The Evening Star - Saturday, July 6, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
LONDON GOSSIP.
[From Our Special Correspondent.]
OSCAR WILDE
The May sessions of the Central Criminal Court commence next Monday, and Oscar Wilde's case is to be taken first. Mr Justice Wills, instead of Mr Justice Charles, will preside, and Mr Poland may conduct the prosecution either with or without Mr Gill. On dit, the manner in which the Crown's case was presented last month has been severely criticized in legal circles. Mr Russell (who acted for Lord Queensberry in the civil trial) scoffs at the ineptitude of the Treasury solicitors, and at their failing to secure a verdict. The evidence, properly handled, was, in his view, impossible to combat, but the Treasury had offended their most important witnesses before they put them in the box. On the other hand Sir Edward Clarke made the very most of every point for Oscar. Nevertheless, it is stated the manner in which the jury divided was erroneously announced. Instead of being fairly divided for and against conviction, a juror writes:—"On each of the three vital issues ten were for conviction and two for acquittal." A great many people are of the opinion that, looking at the terrible completeness of Wilde's professional, social, and financial ruin, he has been already sufficiently punished.
At the second trial Justice Wills presided, and Wilde came into court accompanied by his bondsmen, Lord Douglas, of Hawick, and the Rev. Stewart Headlam, of the London School Board. The latter said: "I felt that the public mind was prejudiced before the case began, and I was anxious to give Wilde any help possible to enable him to stand his trial in good health and spirits." Taylor was tried first, and he was put on the witness stand, and repeated the statements he made previously. Replying to a question in regard to the visitors at his rooms, he asked to be allowed to write their names. The judge said: "If the names are written I will read them aloud; I do not approve of mystery." Taylor did not write the names, but mentioned a few who have been connected with the case. There were no notable names among them. He denied that he had gone through a marriage ceremony with a man named Mason. After the libel trial of Wilde against Lord Queensberry the latter's solicitor, he said, had asked him to make a statement against Wilde, but this he had refused to do. He admitted he had written a letter to the man Mason signing himself "With love."
During Taylor's trial he was called to the stand, and repeated the statements he made previously. Replying to a question in regard to the visitors at his rooms, he asked to be allowed to write their names. The Judge said, "If the names are written I will read them aloud; I do not approve of mystery." Taylor did not write the names, but mentioned a few who have been connected with the case. There were no notable names among them. He denied that he had gone through a marriage ceremony with a man named Mason. After the libel trial of Wilde against Lord Queensberry the latter's solicitor, he said, had asked him to make a statement against Wilde, but this he had refused to do. He admitted he had written a letter to the man Mason, signing himself "With love."
At the close of the day's proceedings the Marquis of Queensberry and his eldest son had an encounter at the corner of Albemarle and Piccadilly, in which the latter got a black eye. They afterwards appeared before the police magistrate at the Old Bailey, and were bound over to keep the peace. The crowd cheered the Marquis as he drove away. The son's wife received this characteristic telegram from her father-in-law: "I must congratulate you on the result, but I cannot congratulate you on Percy's appearance. He looks like a dug-up corpse. I fear there is too much madness in kissing. Taylor is guilty. It will be Wilde's turn to-morrow."
The principal witnesses against Wilde were the youth Shelley, Parker's servants, and the servants at the Savoy. Wilde, called on to testify on his own behalf, related that he had been on terms of intimacy with the Marquis of Queensberry's family for years, and entirely denied the charges made against him.
Wilde was called to the witness-box and given a chair, as he seemed to be broken down. In answer to questions he related how he had been on terms of intimacy with the Marquis of Queensberry's family for years, and entirely denied the charges made against him.
Sir Frank Lockwood subjected the defendant to half an hour's severe cross-examination. When Wilde was asked about the famous letters he had written to Lord Douglas, which were read at the time of the first trial, he said it was a beautiful way in which an artist would write to a cultured young man. Taking up the letter Wilde had written to Lord Alfred praising his "red roseleaf lips" and "slim gilt soul" that "walked between poetry and passion," Sir Frank asked the defendant whether he considered this letter decent. Wilde replied: "Decency does not come into the question." "Do you understand the meaning of the word?" asked the counsel sternly. "Yes," replied Wilde. Wilde admitted that he made repeated visits to the rooms of Alfred Taylor, where he met a number of young men. Wilde also admitted his association with the other young men whose names were mentioned in the previous trial.
