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The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on a charge of criminally libelling Mr. Oscar Wilde was commenced to-day, and created a great sensation, the court being thronged by an immense crowd of people. Mr. Oscar Wilde declared that he had paid heavy blackmail to recover some "gushing" letters he had written to Lord Alfred Douglas, the son of the Marquis, and which letters had been found in Lord Alfred's old clothes when they were given away. The defence that the Marquis was justified in leaving the alleged libellous card with the hall porter at Mr. Wilde's club with a view to bringing matters to a head, and, as he stated, saving his son, was based on the revelations said to be contained in these letters.

Mr. Wilde, after giving his evidence, was subjected to a stringent cross-examination with a view to showing that his book, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," and certain articles published in the magazine "Chameleon," with which he was connected, were inspired by criminal practices. Mr. Wilde, however, insisted that they were merely an expression of the artistic faculty; and, further, that his letters to Lord Alfred Douglas were prose poems — of an extraordinary character, perhaps, but not justifying any immoral interpretation. He admitted that he gave one of the alleged blackmailers £21, and entertained him at lunch afterwards in a private room. He also admitted that he had been on terms of intimacy with two lads who were not his social equals, and he gave them considerable sums of money and expensive presents because he liked them.

Mr. Wilde's epigrams, paradoxes, and general extravagance of demeanour during the progress of the case caused much amusement in court.

The case was eventually adjourned, the Marquis of Queensberry being admitted to bail.

LONDON, April 4.

The hearing of the charge of criminal libel brought by Mr. Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry was resumed this morning.

Mr. Wilde, in further cross-examination, said he was acquainted with certain persons named Taylor, Parker, and Atkins. Taylor had introduced to him on separate occasions five young men, to whom he (witness) gave money. He was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. He took pleasure in being in the company of bright and happy people, and he visited Taylor's room. He was aware that Taylor and Parker were once arrested, but he still continued on terms of friendship with them. Taylor introduced him to a youth named Ernest Scarp, who became acquainted with Lord Arthur Douglas during a voyage to Australia.

Mr. Wilde tendered to the Judge certain letters from the youths already mentioned, which were read, and showed that the writers were poverty-stricken, and implored him to give them assistance or employment.

Other letters were read in the court which showed that the Marquis of Queensberry had endeavoured to stop his son visiting Mr. Wilde, but his son (Lord Alfred Douglas) wired to the Marquis stating that "he (Wilde) was a funny little man." The Marquis then called at Mr. Wilde's house, and a furious scene ensued. Mr. Wilde denied the charge made against him, and showed the Marquis the door.

It transpired that the friendship between Mr. Wilde and Lady Queensberry (who last year obtained a decree of nullity of marriage) and her sons remains unbroken.

In the course of his cross-examination, Mr. Oscar Wilde admitted his close intimacy with young men introduced to him by Taylor. He said he was regardless of the social inferiority of those he associated with if they were amusing.

Lord Alfred Douglas's letters, read in court, showed that he threatened to shoot his father if the latter attempted to thrash him.

The Marquis of Queensberry's letters referred to several eminent statesmen, but the references were entirely of a political nature.

This closed Mr. Wilde's case.

Mr. Carson, Q.C., in opening the case for the defence, declared that Mr. Wilde's protégés were amongst the most immoral in London. He commented upon the fact that Taylor had not been called as a witness for the prosecution, and declared that Mr. Wilde's intimacies were absolutely irreconcilable with his claims to be an exponent of culture. Mr. Carson further contended that Mr. Wilde's literature alone justified the Marquis of Queensberry in the course he had taken. His witnesses, including Wood, the alleged chief blackmailer, would, Mr. Carson affirmed, prove his case up to the hilt.

The court then adjourned.

LONDON, April 5.

On the resumption of the case this morning Mr. Wilde's counsel withdrew from the case.

The jury brought in a verdict of "Not guilty," and stated that the charges made by the Marquis of Queensberry were made for the public benefit.

