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The trial came to a speedy termination on April 5, when Mr. Wilde's counsel withdrew from the case, and the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, expressing an opinion that Lord Queensberry's charges against Mr. Oscar Wilde were made for the public benefit.

In announcing his withdrawal the learned counsel explained that the literary works and letters of his client justified Lord Queensberry's plea, and expressed an opinion that Wilde had posed as an immoral person. He stated that he, therefore, withdrew from the case, in order to avoid the production of the appalling evidence against his client that he saw would be forthcoming if the case were continued.

This announcement was greeted by loud cheers from those present in the court, and while his counsel was making the statement Oscar Wilde hurriedly left the court.

Mr. Russell, Lord Queensberry's solicitor, in order to prevent any miscarriage of justice, sent to the Public Prosecutor a statement with notes of the evidence that would have been given by the witnesses to be called on his client's behalf.

Oscar Wilde next day published a letter, in which he stated that he abandoned the case against Lord Queensberry in order to avoid calling Lord Alfred Douglas as a witness.

A warrant was very quickly issued for the arrest of Oscar Wilde, and the police detained three essential witnesses.

After the trial Lord Alfred Douglas and two other men remained in conference with Oscar Wilde, the interview lasting several hours. They subsequently lunched with him in a private room at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. The party then drove to Oscar Wilde's bank, where Wilde withdrew a large sum of money.

He was afterwards lost sight of until the next evening, when he was arrested at an hotel in Sloane-street.

Lord Alfred Douglas, who was with Wilde, accompanied him to the watch-house, and was greatly distressed at not being allowed to bail him out.

The man Taylor, who was mentioned in the libel case proceedings as having introduced Wilde to several young men, was also arrested and at Bow-street Police Court both Wilde and Taylor were charged with serious criminal offences.

Several witnesses gave evidence which proved the case against Wilde, and the accused were remanded, bail being refused.

The Marquis of Queensberry sent a message to Oscar Wilde after the trial declaring that he would shoot him if he took his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, abroad.

In consequence of the revelations made at the trial, the managers of the London and American theatres where Oscar Wilde's dramas, "An Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being in Earnest," are being played have withdrawn the author's name from the play-bills.

The trial caused a great sensation in Paris.

Important statements have been made by the man Taylor to the police, which are likely to lead to many more arrests. It appears that Taylor's lodgings were widely known and were frequented by many persons, including four witnesses who gave evidence against Wilde.

Since the revelations, several free libraries in the United States have destroyed such of Wilde's works as were in their possession.

[Mr. Oscar Wilde is 39 years old, having been born in Dublin in l856, his parents being Sir William Wilde, a distinguished surgeon and antiquarian, and Lady Wilde, a well-known poetess and writer. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and at Oxford, where he gained the Newdigate prize for poetry in 1878. In 1880 he came before the public with a volume of poems which attracted some attention. In 1881 he visited America, where he lectured on art. Mr. Wilde's name has always been prominently associated with the "æsthetic" movement, and he has been supposed to be the prototype of Bunthorne in Gilbert and Sullivan's opera "Patience." He has contributed extensively to the magazines, and his novelette, The Picture of Dorian Gray, appeared in Lippincott's Magazine in July, 1890, and was afterwards republished in book form. Latterly Mr. Wilde has turned his attention to the drama. "The Duchess of Padua," a five-act tragedy, WAS produced at New York in January, 1891. The comedy "Lady Windermere's Fan" was performed at the St James's Theatre, London, in February, 1892, and, it will be remembered, was produced here last year at the Princess's Theatre by the Brough and Boucicault Company. In 1893 he wrote "Salome" for Madame Sarah Bernhardt, the performance of which in London was prohibited by the Lord Chamberlain, as it dealt with scenes and characters from the New Testament. He therefore published it in French in Paris. "A Woman of No Importance," a comedy, was given at the Haymarket Theatre in April, 1893, his latest drama, "An Ideal Husband," is still running in London, and a farcical piece from his pen, "The Importance of Being Earnest," is being played at the St James's Theatre, London, by Mr. George Alexander's company. In 1884 Mr. Wilde married Constance, daughter of Mr. Horace Lloyd, Q.C., and has two sons, Cyril, born in 1885, and Vivian, in 1886.]

London, April 5.

The sensational libel case in which Oscar Wilde, the poet and dramatist, proceeded criminally against the Marquis of Queensberry for alleged libel came to an abrupt conclusion to-day.

The words complained of were written by the Marquis on a card, and charged Wilde with posing as an abominable character. The card was left without a cover at the club of which Wilde was a member.

Mr. Carson, Q.C., counsel for the accused, continued his address to the jury in opening the case for the defence. He said that evidence would be called to show that on the first occasion upon which Wilde met the man Parker, referred to in the evidence, Wilde was guilty of an act of indecency towards him.

A servant employed at the Savoy Hotel gave evidence to the effect that on one occasion he found Wilde and a boy together under shocking circumstances.

At this stage Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for Wilde, interposed and begged his Honor to grant permission for the finding of a verdict hostile to his client, and to permit him (Sir Edward Clarke) to withdraw from the case.

The judge assented to this course on the understanding that the jury should not be qualified in respect to the verdict they should return.

No further evidence was therefore called, and the jury without leaving the box instantly found a verdict of acquittal, adding that, in their opinion, the words complained of as libellous were true in fact, and were written in the interests of the public and for the public good.

The Marquis of Queensberry was at once liberated, and as he left the court he was loudly cheered by the large crowd who had been spectators in court.

The documents in the case were handed to the Treasury officials at noon to enable a decision to be arrived at as to whether any further proceedings should be taken in the extraordinary case.

At 6 o'clock this evening Oscar Wilde was arrested. The feeling against him in London is intense, and in the hotels the managers have cut his name from the playbills.

Oscar Wilde is 39 years old, having been born in Dublin in 1856, his parents being Sir. William Wilde, a distinguished surgeon and antiquarian, and Lady Wilde, a well-known poetess and writer. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and at Oxford, where he gained the Newaigate prize for poetry in 1878. In 1880 he came before the public with a volume of poems which attracted some attention. In 1881 he visited America, where he lectured on art. Mr. Wilde's name has always been prominently associated with the "æsthetic" movement, and he has been supposed to be the prototype of Bunthorne in Gilbert and Sullivan's opera "Patience." He has contributed extensively to the magazines, and his novelette, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," appeared in LIPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE in July, 1890, and was afterwards published in book form. Latterly Mr. Wilde has turned his attention to the drama "The Duchess of Padua," a five-act tragedy, was produced at New York in January, 1891. The comedy "Lady Windermere's Fan" was performed at the St. James's Theatre, London, in February, 1892, and was produced here last year. In 1893 he wrote "Salome" for Madame Sarah Bernhardt, the performance of which in London was prohibited by the Lord Chamberlain, as it dealt with scenes and characters from the New Testament. He therefore published it in French in Paris. "A Woman of No Importance," a comedy, was given at the Haymarket Theatre in April, 1893, and his latest drama, "The Importance of Being Earnest," is now being played at the St. James's Theatre, London, by Mr. George Alexander's company. In 1884 Wilde married Constance, daughter of Mr. Horace Lloyd, Q.C., and has two sons, Cyril, born in I885, and Vivian, in 1886.