The New York Times - Thursday, May 2, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
OSCAR WILDE'S GUILT DOUBTED.
Acquittal on Conspiracy Charges and Disagreement on Others.
LONDON, May 1. -- The Old Bailey courtroom was crowded at the opening: of the Wilde trial this morning. Wilde looked careworn and anxious, but Taylor maintained his air of unconcern.
London, April 1.- The old Bailey court room was crowded at the opening of the Wilde trial this morning. Wilde looked careworn and anxious, but Taylor maintained the air of unconcern which has characterized him throughout.
Justice Charles said that the evidence had not sustained the charges of conspiracy. He therefore directed the jury to acquit the prisoners of those charges. The Judge then proceeded to analyze the evidence, solely referring to Wilde, and begged the jury to dismiss from their minds all press comments and other outside expressions of opinion upon the case.
It was a wholesome rule, he said, to refuse to accept the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice. He was of the opinion, however, that there was corroboration in the testimony of all the witnesses in the sense that the law required.
Parker, Wood, and Atkins were properly described as blackmailers. Furthermore, Atkins had told deliberate falsehoods within the hearing of the jury. In weighing the details of the evidence of these witnesses the jury could not overlook the fact that they were persons of the character which they themselves had asserted.
The young men who had been called to the witness stand were not only accomplices, but Parker Wood and Atkins were properly described as blackmailers. Furthermore, Atkins had told deliberate falsehoods within the hearing of the jury. In weighing the details of the evidence of these witnesses the jury could not overlook the fact that they were persons of the character they themselves asserted.
The Judge then proceeded to trace the history of the Queensberry trial. In regard to Wilde's literature, he did not think that in a criminal case the jury ought to base an unfavorable inference upon Wilde's authorship of "Dorian Grey." As regarded the story of the "Priest and Acolyte," in The Chameleon, he thought it would be absurd to impute blame to Wilde. The sonnets of Lord Alfred Douglas, which Wilde had approved, were much more material, as were also Wilde's letters.
The judge then proceeded to trace the history of the Queensberry trial. In regard to Wilde’s literature, he did not think that in a criminal case the jury ought to base an unfavorable inference upon Wilde’s authorship of "Dorian Gray." As regard to the story of the priest and acolyte in the Chameleon magazine, he thought it would be absurd to impute blame to Wilde. The sonnets of Lord Douglas, which Wilde had approved, were much more material, as were also Wilde’s letters which Mr. Carson in the Queensberry trial had described as horribly indecent. But wild denied that there was anything in them to be ashamed of. The jury, he said, must exercise their own judgment in regard to the letters.
The judge then proceeded to trace the history of the Queensberry trial. In regard to Wilde’s literature, he did not think that in a criminal case the jury ought to base an unfavorable inference upon Wilde’s authorship of "Dorian Grey." As regarded the story of the priest and acolyte in the Chamelon (magazine), he thought it would be absurd to impute blame to Wilde. The sonnets of Lord Alfred Douglass, which Wilde had approved, were much more material, as were also Wilde’s letters, which Mr. Carson, in the Queensberry trial, had described as horribly indecent. These letters were couched in the language of passionate love, but Wilde denied that there was anything in them to be ashamed of. The jury, he said, must exercise their own judgment in regard to the letters.
The Judge then proceeded to trace the history of the Queensberry trial. In regard to Wilde’s literature, he did not think that in a criminal case the jury ought to base an unfavorable inference upon Wilde’s authorship of "Dorian Grey." In regard to the story of "The Priest and Acolyte" in the Chameleon (magazine), he thought it would be absurd to impute blame to Wilde. The sonnets of Lord Alfred Douglas, which Wilde had approved, were much more material, as were also Wilde’s letters, which Mr. Carson, in the Queensberry trial, had described as horribly indecent. These letters were couched in the language of passionate love, but Wilde denied that there was anything in them to be ashamed of. The jury, he said, must exercise their own judgment in regard to the letters.
