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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.

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.