The Philadelphia Inquirer - Sunday, May 26, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
OSCAR WILDE A WRECK.
His Appearance in the Dock—The Punishment Severe.
Special Cable to the Inquirer, Copyright, 1895
LONDON, May 25. — The verdict of guilty returned against Oscar Wilde seems to have caused surprise, public feeling having somewhat reacted in his favor during the trial.
The verdict of guilty returned against Oscar Wilde seemed to have caused some surprise, public feeling having somewhat reacted in his favor during the trial.
Sir Frank Lockwood, the Solicitor-General, who prosecuted Wilde, said when asked his opinion at the House of Commons, on Friday night: "He will be acquitted, I am sorry to say."
Sir Frank Lockwood, the Solicitor-General, who prosecuted the case, said when asked his opinion at the House of Commons on Friday night: "He will be acquitted, I am sorry to say."
An Inquirer representative saw the defendant in court. A more abject, pitiable spectacle than Wilde presented could not be imagined. His face was haggard, his eyes sunken and bloodshot, his hair unkempt and coarse. He appeared absolutely dazed. Occasionally his body swayed to and fro as if he was suffering intense mental agony.
He sat in a corner of the dock with his face turned steadfastly towards the witness stand and the jury, avoiding, with nervous terror, looking in the direction of the public galleries, where many men who had known him were sitting.
Colonel Stanley Clark, equerry to the Prince of Wales, was present almost throughout the trial. Lord Queensberry and his son, Lord Douglas of Wawick, were also present. Wilde's appearance yesterday had still further changed for the worse. As the crucial moment of the proceedings approached his suffering obviously increased to a painful extent. He had a bottle of smelling salts, with which he occasionally refreshed himself. He sometimes sought relief in absently drawing lines on a sheet of foolscap with a quill pen. His trembling hand got splotched all over with ink, and great drops got on his cuffs. He looked like one in a dream, unconscious of what he was doing. The spectacle of human abasement was shocking. Those who saw this wreck of manhood must have thought he had already atoned, as far as suffering could atone, for his crime.
Wilde’s appearance yesterday had still further changed for the worst. As the crucial moment of the proceedings approached his suffering obviously increased to a painful extent. He had a bottle of smelling salts with which he occasionally refreshed himself. He sometimes sought relief in absently drawing lines on a sheet of foolscap with a quill pen. His trembling hand got splotched all over with ink, and great blots got on his cuffs. He looked like one in a dream, unconscious of what he was doing. The spectacle of human abasement was shocking.
The punishment he is sentenced to undergo is the severest known to the law. It practically means a continuous period of solitary confinement for the two years' term of his sentence. Regular "jail birds" always prefer five years of penal servitude to two years imprisonment, owing to the easier conditions of the former.
The punishment he is sentenced to undergo is the severest known to law. It practically means a continuous period of solitary confinement for two years, the term of his sentence. The regular "jail-birds" always prefer five years of penal servitude to two years’ imprisonment, owing to the easier conditions of the former.
The punishment Wilde is sentenced to undergo is the severest known to the law. It practically means a continuous period of solitary confinement for the term of the two years term of his sentence. Regular "jail birds" always prefer five years of penal servitude to two years imprisonment, owing to the easier conditions of the former. Wilde will not be permitted to see any visitor for three months, but by exceptionally good conduct he can secure a slight reduction of his sentence.
Wilde will not be permitted to see any visitors for three months, but by exceptionally good conduct he can secure a slight reduction of his sentence.
Wilde will not be permitted to see any visitor for three months, but by exceptionally good conduct he he can secure a slight reduction of his sentence.
Lord Alfred Douglas said that if Wilde were convicted he would take a house near the prison until Wilde's release.. but it is now clear that if Lord Alfred returns to England he will be arrested on the same charge as Wilde.
Lord Alfred Douglas said that if Wilde were convicted he would take a house near the prison until Wilde’s release, but it is now clear that if Lord Alfred returns to England he will be arrested on the same charge as was Wilde.
Lord Alfred Douglas said that if Wilde were convicted he would take a house near the prison until Wilde’s release, but it is now clear that if Lord Alfred Douglas returns to England he will be arrested on the same charge as Wilde.
Lord Douglas, of Hawick, learning that an interview with his father, the Marquis of Queensberry, had been cabled to the Inquirer, called on your correspondent last night and made the following written statement in reply:
Lord Douglas of Hawick, learning that an interview with his father, the Marquis of Queensberry, had been cabled to the World, called on the World correspondent last night and made the following written statement in reply:
"I am obliged by your invitation to cable what I may have to say, but I do not see my way clear to say one single word which may in any way aggravate the strained relations existing between myself and my father. My only object in addressing him the other day was to try and induce him to refrain from writing me letters, causing both my wife and myself great sorry and worry. No one regrets more than myself the fact that so innocent a step should have led to such a display of anger."
Lord Douglas is an undersized young fellow, with very simple manners, and really seems much affected by the trouble between himself and his father. His right eye was still black and blue from his father's blow in Piccadilly.
Lord Douglas of Hawick is an undersized young fellow, with very simple manners, and really seemed much affected by the trouble between himself and father. His right eye was still black and blue from his father's blow in Piccadilly.