It is now expected that Mr. Oscar Wilde will be arrested.

The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry, on a charge of having criminally libelled Oscar Wilde, the dramatist and poet, was commenced to-day. An immense crowd assembled in the court and its vicinity. The defendant pleaded justification, and that the words of the alleged libel were written for the public good.

Evidence was given to the effect that Oscar Wilde paid heavy blackmail for his gushing letters to Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the Marquis of Queensberry, and that these letters were found in some of his old clothes when they were given away.

The prosecutor was stringently cross-examined with the view of showing that his novel, "Dorian Grey," a story of an artist and his model, which appeared in Lippincott's Magazine, his articles in other magazines, and the Chameleon, with which he is connected, inspired to criminal practices. Oscar Wilde insisted that the articles were merely the expression of an artistic faculty. The letters to Lord Alfred Douglas were "prose poems," "extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation." He admitted that he gave one of the alleged blackmailers £21, and afterwards entertained him at luncheon in a private room. Wilde also admitted having been on terms of intimacy with two lads not his social equals, and that he gave them considerable sums of money and expensive presents. He did this because he "liked them."

He was acquainted with three men named Taylor, Parker, and Atkins. Taylor introduced five young men to him on separate occasions, and Wilde had given them money. He was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. He said that he took pleasure in being in the company of bright and happy people. He had visited Taylor's rooms frequently. He was aware that Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but he had, notwithstanding this fact, continued his friendship with them. He once took Atkins to Paris. Taylor introduced to him a youth named Scarp, who afterwards became acquainted with Lord Alfred Douglas, while on the voyage to Australia. He (Wilde) had made presents to Scarp and another young man named Mabor, because he liked them.

Certain letters were read in court from some of the youths already named, showing that the writers were poverty-stricken, and implored assistance from Wilde in obtaining employment.

Oscar Wilde admitted close intimacy with young men who had been introduced to him by Taylor. He had entertained them at dinner at fashionable cafés. Several had spent the night as his guests at his hotels, but nothing improper occurred. He was regardless of the social inferiority of his guests if they were amusing.

Letters written by Lord Alfred Douglas were read, in which he threatened to shoot his father if he attempted to thrash him.

Mr. E.H. Carson, Q.C., M.P., in opening the case for the defence, declared that Wilde's protégés were among the most immoral men in London. He commented strongly on the fact that the prosecutor had not called Taylor as a witness. Wilde's intimacies were absolutely irreconcilable with his claim as an exponent of culture, and his literature alone justified the action of the Marquis. Mr. Carson said that among other witnesses he would call Wood, the chief blackmailer, and would prove his case up to the hilt.

APRIL, 5.

Counsel for the prosecutor has withdrawn from the case.

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and considered that the charges made by the Marquis of Queensberry were for the public benefit. The verdict was received in court with loud cheers.

Oscar Wilde hurriedly left the court while counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry was explaining that the prosecutor's literature and letters justified the plea that Wilde posed as an immoral person. Wilde withdrew in order to avoid the appalling evidence that he feared would be brought against him by the witnesses for the defence.

After the trial Oscar Wilde published a letter in which he stated that his reason for abandoning the case was to avoid calling Lord Alfred Douglas as a witness.

Oscar Wilde and the man Taylor have been arrested.

The Marquis of Queensberry sent Oscar Wilde a message after the trial stating that he would shoot him if he attempted to take Lord Alfred Douglas abroad.

Both Oscar Wilde and Taylor were brought up at Bow-street Police Court to-day. Several witnesses gave evidence which went to show that the charge now preferred against Wilde can be proved up to the hilt. It was also shown that Taylor acted as an intermediary for Wilde. Wilde was remanded.

Oscar Wilde's name has been withdrawn from the playbills at the London and American theatres, where Wilde's dramas, "An Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" are being played.

APRIL 7.

Paris is petrified in consequence of the exposures in the Oscar Wilde case.

APRIL 9.

Several free libraries in the United States have destroyed Oscar Wilde's works.