THE LONDON SCANDAL.
REMARKS BY THE JUDGE.
COMPLETE DENIAL BY OSCAR
WILDE.
END OF THE TRIAL.
GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS.
SCATHING COMMENTS BY THE
COURT.
AN EXTREME PENALTY. Press Association.— Telegraph.—Copyright.
London, May 24. At the trial of Oscar Wilde, the Judge said he was of opinion that Shelley suffered from delusions, and that there was nothing unnatural in his friendship with the accused. The evidence, too, he said, did not prove otherwise than that the friendship was perfectly honourable.
London, May 25.
In his evidence, Oscar Wilde denied in toto all the charges made against him.
London, May 26. The trial of Oscar Wilde has concluded.
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 returned with a verdict of " Guilty " on all counts. •
His Honor, in sentencing the prisoners (Wilde and Taylor), spoke with great emotion. The verdict, to his mind, was a correct one 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 labour. Taylor left the dock with a firm step, but Wilde appeared haggard and dazed.
Later.
Wilde, after being sentenced, appeared quite dazed and horror-struck. In his despair he weakly muttered a request to be permitted to address the Court, but this was unheeded, and the warders hurried him off to the cell. During the trial, Wilde, who appeared to 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 saw reason for friendship, because he personally liked praise, and lionising was delightful.
Sir Edwd. Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses for tho prosecution were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.
The jury asked whether it wa3 intended to arrest Lord Alfred Douglas ?
The' Judge replied he was not aware of the intention of the police ; but, in any case, that did nob affect the present trial.
The jury thought if Wilde's letter showed him guilty the guilt applied equally to Lord Alfred Douglas.
His Honor concurred in his opinion, but 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.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9830, 27 May 1895, Page 5
Word Count
459THE LONDON SCANDAL. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9830, 27 May 1895, Page 5
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