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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.]

Oscar O'Flaherty Wilde is known in London as the best-known apostle of the asthetic movement. He set conventionality at defiance, and in his lectures expressed some revolutionary sentiments with reference to modern costume, from an art point of view.

Some short time ago he charged the Marquis of Queensbery with libelling him.

At the trial, the plaintiff was subjected to a stringent cross examination with the view of showing that "Dorian Grey," and some articles in the magazine Chameleon, with which he is connected, are of an immoral tendency. Wilde insisted they were merely an expression of artistic faculty. His letters to Lord Alfred Douglas were prose poems—extraordinary, perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation. He admitted that he gave one of his blackmailers £21, and lunched with him in a private room afterwards. Mr Wilde explained the effusive language of the letters addressed to Lord Alfred Douglas as the natural expression of an artist attracted by a beautiful personality. The Marqus of Queensbery visited his residence and threatened Wilde, to which the latter responded with—"You are the most infamous brute in London!"

Wilde admitted that he was acquainted with young men named Taylor, Parker and Atkins, and that Taylor had on separate occasions introduced him to five young men, to whom witness had given money, but he was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. He derived pleasure from being in the company of bright, happy people. Witness had frequently been in Taylor's room. He was aware that both Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but he had continued their friendship. Once he took Atkins and a youth named Price to Paris, and introduced them to another youth named Ernest Scarp, who later became acquainted with Lord Alfred Douglas when making a voyage to Australia. Witness had made presents to Scarp and Mabor because he like them.

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

Wilde said he wrote to the Marquis complaining that his wife encouraged his son's visits. Wilde's friendship with Lady Queensberry and her sons remained unbroken. Certain letters from the youths already named showed that the writers were poverty-stricken, some imploring assistance or employment. He admitted close intimacy with a number of young men, but denied that there was anything improper in it. He paid no regard to social inferiority if his friends were amusing.

Lord Douglas' letters showed he threatened to shoot his father if he attempted to thrash him.

The Marquis' letter referred to an eminent stateman, but the reference was political.

This closed Wilde's case.

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

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

The charge of libel against the Marquis of Queensberry was finished on Friday, 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. Wilde himself left the Court while his counsel was explaining that 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. It is expected Wilde will be arrested. No warrant has yet been applied for but counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry has sent the public prosecutor the statements of the witnesses and notes on the evidence in order to prevent a miscarriage of justice.

Oscar Wilde has been arrested.

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 other 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 a bank, where Wilde withdrew a large sum of money. He was then lost sight of until he was arrested in the evening at a hotel in Sloane street.

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