Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde

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Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde is a 1997 play written by Moisés Kaufman. It deals with Oscar Wilde's three trials on the matter of his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, which lead to charges of "committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons". (The first trial was a suit brought against Douglas's father by Wilde himself; the second and third were on the charges against Wilde, with the second reaching no verdict and the third resulting in a conviction and sentence to hard labour.) The play uses real quotes and transcripts of the three trials.

From the proceedings of "Old Bailey," London's Central Criminal Court...

OSCAR FINGAL O'FFLAHARTIE WILLS WILDE, ALFRED TAYLOR, Sexual Offences > sodomy, 22nd April 1895.

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.

OSCAR FINGAL O'FFLAHARTIE WILLS WILDE, ALFRED WATERHOUSE SOMERSET TAYLOR, Sexual Offences > sodomy, 20th May 1895.

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.

Outeasy (talk) 03:38, 27 April 2008 (UTC)