"Nothing said by Wood should be believed, as he belongs to the vilest class of criminals; the strength of the accusation depends solely upon the character of the original introduction of Wood to Wilde as illustrated and fortified by the story with regard to the letters and their burning." A pyramid of guilt carefully balanced on its apex! If the foolish Judge had only read his Shakespeare! What does Henry VI say: Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloucester Than from true evidence of good esteem He be approved in practice culpable.
There was no "true evidence of good esteem" against Wilde, but the Judge turned a harmless action into a confession of guilt.
Then came an interruption which threw light on the English conception of justice.

The foreman of the jury wanted to know, in view of the intimate relations between Lord Alfred Douglas and the defendant, whether a warrant against Lord Alfred Douglas was ever issued.
Mr.Justice Wills: "I should say not; we have never heard of it." Foreman: "Or ever contemplated ?" Mr.Justice Wills: "That I cannot say, nor can we discuss it.

The issue of such a warrant would not depend upon the testimony of the parties, but whether there was evidence of such act.

Letters pointing to such relations would not be sufficient.

Lord Alfred Douglas was not called, and you can give what weight you like to that." Foreman: "If we are to deduce any guilt from these letters, it would apply equally to Lord Alfred Douglas." Mr.Justice Wills concurred in that view, but after all he thought it had nothing to do with the present trial, which was the guilt of the accused.
The jury retired to consider their verdict at half past three.