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The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on the charge of having criminally libelled Mr. Oscar Wilde, the well-known author and dramatist, was continued to-day.

Mr. Oscar Wilde was subjected to a stringent cross-examination by the counsel for the accused. The object of this was to show that Mr. Wilde's story, The Picture of Dorian Gray, originally published in Lippincott's Magazine, and several articles which appeared in the Chameleon, a magazine with which he was connected, were calculated to induce criminal practices.

Mr. Wilde, however, insisted that these writings had no such meaning, but were merely an expression of the artistic faculty. He declared that his letters to Lord Alfred Douglas were prose poems, extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation.

In further cross-examination, witness admitted that he gave to one person, who was alleged to have levied blackmail on him, the sum of £21, and that he afterwards lunched with him in a private room. He also made the admission that he had been on terms of intimacy with two lads who were not his social equals, and that he had given them considerable sums of money as well as expensive presents, but he asserted that he only did this because he liked them.

During his cross-examination Mr. Oscar Wilde indulged in many smart epigrams and paradoxes, his whole demeanour being marked by much extravagance, and causing great amusement in court.

The case was adjourned, the Marquis of Queensberry being allowed bail.

FURTHER STATEMENTS BY MR.

WILDE.

LONDON, APRIL 4, 12.25 P.M.

The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry was resumed to-day, when the cross-examination of Mr. Oscar Wilde, the prosecutor, was continued.

Mr. Wilde stated that he was acquainted with three men named Taylor, Parker, and Atkins. Taylor introduced him to five young men on separate occasions, and he (witness) gave money to all of them. He was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. His reason for making their acquaintance was that it was a pleasure to him to be in the company of bright, happy people. He had frequently visited Taylor's room. He was aware that both Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but his friendship for them was not affected by that knowledge.

LONDON, APRIL 4, 1.20 P.M.

Mr. Wilde further stated in cross-examination that he once took Atkins to Paris. Taylor introduced him to a youth named Ernest Scarp, who became acquainted with Lord Alfred Douglas during a voyage to Australia. Witness made presents to Scarp, and also to another youth named Mabor, because he liked them.

3.20 P.M.

Certain letters from the youths already named to Mr. Oscar Wilde were read, which showed that the writers were poverty-stricken. Some of them implored assistance and employment.

LATER.

Letters were read showing the attempts that were made by the Marquis of Queensberry to prevent his son from visiting Mr. Oscar Wilde. The son, Lord Alfred Douglas, telegraphed to his father in a very flippant way alluding to him as a "funny little man." Lord Queensberry, in consequence, called at Mr. Oscar Wilde's house, where a furious scene was enacted. Accusations similar to those upon which the charge is based were made by the Marquis of Queensberry, and indignantly denied by Mr. Wilde, who concluded the interview by showing his visitor the door. Lord Queensberry wrote complaining of the fact that Lady Queensberry was encouraging their son in his friendship with Mr. Oscar Wilde.

London, April 3.-- At the trial at the Old Bailey to-day of the Marquis of Queensberry, on a charge of criminally libelling Oscar Wilde, a number of letters from the prosecutor to Lord Alfred Douglas were read. They were of a most effusive character. Asked as to one letter in which the words "you are the divine thing I want" occurred, prosecutor explained that it was "the natural expression of an artist to a beautiful personality."

Evidence was given that the Marquis of Queensberry visited the residence of Oscar Wilde, and threatened him, and that Wilde responded "you are the most infamous brute in London."

Prosecutor was severely cross-examined with a view to showing that his novel, "Dorian Gray," a story of modern life, which appeared in "Lippincott's Magazine," his articles in other magazines, and the 'Chameleon,' with which he is connected, inspired to criminal practices. Wilde insisted that the articles were merely the expression of an artistic faculty. The letters to Lord Alfred Douglas were "prose poems," "extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation." He admitted that he gave one of the alleged blackmailers £21 and afterwards entertained him at luncheon in a private room. Wilde also admitted being on terms of intimacy with two lads not his social equals, and that he gave them considerable sums of money and expensive presents. He did this because he "liked them."

Prosecutor's epigrams, paradoxes, and extravagance caused much amusement in court.

The case had not concluded when the court adjourned.

The Marquis was admitted to bail.

April 4. -- Prosecutor admitted that he was acquainted with three men named Taylor, Parker, and Atkins. Taylor, on separate occasions, introduced five young men to him, and he had given them money. He was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. He took pleasure in being in the company of bright and happy people. He had visited Taylor's rooms frequently. He was aware that Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but he had, notwithstanding, continued his friendship with them. He once took Atkins to Paris. Taylor introduced to him a youth named Ernest Scarp, who afterwards became acquainted with Lord Alfred Douglas while on the voyage to Australia. He, prosecutor, had made presents to Scarp and another young man named Mavor because he liked them.

Certain letters were then read from youths already mentioned which showed that the writers were poverty-stricken. Some implored assistance in obtaining employment.

Other letters read showed that theMarquis of Queensberry endeavored to stop his son from visiting Wilde.

On one occasion Lord Alfred Douglas wired to his father that "he was a funny little man."

Further evidence showed that the Marquis afterwards called at Wilde's house, and a furious scene ensued. Wilde denied the Marquis's charges, and showed him the door. The Marquis also wrote complaining that his wife encouraged the visits of his son to Wilde. The friendship of prosecutor with Lady Queensberry and her sons remained unbroken.

[The Marquis of Queensberry has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1866, was Sybil, second daughter of Mr. Alfred Montgomery (brother of the Right Hon. Sir Henry C. Montgomery, Bart.), and granddaughter of Lord Leconfield. By this lady, who obtained a divorce in 1887, he has issue surviving two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Viscount Drumlanrig, was accidentally shot a short time since. He married secondly, in 1893, Ethel, daughter of Mr. Edward Charles Weldon, of Eastbourne. This marriage, like the first, did not prove a very happy one, and the lady obtained a decree of nullity early last year.]