The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-01
WILDE GROWS ELOQUENT.
His Explanation of Love EvOkes n
Burst Of Applause.

- -~EEA--N7tNs
London, April a0.-At the opening OF to-
days sitting Of the trial OF Oscar Wilde
and Alfred Taylor. Counsellor c. F. CHI
intimated that the prosecution withdrew
the charges Of conspiracy.
Sir Edward Clarke. on behalf Of Wilde.
said that if those charges had been with
drawn at the outset he would have made
application to have the prisoners tried
separately.
The court said that after the evidence
which had been given the counts charg-
ing conspiracy were needless.
Sir Edward Clarke: Then ask for
verdict Of not guilty on those counts.
The court refused to consent TO such a
verdict. saying that he would simply ac-
cede TO the application of Mr.. Gill to have
the charges OF conspiracy Withdrawn.
Sir Edward Clarke then began his open
ing address to the jury for the defense
He intended. he said. to put Wilde in the
witness box. where he would make an I'M
qualified denial OF the charges against
him. He cited Wnde's literary works and
argued that in no instance had his client
written anything that would lead any one
TO suppose him guilty of the practices al
legged. Sir Edward explained the ending Of
the QueenSberry trial by saying tnat
Wilde's counsel We're entirely responsible
for its abrupt termination. il became clear
he said. that the jury would not convict
fsOru QueenSherrN. and he tClarke) there
fore advised Wilde to accept verdict
against himself
Wilde was called to the witness stand
He sWore that tho evidence he had given
at the Queensherry trial was absolutely
true. He repeated this testimony upon
cross examination, without variation.
Wilde, continuing his testimony, said he
had nothing to do with publishing Lord
Alfred Douglass poems. nor had he had
anything to do with the publication OF
his articles in the Chameleon (MagaZine.D
Asked TO define Lord Alfred's expression.
Il am the love that does not speak its
name" Wilde said he thought il meant
spiritual love. as pure as ii was perfect.
Wilde proceeded to enlarge upon the sub
ject and became so eloquent as TO evoke
a burst Of applause causing the judge to
threaten to clear the court unless silence
was observed.
Alfred Taylor, the co-defendant with
Wilde. was called to the stand and told
of his career. He was educated at MARI
borough college, he said, and became an
officer Of the militia. but abandoned mill
tary life upon coming into an inheritance
of f45,000. He absolutely denied the charges
against him.
The evidence for the defense was nm
ished this afternoon, when Sir Edward
Clarke addressed the jury. in behalf of
Wilde. The only direct evidence against
Wilde, he declared, was the testimony of
three blackmailers. Who, he asked,
would believe them? He spoke in this
strain at considerable length and finished
his address with a peroration remarkable
for its display of passion and elOquence,
and the extraordinary efforts Of the ora
tor 10 secure the acquittal of his client.
Mr. Gill for the prosecution, contend
ed that the witnesses against Wilde had
no object in swearing falsely.
The judge will charge the jury to-mor-
row.
The United Press learns that the state
ment is at least premature, if not alto
gether groundless, that Mrs. Oscar WILDE
has begun proceedings of divorce from her
husband. At all events she certainly
could take no steps in that direction pend
ing a verdict in the present trial Of her
husband in the Old Bailey court.