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The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on a charge of libelling Mr. Oscar Wilde, the well-known dramatist and litterateur, was commenced this morning. The proceedings excited great popular interest, and not only was the Court filled to overflowing, but immense crowds thronged the passages, for whom accommodation could not be found.

After the case had been opened by the formal proof of the alleged libel, evidence was called on behalf of the defendant. It was represented that Mr. Oscar Wilde had levied heavy blackmail for his gushing letters to Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the Marquis. Some of these letters had been found in old clothes which had been given away.

The defence relies upon the revelations of these letters, which it is alleged warranted the writing by the Marquis of the letter upon which the charge against him is based.

London, April 3.

The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry for libelling Mr. Oscar Wilde, the well-known litterateur and dramatist, was continued to-day.

Mr. Oscar Wilde, the plaintiff in the case, was submitted to a stringent cross-examination by counsel for the defence, with a view of showing that the book entitled "The Picture of Dorian Gray" - which was originally published in Lippincott's Magazine, and afterwards republished in book form — and other articles, which counsel for the defence connected with the plaintiff, inspired criminal practices.

The plaintiff, however, insisted that the true interpretation of the book and articles referred to were merely an expression of artistic faculty.

The letters to Lord Alfred Douglas which were produced, and the prose and poems, of which it was alleged that he was the author, might perhaps be characterised as extraordinary, but they did not justify an immoral interpretation.

He admitted that he gave one of the alleged blackmailers a sum of money amounting to £21, and afterwards had lunch with him in his private room.

It was also elicited in cross-examination that the plaintiff admitted to terms of intimacy two lads who were not his social equals, and that he had given them expensive presents and considerable amounts of money at various times. The plaintiff's plea was that he did so simply on the ground that he liked them.

During the examination of Mr. Oscar Wilde his extravagant gestures and postures, and his epigramatic and paradoxical style of replying to counsel caused a vast amount of amusement in the Court.

At the end of the day the Court adjourned, the Judge granting bail to the defendant for his subsequent appearance.

London, April 4.

The plaintiff's cross-examination was continued this morning. He said he was acquainted with three men named respectively Parker, Atkins, and Taylor. Taylor had introduced five young men to him on separate occasions to whom the witness had given money. He was unaware if any of them were gentlemen's servants. It was one of his pleasures to indulge in the company of bright happy people.

The plaintiff also said that he had frequently visited Taylor's rooms, and he was aware that Taylor and Parker had on one occasion been arrested, but he still continued his friendship with them.

Wilde admitted that on one occasion Atkins had accompanied him to Paris. Taylor had introduced to him a youth named Ernest Scarp, who subsequently became acquainted with Lord Alfred Douglas whilst travelling to Australia. Wilde acknowledged that he had made presents to Scarp and also to a youth named Mabor, and when pressed to give his reasons said he supposed it was "because he liked them."

Counsel for the defendant read certain letters from youths, whose names had already transpired in connection with the case, which showed the writers to be in a poverty-stricken condition; some of the letters implored assistance, and begged for employment.

Other correspondence read in Court showed that the Marquis of Queensberry had endeavoured to stop his son from visiting Oscar Wilde. In reply Lord A. Douglas telegraphed to his father that "he was a funny little man." The Marquis then called at Wilde's house, when a furious scene occurred. Wilde denied the charges laid by the Marquis, and showed him to the door.

The Marquis then wrote to his wife complaining that she was encouraging their son's intimacy with Wilde. Not withstanding all this, however, the friendship of Lady Queensberry and her son with the plaintiff remained unbroken.

London, April 4.

Mr. Oscar Wilde was further cross-examined to-day during the hearing of his charge against the Marquis of Queensberry for criminal libel.

Mr. Wilde admitted a close companionship with the young men introduced by Taylor. He had dined with them in fashionable cafés, and several had stayed for the night as his guests at his hotels; but he denied that there was anything objectionable in the proceedings. He was regardless of the circumstances of social inferiority in his guests provided that they amused him.

The letters which Mr. Wilde had written to Lord Alfred Douglas were read, showing that the writer had threatened to shoot the Marquis if his Lordship attempted to thrash him. In the letters of the Marquis there were references to eminent statesmen, but they were only of a political nature.

Mr. Oscar Wilde's case was then closed.

Mr. Carson, Q.C., in opening the case for the defence, declared that Mr. Oscar Wilde's protégés were among the most undesirable characters in London. The learned counsel commented on the omission of the prosecution to call Taylor, and affirmed that Mr. Wilde's companionships were absolutely irreconcileable with his claims to be an exponent of culture. The literature of the prosecutor alone justified the defendant in the extreme course he had adopted. More than that, Wood, the chief blackmailer, would prove the case for the defence up to the hilt.

London, April 4.

In the libel action, Oscar Wilde v. the Marquis of Queensberry, the plaintiff in cross-examination admitted he was acquainted with 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 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 continued their friendship. Once he took Atkins and a youth named Price to Paris, and introduced them to another 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.

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, where a furious scene took place. The latter denied the charges levelled against him, and showed the Marquis the door.

Witness wrote to the Marquis, complaining that his wife encouraged his son's visits. Wilde's friendship with Lady Queensberry and her son remained unbroken.

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

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

Wilde admitted intimacy with a number of young men, but denied any thing 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' letter referred to an eminent statesman, but the reference was political.

Wilde's case is closed.

Mr. Carson, in opening the case for the defence, declared that the 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, Mr. Carson claimed that the defendant's witnesses, amongst whom was Wood, the chief blackmailer, would prove the case up to the hilt.