The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-26
The Fallen Apostle OF the Beautiful
Found Guilty on All the Counts
I'm the Indictment.
no MERCY BY THE JUDGE
HE aEGRETTED THE LAW DID NOT
ALLOW A MORE SEVERE PENALTY.
Statement Of Wilde i'm witch lie De-
ciares His Innocence-Case of
Lord Douglas and Others.


apostle of the beautiful. and his friend.
Alfred Taylor. who were charged with
serious offenses against morality. were each
sentenced to-day to two ears imprison-
ment at hard labor. While the Jury was
absent from the court room there was such
babel OF voices that counsel engaged in
the case went into the lobby I'm order 10
discuss events. the noise being too eres,
for them TO remain at their places. Every
body expected the jury to disagree. as upon
the previous trial. and as the jurymen FLED
back into their box every person presep,
arose in suppressed excitement ana the
court room became as still as death
chamber. The jur7men answered TO their
names in firm and decided tone and
seemed TO be immensely relieved when the
ordeai was over A sthed ejaculation OF
surprise went around the court room when
the foreman announced that the Jury found
the prisoner guilty
When the Old 3ailey court room oncned
TINS morning for the closing proceedings IN
the trial OF Wilde there was a rush %
spectators to secure seats. Sir Frank Lock.
wood, the solicitor-generaI resumed his ad-
uress to the jury, which he had lust begun
When court adjourned yesterday. The pris-
oner intimacy with Lord Alfred Douglas
ana the exhibition of the younger man by
the elder one at hotels and public places IN
and about London were severely commented
on by the counsei. Referring to the much
commented-on letters which Wilde wrote 10
Lord Alfred Douglas. counsel said that the
jury had been told they were too low TO
appreciate such poetry, and he thanked God
1t was so. as it showed they were above
the level of beasts. applause which the
judge promptly suppressed)
Sir Edward CLARKE laodf,~
Wilde, here interposed objections to such
appeals as the one just made by Sir Frank
Lockwood. which. counsel claimed, should
not be allowed.
When Sir Frank Lockwood continued his
speech, he warned the jury TO render a
verdict which would prevent "such a de-
testable and abomnira able vice to rear its
head unblushingly in this country
Justice Wills began summing up at l:So D.
m. The general tenor OF his address 10 the
jury was favorable to Wilde. The Jury re-
tired at $3.50 p. m During the address OF the
justice to the jury the foreman OF the
jury asked whether in view OF the intima-
cy 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 is
had ever beeen contemplated TO issue a
mt for Lord Douglas. To this the
replied that he could not say, and
court adjourned for lunch. When court
-eassembled for business the judge said that
the suspicion that Lord Alfred Douglas
would be spared If guilty, simply because
he was Lord Allied Douglas, was a wild
idea, and a matter which they could not
discuss. The present inquiry was as To
urha raar in, ho
immoral practices with certain persons.
THE JURYS VERDICT
The jury returned TO court at $50 D. m,
after having been absent two hours, and re-
turned verdict of guilty against the de-
fendant- Wilde was sentenced TO two years
Imprisonment at hard labor. Alfred Taylor.
Wildes associate, was also sentenced 10 two
years Imprisonment at hard labor. Tho
jury found Wilde guilty on all the counts OF
the indictment, including the charge with
reference to persons unknown. who were
also pronounced to be guilty. This proba-
bly, refers to the Savoy Hotel evidence 10
which place Wilde was accused OF taxing
Charles Parker, a gentleman's servant, at er
treating the laIter 10 choice dinner aC
of the verdict caused great sensation
court as 1t was the general impression that
Wilde would escape conVlctiCn.
When the foreman OF the jury delivered
| the verdict Wilde, VINO hao 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 rail of the dock. The silence
| was really painful as Justice Wills or
| dered that Alfred Taylor should also be
TN frembiing with emotion. the justice sSi9.
| 81 never before had such shocking case
as this to deal with; Two men ms, such cha, as
| lost TO all sense OF remorse for what you
| have done. To- think that you. Taylor.
snSu,d snd that He you @ Wide, a man " OF Teputed
| culture, should be such perverter Of young
| dict is a Just one and / shall give you the
| full penalty allowed by law and l only
| regret that il is not more severe. You
term of two years"
Wilde did not look at the judge while
| eyes roved around the court room. his face
| never changed color and he looked like a
man who had MADE up ms aHia mina 70 msIse mase
| when sentence was pronounced. AS Wilde
turned in the dock and prepared to go TO
| cried: sShame. shame" This shouting
| caused Justice Wills 10 rise and exclaim in
loud and determined voice. silence,
Immediately after the verdict was rem
dered Mr.. c. I; GILL; OF counsel for the
prosecution, said to a reporter; II am
| somewhat surprised at the verdict myself:
| Not that 1 doubted Wilde's guilt: but |
thought that surely one member OF the
When Mr. Gill was asked II there was
! any chance of new trial he replied: NO:
IL is now disposed OF forever, thank
| heaven" Mr.. Travers Humphreys OF coun-
sci for Wilde, also said the verdict was
| surprise to him. He added: Tho SEN
| tence is for two years in all the counts
| of the indictment, and not on each count
| separately. Now that they have hit their
| man. / am certain his health will break
down. and possibly the authorities viii en-
| tersain the idea OF a pardon"
| Sir Edward Clarke. leading counsel for
| Wilde applied TO Justice Wills TO post
| pone passing sentence on his client until
| next session of the Central Criminal Court
| (Old Bailey, but the judge refused to do so.
/ While the jury was out. AT the request
OF the representative of the Associated
| Press Wilde's counsel procured the follow
| ing signed statement from Wilde. who
| 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 natural
/ ly that temperament TO which the artists
! tsy TO attain. All works Of art are work
| produced in the moment of youth. l have
| no sense at all OF social grades. / love
society and the rich and well born on
account OF their luxury. culture. the grace
| OF their lives, the external accidents OF