the outset of the trial a member of the panel declared that be would not find Wilde guilty. The jury had a stormy time trying to agree. The obstinate juror, who is an ex-soldier, said in effect that he would not vote guilty on any evidence no matter how complete. The actual pooling was 10 to 1 in favor of conviction.