25th March 1895
John Sholto Douglas
Breaking Peace - libel
336. JOHN SHOLTO DOUGLAS, MARQUESS OF QUEENSBERRY, was indicted for unlawfully publishing a false, scandalous and malicious libel of and concerning Oscar Wilde.
To this the defendant pleaded NOT GUILTY, and put in a plea of justification, stating the contents of the alleged libel to be true in substance and in fact, and that it was published for the public benefit.
SIR EDWARD CLARKE , Q.C., MESSRS. CHARLES MATHEWS and TRAVERS HUMPHREYS, Prosecuted; MESSRS. CARSON, Q.C., C. F. GILL and A. GILL, Defended.
The details of the case are unfit for publication.
At the close of the case for the prosecution, and whilst MR. CARSON was opening the defence, SIR EDWARD CLARKE interposed and stated that he had consulted with his client, and was prepared to accept a verdict of NOT GUILTY, which the JURY at once pronounced, adding that they considered that the publication was justified and for the public benefit.
[Verdict: Not Guilty ]
See also the complete transcripts of the proceedings at
Transcripts of Oscar Wilde's Tree Trials
22nd April 1895
Oscar Fingal O'fflahartie Wills Wilde, Alfred Taylor
Sexual Offences - sodomy
397. OSCAR FINGAL O'FFLAHARTIE WILLS WILDE (40) and ALFRED TAYLOR (33), were indicted for unlawfully committing acts of gross indecency with Charles Parker and other male persons. Other Counts, for conspiracy.
MESSRS. C. F. GILL and H. AVORY Prosecuted, and SIR EDWARD CLARKE, Q. C., with MESSRS. CHARLES MATHEWS and TRAVERS HUMPHREYS, Defended.
At the close of the case for the prosecution, MR. GILL stated that he should not ask for a verdict on the Counts for Conspiracy; and the JURY were directed to find a verdict of
NOT GUILTY as to those Counts, and also as to four of the other Counts, charging acts of indecency with certain of the witnesses. As to the remaining Counts, the JURY, being unable to agree, were discharged without returning any verdict, and the case was postponed until the next Session.
[Verdict: Not Guilty for conspiracy]
See also the complete transcripts of the proceedings at
Transcripts of Oscar Wilde's Tree Trials
20th May 1895
Oscar Fingal O'fflahartie Wills Wilde
Alfred Waterhouse Somerset Taylor
Sexual Offences - sodomy
425. OSCAR FINGAL O'FFLAHARTIE WILLS WILDE (40) and ALFRED WATERHOUSE SOMERSET TAYLOR (33) were indicted for unlawfully committing acts of gross indecency with certain male persons.
THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL (SIR FRANK LOCKWOOD, Q.C.), with MESSRS. C. F. GILL and HORACE AVORY Prosecuted; SIR EDWARD CLARKE, Q.C., with MESSRS. CHARLES MATHEWS and TRAVERS HUMPHREYS, appeared for Wilde; MR. J.P. GRAIN for Taylor.
Upon the joint application of SIR EDWARD CLARKE and MR. GRAIN, the defendants were tried separately.
TAYLOR thereupon was first tried; he was FOUND GUILTY on certain counts.
WILDE was then put on his trial, and also being FOUND GUILTY, both the defendants were sentenced to Two Years' Hard Labour.
[Verdict: Both Guilty - Punishment: Imprisonment - hard labour]
See also the complete transcripts of the proceedings at
Transcripts of Oscar Wilde's Tree Trials
