THE LONDON SOCIETY SCANDAL.

Evening Star, Issue 9716, 27 May 1895, Page 2

THE LONDON SOCIETY SCANDAL.

WILDE AND TAYLOR SENTENCED.

[Per Press Association.]

LONDON, May 25. The trial of Oscar Wilde was concluded to-day. The summing up of the judge occupied three hours, and the jury were absent two hours in considering their verdict. At the end of that time they re turned with a verdict of guilty on all counts.

His Honor, in sentencing the prisoners Wilde and Taylor, spoke with great emotion. The verdict to bis mind was right beyond all shadow of doubt, and it appeared to him useless to address the prisoners, who were evidently dead to all sense of shame. The case was the worst of its kind he had ever had before him, and in passing the most severe sentence the law permitted he regretted that it was totally inadequate to the dastardly nature of the offence. He then sentenced each prisoner to two years’ hard labor. Taylor left the dock with a firm step, but Wilde appeared haggard and dazed.

(Special to Press Association.]

w . LONDON, May 25. Wilde, after being sentenced, appeared quite dazed and horror-struek. In bi§ despair he weakly murmured a request to he permitted to address the Court, but this was unheeded, and the warders hurried him off to the coll.

, During the trial Wilde, who appeared fo be suffering from weakness, was allowed to remain seated in the witness box. While giving evidence on his own behalf, he said he always understood Taylor to be a respectable man ; and, referring to his associations with him, said the reason of the friendship was because he personally Ijked praise, and lionising was delightful.” Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them. The jury asked whether it was intended to arrest Lord Alfred Douglas. The judge replied that he was not aware of the intentions of the police. But in any case it did not affect the present trial.

The jury thought if Wilde’s letter showed him to be guilty, the guilt applied equally to Lord Alfred Douglas. His Honor concurred in this opinion, hut added that the jury's suspicion that the son of the Marquis of Queensberry was being allowed to escape owing to his connections was both unfounded and impossible.