The case against Taylor went on the whole day and was resumed next morning.  Taylor went into the box and denied all the charges.  The Judge summed up dead against him, and at 3.30 the jury retired to consider their verdict:  in forty-five minutes they came into court again with a question which was significant.  In answer to the judge the foreman stated that “they had agreed that Taylor had introduced Parker to Wilde, but they were not satisfied with Wilde’s guilt in the matter.”

Mr. Justice Wills:  “Were you agreed as to the charge on the other counts?”

Foreman:  “Yes, my Lord.”

Mr. Justice Wills:  “Well, possibly it would be as well to take your verdict upon the other counts.”

Through the foreman the jury accordingly intimated that they found Taylor guilty with regard to Charles and William Parker.

In answer to his Lordship, Sir F. Lockwood said he would take the verdict given by the jury of “guilty” upon the two counts.

A formal verdict having been entered, the judge ordered the prisoner to stand down, postponing sentence.  Did he postpone the sentence in order not to frighten the next jury by the severity of it?  Other reason I could find none.

Sir Edward Clarke then got up and said that as it was getting rather late, perhaps after the second jury had disagreed as to Mr. Wilde’s guilt—­

Sir F. Lockwood here interposed hotly:  “I object to Sir Edward Clarke making these little speeches.”

Mr. Justice Wills took the matter up as well.

“You can hardly call it a disagreement, Sir Edward,” though what else he could call it, I was at a loss to imagine.

He then adjourned the case against Oscar Wilde till the next day, when a different jury would be impanelled.  But whatever jury might be called they would certainly hear that their forerunners had found Taylor guilty and they would know that every London paper without exception had approved the finding.  What a fair chance to give Wilde!  It was like trying an Irish Secretary before a jury of Fenians.

The next morning, May 23d, Oscar Wilde appeared in the dock.  The Solicitor-General opened the case, and then called his witnesses.  One of the first was Edward Shelley, who in cross-examination admitted that he had been mentally ill when he wrote Mr. Wilde those letters which had been put in evidence.  He was “made nervous from over-study,” he said.

Alfred Wood admitted that he had had money given him quite recently, practically blackmailing money.  He was as venomous as possible.  “When he went to America,” he said, “he told Wilde that he wanted to get away from mixing with him (Wilde) and Douglas.”

Charlie Parker next repeated his disgusting testimony with ineffable impudence and a certain exultation.  Bestial ignominy could go no lower; he admitted that since the former trial he had been kept at the expense of the prosecution.  After this confession the case was adjourned and we came out of court.