Accordingly, in spite of the arguments of the Solicitor-General, Shelley's evidence was cut out.

But Shelley's evidence had already been taken, had already prejudiced the jury.

Indeed, it had been the evidence which had influenced Mr.Justice Charles in the previous trial to sum up dead against the defendant: Mr.Justice Charles called Shelley "the only serious witness." Now it appeared that Shelley's evidence should never have been taken at all, that the jury ought never to have heard Shelley's testimony or the Judge's acceptance of it! * * * * * When the court opened next morning I knew that the whole case depended on Oscar Wilde, and the showing he would make in the box, but alas! he was broken and numbed.

He was not a fighter, and the length of this contest might have wearied a combative nature.

The Solicitor-General began by examining him on his letters to Lord Alfred Douglas and we had the "prose poem" again and the rest of the ineffable nonsensical prejudice of the middle-class mind against passionate sentiment.