pt and loathing which was whipped up and justified each morning
by the hypocritical articles of the "unco guid" in the daily this and
the weekly that. In the streets one heard everywhere the loud jests of
the vulgar, decked out with filthy anecdotes and punctuated by obscene
laughter, as from the mouth of the Pit.

In spite of the hatred of the journalists pandering to the prejudice
of their paymasters, one could hope still that the magistrate would
show some regard for fair play. The expectation, reasonable or
unreasonable, was doomed to disappointment. On Saturday morning, the
6th, Oscar Wilde, "described as a gentleman," the papers said in
derision, was brought before Sir John Bridge. Mr. C.F. Gill, who had
been employed in the Queensberry trial, was instructed by Mr. Angus
Lewis of the Treasury, and conducted the prosecution; Alfred Taylor
was placed in the dock charged with conspiracy with Oscar Wilde. The
witnesses have already been described in connection with the
Queensberry case. Charles Parker, William Parker, Alfred Wood, Sidney
Mavor and Shelley all gave evidence.

After lasting all day the case was adjourned till the following
Thursday.

Mr. Travers Humphreys applied for bail for Mr. Wilde, on the ground
that he knew the warrant against him was being applied for on Friday
afternoon, but he made no attempt to leave London. Sir John Bridge
refused bail.

On Thursday, the 11th, the case was continued before Sir John Bridge,
and in the end both the accused were committed for trial. Again Mr.
Humphreys applied for bail, and again the magistrate refused to accept
bail.

Now to refuse bail in cases of serious crime may be defended, but in
the case of indecent conduct it is usually granted. To run away is
regarded as a confession of guilt, and what could one wish for more
than the perpetual banishment of the corrupt liver, consequently there
is no reason to refuse bail. But in this case, though bail was offered
to any amount, it was refused peremptorily in spite of the fact that
every consideration should have been shown to an accused person who
had already had a good opportunity to leave the country and had
refused to budge. Moreover, Oscar Wilde had already been criticised
and condemned in a hundred papers. There was widespread prejudice
against him, no risk to the public in accepting bail, and considerable
injury done to the accused in refusing it. His affairs were certain to
be thrown into confusion; he