Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - This day in History May 27, 1895 Oscar Wilde is sent to prison for sodomy

Mr. Mojo · 05-27-2003, 07:31 AM

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1895 Oscar Wilde is sent to prison for sodomy

Playwright Oscar Wilde is taken to Holloway Prison in London after being convicted of sodomy. The famed writer of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest brought attention to his private life in a feud with John Douglas, the Marquess of Queensbury, whose son was intimately involved with Wilde.
Homosexuality was a criminal offense and serious societal taboo at this time in Britain. Wilde had gone back and forth between hiding his sexual orientation and attempting to gain some measure of public acceptance. After Queensbury, a furious homophobe, began spouting his objections to Wilde's behavior to the public, Wilde felt compelled to sue Queensbury for libel.
Although advised that he was sure to lose, especially given the fact that Queensbury's charges were indeed true, Wilde insisted on going forward with the case. In his defense, Queensbury argued that Wilde had solicited 12 boys to commit sodomy between 1892 and 1894. The overwhelming evidence proving Wilde was homosexual produced a victory for Queensbury.
This civil trial drew a great deal of public attention to Wilde's private life. Immediately after it was over, he was charged with indecency and sodomy by England's criminal courts. Rather than flee to France, Wilde decided to remain and stand trial. At a preliminary bail hearing, chambermaids testified that they had seen young men in Wilde's bed and a hotel housekeeper stated that there were fecal stains on his bed sheets. Wilde was denied bail.

At Wilde's first criminal trial, he was cross-examined extensively on the "love that dare not speak its name." Wilde managed to secure a mistrial when a lone juror refused to vote to convict. The second trial began on May 21. Although many of the potential witnesses refused to betray Wilde by testifying, he was convicted. The judge remarked at his sentencing, "It is the worst case I have ever tried. I shall pass the severest sentence that the law allows. In my judgment it is totally inadequate for such a case as this. The sentence of the Court is that you be imprisoned and kept to hard labor for two years."

Wilde served his two years and then spent the last three years of his life in exile. He died at the age of 45 and was buried in Paris.

I didn't know anything about Oscar Wilde's life. And I found this very intresting.
How have things changed - or have they at all?

Also today:
1703 St. Petersburg founded by Peter the Great
1905 The Battle of Tsushima Strait
1941 Bismarck sunk by Royal Navy
1994 First International World Wide Web Conference ends

05-27-2003, 07:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. Mojo Addict Location: NYC	This day in History May 27, 1895 Oscar Wilde is sent to prison for sodomy <a target=new href="http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/"><b>Brought to you by the History Channel - LINK</b></a> 1895 Oscar Wilde is sent to prison for sodomy Playwright Oscar Wilde is taken to Holloway Prison in London after being convicted of sodomy. The famed writer of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest brought attention to his private life in a feud with John Douglas, the Marquess of Queensbury, whose son was intimately involved with Wilde. Homosexuality was a criminal offense and serious societal taboo at this time in Britain. Wilde had gone back and forth between hiding his sexual orientation and attempting to gain some measure of public acceptance. After Queensbury, a furious homophobe, began spouting his objections to Wilde's behavior to the public, Wilde felt compelled to sue Queensbury for libel. Although advised that he was sure to lose, especially given the fact that Queensbury's charges were indeed true, Wilde insisted on going forward with the case. In his defense, Queensbury argued that Wilde had solicited 12 boys to commit sodomy between 1892 and 1894. The overwhelming evidence proving Wilde was homosexual produced a victory for Queensbury. This civil trial drew a great deal of public attention to Wilde's private life. Immediately after it was over, he was charged with indecency and sodomy by England's criminal courts. Rather than flee to France, Wilde decided to remain and stand trial. At a preliminary bail hearing, chambermaids testified that they had seen young men in Wilde's bed and a hotel housekeeper stated that there were fecal stains on his bed sheets. Wilde was denied bail. At Wilde's first criminal trial, he was cross-examined extensively on the "love that dare not speak its name." Wilde managed to secure a mistrial when a lone juror refused to vote to convict. The second trial began on May 21. Although many of the potential witnesses refused to betray Wilde by testifying, he was convicted. The judge remarked at his sentencing, "It is the worst case I have ever tried. I shall pass the severest sentence that the law allows. In my judgment it is totally inadequate for such a case as this. The sentence of the Court is that you be imprisoned and kept to hard labor for two years." Wilde served his two years and then spent the last three years of his life in exile. He died at the age of 45 and was buried in Paris. I didn't know anything about Oscar Wilde's life. And I found this very intresting. How have things changed - or have they at all? Also today: 1703 St. Petersburg founded by Peter the Great 1905 The Battle of Tsushima Strait 1941 Bismarck sunk by Royal Navy 1994 First International World Wide Web Conference ends __________________ When I jerk off I feel good for about twenty seconds and then WHAM it's right back into suicidal depression