Sir Edward Clarke, in his address to the jury, asked them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the Press.—(Applause.)
Sir Edward Clarke briefly re-examined Wilde, and then made his final address to the jury, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press—(Applause).
Sir Edward Clarke briefly re-examined Wilde and then made his final address to the jury, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press. (Applause.)
Sir Edward Clarke briefly re-examined Wilde and then made his final address to the jury, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press. (Applause.)
Sir Edward Clarke briefly re-examined Wilde and then made his final address to the jury, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press. [Applause.]
Sir Edward Clarke briefly re-examined Wilde, and then made his final address to the jury, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press. [Applause.]
Sir Edward Clarke briefly re-examined Wilde, and then made his final address to the jury, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press—(Applause).
Sir Edward Clarke briefly re-examined Wilde and then made his final address to the jury, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press. [Applause.]
Sir Edward Clarke briefly reexamined Wilde and then made his final address to the Jury, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press.(Applause.)
Sir Edward Clarke briefly reexamined Wilde and then made his final address to the jury, asking it to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press. [Applause.]
Sir Edward Clarke briefly re-examined Wilde, and then made his final address to the jury, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had barely been quenched by the torrents of prejudice in the press. (Applause).
Sir Edward Clarke briefly re-examined Wilde, and then made his final address to the jurors, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which had been "nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press."
The Solicitor-General, in addressing the jury, commented severely on the prisoner's intimacy with Lord Alfred Douglas, and his conduct at hotels and public places in and about London. Referring to the letters Wilde wrote to Lord Alfred Douglas, counsel said the jury had been told that they were too low to appreciate such poetry, and he thanked God it was so, for it showed that they were above the level of beasts. Sir F. Lockwood asked the jury to return a verdict which would prevent "such detestable and abominable vice from rearing its head unblushingly in this country."
The summing-up of the judge was, on the whole, favorable to Wilde. During its delivery the foreman of the jury asked whether, in view of the intimacy between Lord Alfred Douglas and Alfred Wood, one of the men whose names had been brought prominently in the case, a warrant for Lord Alfred's arrest had ever been issued. The judge replied that he thought not. The foreman then asked if it had ever been thought of. To this the judge replied that he could not say. He added that the suspicion that Lord Alfred Douglas would be spared if guilty was a wild idea, and a matter that they could not discuss. The present inquiry was as to whether the man in the dock was guilty of immoral practices with certain men.
Justice Wills began summing up at half-past 1 p.m. The general tenor of his address was favourable to Wilde. During its delivery the foreman of the jury asked whether, in view of the intimacy between Lord Alfred Douglas and Alfred Wood, one of the men whose names had been brought prominently in the case, a warrant for Lord Alfred's arrest had ever been issued. The Judge replied that he thought not. The Foreman then asked if it had ever been thought of. To this the Judge replied that he could not say. He added that the suspicion that Lord Alfred Douglas would be spared if guilty was a wild idea, and a matter that they could not discuss. The present inquiry was as to whether the man in the dock was guilty of immoral practices with certain men.
Justice Wills began summing up at half-past 1 p.m. the general tenor of his address was favourable to Wilde. During its delivery the foreman of the jury asked whether, in view of the intimacy between Lord Alfred Douglas and Alfred Wood, one of the men whose names had been brought prominently in the case, a warrant for Lord Alfred's arrest had ever been issued. The Judge replied that he thought not. The Foreman then asked if it had ever been thought of. To this the Judge replied that he could not say. He added that the suspicion that Lord Alfred Douglas would be spared if guilty was a wild idea, and a matter that they could not discuss. The present inquiry was as to whether the man in the dock was guilty of immoral practices with certain men.
Justice Wills began summing up at half-past one p.m. The general tenor of his address was favourable to Wilde. During its delivery the foreman of the jury asked whether, in view of the intimacy between Lord Alfred Douglas and Alfred Wood, one of the men whose names had been brought prominently in the case, a warrant for Lord Alfred's arrest had even been issued. The Judge replied that he thought not. The foreman then asked if it had ever been thought of. To this the Judge replied that he could not say. He added that the suspicion that Lord Alfred Douglas would be spared if guilty was a wild idea, and a matter that they could not discuss. The present inquiry was as to whether the man in the dock was guilty of immoral practices with certain men.
