1 May 1895 - The Globe (London)
Page 5, Column 2, Link
There was a crowded Court at the Old Bailey to-day when the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor on charges under the Criminal Law Amendment Act entered upon its final stage, after having occupied four days, before Mr. Justice Charles and a jury.
Mr. C. F. Gill and Mr. H. Avory prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury; Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., Mr. Charles Mathews, and Mr. Travers Humphreys defended Oscar Wilde; Mr. J. P. Grain and Mr. Paul Taylor defended Alfred Taylor.
His Lordship on taking his seat at once commenced to sum up. Having explained the nature of the indictments, he said the prosecution had taken a wise course in withdrawing the charges of conspiracy, inasmuch as it relieved the court and the jury from a position which might have been an embarrassing one, for as long as conspiracy was in the indictment, this singular state of things resulted from the present state of the law; the defendants were able to step into the witness-box and speak as to the charges of committing offences, but they were not able to give evidence as to conspiracy. He did not know why the charges of conspiracy had been put forward at all, and the defendants were entitled to an acquittal on those counts. Then in reference to Taylor, there were two other counts on which no evidence had been called. Turning to consider the evidence the learned judge asked the jury to try to apply their minds only to the testimony given before them. For weeks past one had scarcely been able to open a newspaper without seeing some remark or other with reference to the conduct of the defendants, and more especially of Wilde. He hoped that none had formed prior opinions of any sort of kind, and if preconceived notions had been entertained, he begged the jury to place them on one side. He knew he did not ask that in vain. They knew well the solemnity and the responsibility
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