The jury acquitted Wilde of the charges against him in connection with Atkins, and reported to the court that it was impossible for them to agree in regard to the other charges. They, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy.
The jury acquitted Wilde of the charges against him in connection with Atkins, and reported to the court that it was impossible for them to agree in regard to the other charges. They, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy.
The jury acquitted Wilde of the charges against him in connection with Atkins, and reported to the court that it was impossible for them to agree in regard to the other charges. They, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy.
London. May 2.- The jury acquitted Oscar Wilde of the charges against him in connection with Atkins and reported to the court that it was impossible for them to agree in regard to the other charges. They, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy.
The jury acquitted Wilde of the charges against him in connection with Atkins, and reported that it was impossible to agree in regard to the other charges. The jury, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy.
The jury acquitted Wilde of the charges against him in connection with Atkins, and reported to the court that it was impossible for them to agree in regard to the other charges. They, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy. Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said the case would undoubtedly be tried at the next session.
LONDON, May 1. - The jury acquitted Wilde of the charges against him in connection with Atkins and reported to the court that it was impossible for them to agree in regard to the other charges. They, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy. Sir Edward Clarke asked that Wilde be admitted to bail, but the court refused the request.
Sir Edward Clarke asked that Wilde be admitted to bail, but the court refused the request.
Sir Edward Clarke asked that Wilde be admitted to bail, but the court refused the request.
Sir Edward Clarke asked that Wilde and Taylor be admitted to bail, but the court refused the request.
Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said that the case would undoubtedly be tried at the next sessions.
Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said that the case would undoubtedly be tried at the next session.
Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said that the case would undoubtedly be tried at the next session.
Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said the case would undoubtedly be tried at the next session.
Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said the case would undoubtedly be tried again at the next session.
Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said that the case would undoubtedly be tried at the next sessions. Wilde and Taylor were returned to Holloway jail.
Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said that the case would undoubtedly be tried at the next sessions. Wilde and Taylor were returned to Holloway Jail.
Wilde and Taylor were returned to Holloway Jail.
Several newspapers say that Wilde's speech may have saved him from a verdict of guilty. They quote as the most eloquent part of his plea the following phrases:
"It is such a great affection of the elder for the younger man as existed between David and Jonathan; such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy; such as we find in the sonnets of Michael Angelo and Shakespeare. It is that deep spiritual affection which is as pure as it is perfect, and dictates great works of art like those of Shakespeare and Angelo and these two letters of mine, such as they are.
"It is such a great affection of the elder for the younger man as existed between David and Jonathon: such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy; such as we find in the sonnets of Michael Angelo and Shakespeare. It is that deep spiritual affection which is as pure as it is perfect, and dictates great works of art like those of Shakespeare and Anelo and these two letters of mine, such as they are.
"This love is misunderstood in the present century--so misunderstood that on account of it I am placed where I now am. It is beautiful; it is fine; it is the noblest form of affection. It is intellectual and has existed repeatedly between an elder and a younger man when the elder has the intellect and the younger has all the joy and hope and glamour of life. That it should be so the world does not understand. The world mocks at it and sometimes puts one in the pillory for it."
"This love is misunderstood in the present century-so misunderstood that on account of it I am placed where I am. It is beautiful: it is fine; it is the noblest form of affection. It is intellectual, and has existed repeatedly between an elder and a younger man when the elder has the intellect and the younger has all the joy and hope and glamor of life. That it should be so the world does not understand. The world mocks at it, and sometimes puts one on the pillory for it."
"This love is misunderstood in the present century--so misunderstood that I am placed where I now am. It is beautiful as it is fine; it is the nobliest form of affection. It is intellectual and has existed repeatedly between an elder and a younger man when the elder has the intellect and the younger has all the joy and hope and glamour of life. That it should be so the world does not understand. The world mocks at it and sometimes puts one in the pillory for it."
"It is intellectual, and has existed repeatedly between an elder and a younger man when the elder has the intellect and the younger has all the joy and hope and glamor of life. That it should be so the world does not understand. The world mocks at it, and sometimes puts one on the pillory for it."