Justice Wills then summed up the case. During his address of to the jury the foreman asked whether, in view of the intimacy between Lord Alfred Douglas and Alfred Wood, one of the men whose name has been brought prominently into the case, a warrant for Lord Alfred's arrest had ever been issued. The Judge replied that he thought not. The foreman then asked if it had ever been thought of. To this the Judge replied he could not say. He added that the suspicion that Lord Alfred Douglas would be spared if guilty simply because he was Lord Alfred Douglas was a wild idea, and a matter which they could not discuss. The present inquiry was as to whether the man in the dock was guilty.
During the address of Justice Wills to the jury the foreman of the jury asked whether, in view of the intimacy between Lord Alfred Douglas and Alfred Wood, one of men whose name had been brought prominently into the case, a warrant for Lord Alfred's arrest had ever been issued. The judge replied that he thought not. The foreman then asked if it had ever been contemplated to issue a warrant for the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas. To this the Judge replied that he could not say, and the Court adjourned for lunch.
The jury returned at half-past five o'clock, having been absent from court about four hours, and gave in a verdict of guilty. Wilde was found guilty on all points of the indictment, including the charge with reference to persons unknown who were also pronounced guilty. This probably referred to the Savoy Hotel evidence.
The jury returned at half-past five o'clock, having been absent from the court about four hours, and gave in a verdict of guilty. Wilde was found guilty on all the points of the indictment, including the charge with reference to persons unknown, who were also pronounced guilty. This probably refers to the Savoy Hotel evidence, to which place Wilde was accused of taking Charles Parker, a gentleman's servant, after treating the latter to a choice dinner in Kittner's restaurant.
The jury returned at half-past 5 o'clock, having been absent from court about four hours, and gave in a verdict of guilty. Wilde was found guilty on all the points of the indictment, including the charge with reference to persons unknown, who were also pronounced guilty. This probably refers to the Savoy Hotel evidence, to which place Wilde was accused of taking Charles Parker, a gentleman's servant, after treating the latter to a choice dinner in Kittner's restaurant.
The jury returned at half-past 5 o'clock, having been absent from court about four hours, and gave in a verdict of guilty. Wilde was found guilty on all the points of the indictment, including the charge with reference to persons unknown, who were also pronounced guilty. This probably refers to the Savoy Hotel evidence, to which place Wilde was accused of taking Charles Parker, a gentleman's servant, after treating the latter to a choice dinner in Kittner's restaurant.
While the jury were out, Wilde's counsel procured from him, at the request of a representative of the Associated Press, the following signed statement:—"The charges against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artists try to attain. All works of art are produced in the moment of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and well-born on account of their luxury, culture, the grace of their lives, and the external accidents of comely life. But anyone, a ploughboy, fisherman, or street arab has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do. I don't care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom. Their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions.
While the jury was out Wilde's counsel procured for him, at the request of a representative of the Associated Press, the following signed statement:—"The charges against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artists try to attain. All works of art are produced in the moment of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and well-born on account of their luxury, culture, the grace of their lives and the external accidents of comely life. But any one, a plough boy, fisherman, or street arab has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do. I don't care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom. Their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions.—Oscar Wilde."
The charges alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artists try to attain. All works of art are works produced in the moment of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and well-born on account of their luxury, culture, the grace of their lives, the external accidents of comely life. But anyone, plowboy, fisherman, or street arab, has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do. I don’t care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom; their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions.
The charges against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artists try to attain. All works of art are produced in the moment of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and well born on account of their luxury, culture, the grace of their lives and the external accidents of comely life. But anyone, a plowboy, fisherman or street arab, has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do. I don't care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom. Their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions. OSCAR WILDE.
"The charges against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me, because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artists try to attain. All works of art are produced in the moment of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and well-born on account of their luxury, culture, the grace of their lives, the external accidents of comely life. But any one -- plowboy, fisherman, or street arab -- has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do. I don't care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom; their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions.
"OSCAR WILDE."
