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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.

Immense crowds attended the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on a charge of libelling Oscar Wilde. The evidence adduced to-day showed that Wilde had paid heavy blackmail for his gushing letters to Lord Alfred Douglas (the Marquis's son), which were found in the pockets of his old clothes when given away. The defence is based on the revelations in these letters.

April 4.

Oscar Wilde was subjected to a stringent cross-examination with a view to showing that "Dorian Grey" and some articles in the magazine "Chameleon," with which he is connected, are of an immoral tendency. Wilde insisted they are merely expressions of artistic faculty. His letters to Lord Douglas he said were prose poems, extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation. He admitted he gave one of his alleged black-mailers L21, and lunched with him in a private room afterwards. The case is adjourned. Defendant was admitted to bail.

Oscar Wilde explained the effusive language of the letters addressed to Lord Douglas as the natural expression of an artist attracted by a beautiful personality. The Marquis of Queensberry visited his residence and threatened Wilde, to which that gentleman responded, "You are the most infamous brute in London.

At the hearing of the charge of libel brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry, Wilde, in cross-examination, admitted that he was acquainted with the young men named Taylor, Parker, and Atkins. Taylor had introduced him to five young men on separate occasions to whom witness had given money, but he was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. He said that he derived pleasure from being in the company of bright, happy people. Witness had frequently been in Taylor's room, and was aware that both Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but he continued their friendship. Once he took Atkins and a youth named Ernest Scarp, who became acquainted with Lord Douglas when making a voyage to Australia. Wilde said he had made presents to Scarp and Mabor because he liked them.

The letters read in court proved that the Marquis of Queensberry was endeavouring to stop his son from visiting Wilde. The son wired back to his father that Wilde was "a funny little man." The marquis subsequently called at Wilde's house, where a furious scene took place. The latter denied at the time the charges levelled against him, and showed the marquis the door.

Wilde, continuing his evidence, said he wrote to the marquis complaining that his wife encouraged his son's visits. Wilde's friendship with Lady Queensberry and the marquis's son remained unbroken.

Certain letters from the youths already named showed that the writers were poverty stricken, some of them imploring assistance or employment.

The Marquis of Queensberry wrote to his son saying that he believed he was crazy and suggesting he should leave the country.

April 5.

Oscar Wilde admitted close intimacy with a number of young men, but denied there was anything improper in it. He paid no regard to social inferiority if his friends were amusing. Lord Douglas's letters showed that he threatened to shoot his father if he attempted to thrash him. The marquis's letter referred to an eminent stateman, but the reference was political. Oscar Wilde's case is closed.

Mr Carson, in opening the defence, declared that plaintiff's proteges were among the most immoral persons in London. Wilde's intimacies were absolutely irreconcilable with his claims as an exponent of culture. His literature alone justified the charges against him. In conclusion, he claimed that the defendant's witnesses, amongst whom was Wood, the chief blackmailer, would prove the case to the hilt.

The charge of libel against the Marquis of Queensberry finished to-day, a verdict of "Not guilty" being returned. The jury considered that the charges made by the Marquis of Queensberry were of public benefit. Wilde's counsel withdrew from the case, and Wilde himself left the court while his counsel was explaining that the plaintiff's literature and letters justified the plea of the defence that Wilde posed as an immoral person. He explained that the reason he withdrew from the case was so as to avoid the appalling evidence which would be adduced. The verdict was received with loud cheers.

Counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry has sent the public prosecutor a statement of the witnesses and notes on the evidence in order to prevent a miscarriage of justice, and later in the day Oscar Wilde was arrested.

April 6.

Oscar Wilde publishes a letter stating that he abandoned the case in order to avoid placing Lord Douglas in the witness box. After the warrant had been issued for Wilde's arrest the police detained three essential witnesses. Lord Douglas and two men remained in conference with Wilde at the Viaduct Hotel, Holborn, for several hours after the trial, and lunched together in a private room. Subsequently they drove to the bank, where Wilde withdrew a large sum of money. He was then lost sight of until arrested in the evening at the hotel in Sloane street.

Lord Douglas was much distressed when he found he was unable to bail Wilde out.

After the trial the Marquis of Queensberry sent Wilde a message stating that he would shoot him if he took his son abroad. Taylor has also been arrested, and will be charged in conjunction with Wilde. The latter's name has been withdrawn from the playbills of London and American theatres.

The warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde was issued at the instance of the Treasury.

Although Wilde's name has been removed from the playbills the companies continue to play his pieces for the present.

Oscar Wilde, in his letter to the press explaining his reason for abandoning the case, states that he is willing to bear the ignominy in order to avoid calling Lord Douglas to give evidence against his father, but says the son was eager and quite willing to enter the witness box.

Parisian society is astounded at Oscar Wilde's exposure.

April 8.

Since he was remanded with Oscar Wilde, Taylor has made statements which are likely to lead to many arrests.