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The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry for criminally libelling Mr. Oscar Wilde, the well known dramatist, was continued to-day, the cross-examination of the complainant, Mr. Oscar Wilde, being continued. The alleged libel is contained on a post-card which the Marquis left with the hall porter at Mr. Wilde's club. The defence is justification, the Marquis declaring that the letter was written with the object of saving his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, from immoral influences exerted over him by Mr. Wilde. The defence is based on revelations contained in certain letters from Mr. Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas. For some of these letters Mr. Wilde has had, it is alleged, to pay heavy blackmail. The letters, which were of a very gushing character, were found in some old clothes which Lord Alfred Douglas had given away.

Mr. Oscar Wilde stated, in cross-examination, that he was acquainted with three men named Taylor, Parkes, and Atkins. Taylor introduced him to five young men on separate occasions. To these young men witness had given money. He was not aware that they or any of them were gentlemen's servants. It was a pleasure being in their company, as they were bright and happy people. Witness visited Taylor's rooms frequently. He became aware that Taylor and Parkes had once been arrested, but that knowledge did not lead him to discontinue his friendship with them. He once took Atkins to Paris. Taylor introduced him to a youth named Ernest Scarp, who had become acquainted with Lord Douglas during a voyage to Australia. Witness made presents to Scarp and Taylor because he liked them.

Counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry read letters in Court showing that the Marquis endeavoured to stop his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, visiting Mr. Wilde. Lord Alfred wired to his father saying that Mr. Wilde was a funny little man. The Marquis called at Mr. Wilde's house and made certain charges against Mr. Wilde. A furious scene ensued, in the course of which Mr. Wilde denied the charges and closed the interview by showing the Marquis the door. The Marquis subsequently wrote complaining that Mrs. Wilde encouraged his son to persist in his friendship with her husband.

Letters were read in Court from the youths already named. These letters showed that the writers were living in poverty and were striken with shame. They implored assistance and employment.

In cross-examination Mr. Wilde admitted that he was on terms of close intimacy with the young men mentioned. He had introduced Taylor to his friends and had dined with him at fashionable restaurants. He had also on several occasions spent the night with his guests at his hotel, but nothing improper occurred on those occasions. He was regardless of the social inferiority of those with whom he associated, provided that they were an amusing class of people.

A letter was put in as evidence which showed that Lord Alfred Douglas had threatened to shoot his father, if his father attempted to thrash him.

In one of the Marquis of Queensberry's letters reference was made to an eminent statesman, but the reference was purely political.

The case for the prosecution closed today, and Mr. Carson, Q.C., M.P., leading counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry, began his speech for the defence. He declared that Mr. Wilde's protègés were amongst the most immoral men in London. He commented on the fact that the prosecution did not put Taylor into the witness box. He declared that Mr. Wilde's intimacies with the young man were absolutely irreconcileable with his claims to be regarded as an exponent of culture. His literary work alone justified the steps taken by the Marquis of Queensberry. Witnesses would, however, be called who would prove the case for the defence up to the hilt. Among the witnesses would be the man Wood, who was the chief among Mr. Wilde's blackmailers.

London, April 5.

The Queensberry-Wilde criminal libel action has been brought to a sudden and startling close. Mr. Wilde's counsel announced that he had decided to withdraw from the case. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and expressed the opinion that the Marquis of Queensberry's charges were made for the public benefit. It is expected that a warrant will be issued for Mr. Wilde's arrest.

London, April 3.

Immense crowds attended the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on a charge of libelling Oscar Wilde. The evidence adduced to-day showed that Wilde had paid heavy blackmail for his gushing letters to Lord Alfred Douglas (the Marquis's son), which were found in the pockets of his old clothes when given away. The defence is based on the revelations in these letters.

April 4.

Oscar Wilde was subjected to a stringent cross-examination with a view to showing that "Dorian Grey" and some articles in the magazine "Chameleon," with which he is connected, are of an immoral tendency. Wilde insisted they are merely expressions of artistic faculty. His letters to Lord Douglas he said were prose poems, extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation. He admitted he gave one of his alleged black-mailers L21, and lunched with him in a private room afterwards. The case is adjourned. Defendant was admitted to bail.

Oscar Wilde explained the effusive language of the letters addressed to Lord Douglas as the natural expression of an artist attracted by a beautiful personality. The Marquis of Queensberry visited his residence and threatened Wilde, to which that gentleman responded, "You are the most infamous brute in London.

At the hearing of the charge of libel brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry, Wilde, in cross-examination, admitted that he was acquainted with the 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 that he derived pleasure from being in the company of bright, happy people. Witness had frequently been in Taylor's room, and was aware that both Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but he continued their friendship. Once he took Atkins and a 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.

The letters read in court proved that the Marquis of Queensberry was endeavouring to stop his son from 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 at the time the charges levelled against him, and showed the marquis the door.

Wilde, continuing his evidence, said he wrote to the marquis complaining that his wife encouraged his son's visits. Wilde's friendship with Lady Queensberry and the marquis's son remained unbroken.

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

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

April 5.

Oscar Wilde admitted close intimacy with a number of young men, but denied there was anything 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's letter referred to an eminent stateman, but the reference was political. Oscar Wilde's case is closed.

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

The charge of libel against the Marquis of Queensberry finished to-day, 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, and Wilde himself left the court while his counsel was explaining that the 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.

Counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry has sent the public prosecutor a statement of the witnesses and notes on the evidence in order to prevent a miscarriage of justice, and later in the day Oscar Wilde was arrested.

April 6.

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

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

The warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde was issued at the instance of the Treasury.

Although Wilde's name has been removed from the playbills the companies continue to play his pieces for the present.

Oscar Wilde, in his letter to the press explaining his reason for abandoning the case, states that he is willing to bear the ignominy in order to avoid calling Lord Douglas to give evidence against his father, but says the son was eager and quite willing to enter the witness box.

Parisian society is astounded at Oscar Wilde's exposure.

April 8.

Since he was remanded with Oscar Wilde, Taylor has made statements which are likely to lead to many arrests.