"The charges alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artist has to try to attain. All works of art are works produced in the moment of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and wellborn on account of their luxury, culture, the grace of their lives, the external accidents of comely life. But any one, ploughboy, fisherman or street arab, has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do. I do not care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom; their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions. OSCAR WILDE."
"The charges alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me, because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artists try to attain. All works of art are work produced in the moment of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and well born, on account of their luxury, culture, the grace of their lives, the external accidents of comity life. But any one, plowboy, fisherman or street arab has an interest for me. More humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do. I do not care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom: their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions. "OSCAR WILDE."
While the jury was out, at the request of a representative of the Associated Press, Wilde’s counsel procured the following signed statement from Wilde: "The charges against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me, because it has naturally that temperament to which the artists try to attain. All works are works produced in the moments of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and well born on account of their luxury, culture, grace of their lives, external accents of a comely life. But anyone, ploughboy, fisherman, street arab has an interest for me, mere humanity is so wonderful. I doubt if I can ask of the young what they do. Their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions."
While the jury was out, at the request of the representative of the Associated Press, Wilde's counsel procured the following statement from Wilde who was waiting in the prisoners' room below the dock: "The charges alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form has fascinated me, because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artist has to try to attain. All works of art are works produced in a moment of youth, and I have a sense of all the serial grades. I love society, the rich and well-born, on account of their luxury, culture and the graces of their lives, and the external accidents of comely life. But anyone, plough boy, fisherman, or street arab, has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful, I do not ask of the young what they do, I do not care who they are, their ignorance has its mode of wisdom, their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions. (Signed) Oscar Wilde."
"The charges alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me, because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artist has to try to attain. All works of art are works produced in the moment of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and well born on account of their luxury, culture, the grace of their lives, the external accidents of comely life. But anyone, ploughboy, fisherman or street arab, has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do I do not care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom; their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impression. (Signed.)
"OSCAR WILDE."
The charges alleged against me are untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me, because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artist has to try to attain. All works of art are works produced in the moment of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and well-born on account of their luxury, culture, the grace of their lives, the external accidents of comely life; but anyone – plough-boy, fisherman or street arab - has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do. I do not care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom; their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions.
OSCAR WILDE.
The charges alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form always fascinated me, because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artist try to attain. All works of art are works produced in a moment of youth. I have no sense at all of social grades. I love society and the rich and well-born on account of their luxury, culture, the grace of their lives, the external accidents of comely life. But any one, plowboy, fisherman or street arab has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom. Their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impression.
OSCAR WILDE.
While the jury was out, at the request of the representative of the Associated Press, Wilde's counsel procured the following statement from Wilde who was waiting in the prisoners' room below the dock: "The charges alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youth in every form has fascinated me, because youth has naturally that temperament to which the artist has to try to attain. All works of art are works produced in a moment of youth, and I have a sense of all the serial grades. I love society, the rich and well-born, on account of their luxury, culture and the graces of their lives, and the external accidents of comely life. But anyone, plough boy, fisherman, or street arab, has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do, I do not care who they are, their ignorance has its mode of wisdom, their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions. (Signed) Oscar Wilde." The document of the above statement is written in Wilde's own writing.
"The charges alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youth of every form always fascinated me, because youth has naturally that temperament to an artist has to try to attain. All works of art are works produced in a moment of youth. I have a sense of all social grades. I love society, rich and well born on account of their luxury and the culture and grace of their lives, external accidents come to life. But, anyone, a plague boy, fisherman, or street Arab, has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do. I do not care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom, their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions. (Signed), Oscar Wilde."
While the jury were out, at the request of a representative of the Associated Press, Wilde’s counsel procured the following signed statement from Wilde, who was waiting with the prisoners in the room below the dock: "The charge alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youths of every form are always attractive, because youth has naturally the temperament to which the artist has to try to attain. All works of art are works produced in a moment of youth, and I have seen all the several grades. I love the society of the rich and well-born, on account of the luxury, culture and grace of their lives, but any one, ploughboy or street arab, has interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful, I do not ask of the young men what they do, I do not care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom, their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions. [signed.) Oscar Wilde." The document of the above statement was written throughout in Wilde's own writing.
The judge, in passing sentence, expressed his regret that he was unable to make the punishment more sever. [The finish of the trial reaches us via San Francisco.—Ed. E.S.]