Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-25
The Playwright and Poet Sentenced
to Prison
FOR Two YEARS With HARD LABOR
The Solicitor Generals Impassioned
Appeal.
A JURYMAN's QUESTION

LONDON, May 25.-The jury in the
Wilde case has rendered verdict of
guilty and he has been sentenced to prison
for two years with hard labor.
Oscar Wilde's trial having reached its
final stage the Old Bailey court room was
filled with interested spectators almost as
soon as the doors were opened today Sir
Frank Lockwood. the solicitor general, re-
sumed his address to the jury, which he
had just begun when court adjourned yes
terday. The prisoners intimacy with
Lord Alfred Douglas and the exhibition of
the younger man by the elder one at hotels
and public places in and about London
were severely commented upon by counsel.
lettering to the much-commented-upon
letters which Wilde wrote to Lord Alfred
Douglas counsel said that the Jury had
been told that they were too low to ap-
pleciate such poetry and that he thanked
God it was SO. as 1t showed they were
above the level Of beasts. Applause,
which the judge promptly suppressed.
Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for
Wilde here interposed objections to such
appeals as the one just made by Sir Frank
Lockwood. which. counsel claimed, should
rot be allowed.
When Sir Fl ank Lockwood continued his
speech he warned the jury to render
verdict which would prevent such a de-
head uEblushingly in this country"
A Favorable Charge.
Justice Wills began summing up at 80
pm. The general tenor Of his address to
the jury was favorable to Wilde.
During the address to the jury. the fore
man asked whether, in view of the init
macy between Lord Alfred Douglas and
Alfred Wood, one Of the men whose name
has been brought prominently into the
case, a warrant for Lord Alfrsd'S arrest
had ever been issued.
The judge replied that he thought not.
The foreman then asked II it had ever
been contemplated to issue a warrant for
the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas.
To this the court replied that he could
not say, and the court adjourned for lunch.
When the court reassembled for business
the Judge said that the suspicion that Lord
Alfred Douglas would be spared IL guilty,
simply because he was Lord Alfred Doug
las. was a wild idea and a matter which
they could not discuss. The present in
quiry was as to whether the man in the
dock was guilty of immoral practices.
The jury retired at $3.50 pm.
Wilde Convicted.
The jury returned to court at $50 pm,
with a verdict OF guilty against defendant.
Wilde was entenced to two years imprison-
ment at hard labor.
Alfred Taylor, Wilde's associate, was al
so sentenced to two years Imprisonment at
hard labor.
The announcement of the verdict caused
a great sensation in court, as it was the
general impression that Wilde would es-
cape conviction.
Wilde's Denial.
While the jury was out. at the request
of the representative of the Associated
Press, Wilde's counsel brought the follow
ing signed statement from Wilde, who was
waiting in the prisoners room below the
dock.
The charges alleged against me are en-
tirely 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. 1 have
no sense at all Of social grades. 1 love So
ciety and the rich and well born on ac-
count of their luxury. Culture, the grace
of their lives. the external accidents of
cCmely life. But any one, plough boy, fish,
erman or street arab has an interest for
me- Mere humanity is wonderful.
Il do not ask of the young what they do.
do not care who they are. Their ignor-
ance has its mode of wisdom; their lack
of culture leaves them open to fresh and
vivid impressions.
(SignedD OSCAR WILDE"
The document from which the above
statement is cabled to the Associated Press
is written throughout in Wilde's own hand
writing, which is extremely graceful ana
firm, on a sheet of foolscap paper, and it is
signed with flourish.
When the foreman of the jury delivered
the verdict, Wilde. who had entered the
prisoners dock moment before, rose from
the chair upon which he had been seated
throughout the trial, and stood with his
arms on the dock. The silence which pre-
vailed throughout the court room was
really painful Justice Wills ordered that
Alfred Taylor should also be summoned
tefore him Then, in voice trembling
With emotion. the justice said: Il never be-
fore had such shocking case as this to
heal with