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The hearing of the charge against the Marquis of Queeasberry of criminally libelling Mr Oscar Wilde was resumed yesterday morning at the Central Criminal Court, London, before Mr Justice Henn Collins. The defence was a justification of the libel.

Mr Carson, continuing his address for the defence, said he hoped he had convinced the jury that defendant was justified in bringing to a climax the association of his son with Wilde. It would be his painful duty to call several young men to tell their own tale. He would show that Taylor acted as a procurer for Wilde. Mr Carson remarked, with much emphasis, that it was a wonder the man Wilde had been tolerated in London society so long.

Mr Carson was continuing his argument when Sir Edward Clarke and Mr Mathews retired from the court for a moment. Mr Wilde had up to this point been absent. Sir Edward Clarke on returning whispered to Mr Carson, who resumed his seat.

Sir E. Clarke, then addressing the Court, said he had to make a statement under the gravest responsibility. Mr Carson on Thursday said that he hoped he had said enough regarding Mr Wilde's letters and literature to influence the jury, and to relieve him from the necessity of dealing in detail with other issues. Those representing Mr Wilde had, therefore, before them a terrible anxiety, and could not conceal from themselves what the judgment of the jury might be, and that the jury might say Lord Queensberry was justified in using the words he had done. The position he (Sir Edward) stood in was that without expecting to obtain a verdict he would be going on from day to day investigating circumstances of the most appalling character. Under these circumstances, he hoped his Lordship would think he was taking the right course. After consulting Mr Wilde in reference to the letters and literature, he felt that he could not resist a verdict of not guilty in regard to the words, " posing as a -." He, therefore, asked on behalf of Mr Wilde to withdraw from the prosecution and submit to a verdict of not guilty in respect to that part of the particulars connected with the publication of "Dorian Grey" and the "Chameleon."

Sir Edward Clarke's statement produced a profound sensation in court.

Mr Carson said a verdict of not guilty involved a verdict also of justification.

Mr Justice Collins said that if the jury found a verdict of not guilty they would also find that the justification set up was true in substance and in fact, and that the statement was published for the public benefit.

The jury, after a few moments' consideration, returned a verdict of not guilty against the Marquis of Queensberry, the foreman adding that what he had written was published for the public benefit.

The Judge thereupon ordered the Marquis of Queensberry's discharge from custody, and certified for costs.

The Marquis, on descending from the dock, was heartily congratulated by his friends, and the court soon rapidly cleared.

As was surmised, Mr Wilde was in the precincts of the Old Bailey when the speech for the defence of Lord Queensberry was resumed. It was for the purpose of holding a conference with Mr Wilde that his leading counsel left the court. At the close of the consultation in one of the waiting rooms Mr Wilde hailed a hansom and drove away, leaving Sir E Clarke to formally withdraw from the prosecution.

Mr Oscar Wilde was arrested between six and seven o'clock last evening, and conveyed to Bow street police station, where he arrived at ten minutes past eight. The arrest was made by Inspector Richards at half past six at the Cadogan hotel, Sloane street, Chelsea, where Mr Wilde it appears drove after leaving the Holborn Viaduct hotel. Mr Wilde's visit to the hotel was of a casual character, he being accompanied by two gentlemen. Throughout the day the accused had been closely followed by two officers, and when Inspector Richards entered the hotel and asked for Mr Wilde it was stated that he was not staying there. This was virtually correct but when the inspector insisted that he was in the establishment and explained the circumstances, he was conducted to a room in the establishment where Mr Wilde was engaged with his two friends. Mr Wilde, in custody of two officers, was at once conducted to a cab, which conveyed the party to Scotland Yard, whence he was driven to 330w street. He was at once placed in the prisoner's dock in the charge room, but he made no reply to the charge. Lord Alfred Douglas visited Bow Street to inquire as to the possibility of the accused being bailed out but it was, explained that the prisoner had been arrested on a warrant charging an offence which admitted of no bail until the prisoner had appeared before a magistrate, Lord A. Douglas appeared much distressed when he was informed that on no consideration could the authorities entertain his application. Sir John Bridge, who signed the warrant, will investigate the charge.

The hearing of Mr Oscar Wilde [ . . . ] against the Marquis of Queensberry [ . . . ] at the Old Bailey, London, yesterday with Mr Carson said it would be his [ . . . ] witnesses. THe learned counsel [ . . . ] was a wonder plaintiff had [ . . . ] tolerated in London society so long.

At this juncture Sir Edward Clarke and Mr Mathews retired from court for a [ . . . ] On reappearing the former addressed the court, and he had to make a statement [ . . . ] the gravest responsibility. Mr Carson on Thursday said he hoped he had said enough in [ . . . ] Mr Wilde’s letters and literature to influence the jury, and to relieve him from the [ . . . ] of dealing in detail with other [ . . . ]. Those representing Mr Wilde couldn ot conceal from themselves that the [ . . . ] say Lord Queensberry was [ . . . ] he had done. The position he, SIr Edward, stood in was that without expecting to obtain a verdict he would be [ . . . ] circumstances of a most appalling character. After consulting with Mr Wilde in reference to the letters and literature, he felt he could not resist a verdict of not guilty, and therefore asked on behalf of Mr Wilde to withdraw from the prosecution, and submit to a verdict of "not guilty" in respect to that part of the particulars connected with the publication of "Dorian Grey" and the "Chameleon."

Mr Carson said a verdict of not guilty involved a verdict also of justification.

Mr Justice Collins concurred, adding the jury would also find that the justification was true in substance and in fact, and that the statement was published for the public benefit.

A verdict was accordingly given with costs.

It is understood that a warrant in connection with the case was applied for at five o’clock yesterday afternoon, and it was believed that it was granted.

The application was made to Sir John Bridge in his private room by Mr Charles Russell, son of the Lord Chief Justice, and Mr Angus Lewis, of the Treasury.

(CENTRAL NEWS TELEGRAM.)

LONDON, FRIDAY.Sensational and conflicting rumours are current in London respecting the whereabouts of Mr Oscar Wilde and his immediate intentions. One of these was to the effect that he had left Victoria Station by the boat express for Paris.

We are enabled to state, however, that up to four o’clock this afternoon Wilde was, beyond doubt, still in London. After conferring briefly with his counsel, Sir Edward Clarke, at the Central Criminal Court this morning, Wilde proceeded in company with Lord A. Douglas and two other gentlemen, one of whom was a lawyer, to the Holborn Viaduct Hotel, where Wilde had slept on the previous night on account of the convenient proximity to the court.

The party remained in earnest conference in a private room until one o’clock, which they partook of luncheon.

At a quarter-past two the four men drove on in Wilde’s brougham, which had been waiting out side the hotel for a considerable time. Their destination was a bank in St. James’s, where a large sum of money was drawn out on a cheque payable to "self." From that point Wilde was lost sight of.

Meanwhile, an application had been made at Bow street by, it is understood, Mr Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry’s solicitor in the case, and Mr Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, for a warrant for the arrest of Wilde, and the application was granted by Sir John Bridge and placed without delay in the hands of the police. A description of Wilde was afterwards issued, and his arrest is expected momentarily.

All the railway stations from which trains leave tonight in connection with steamers for foreign ports are being watched by detectives, and Wilde’s description has been sent by telegram to the chiefs of police in British ports with urgent requests that he might be arrested at sight.

It may be stated that the [ . . . ] which [ . . . ] in the information upon which Mr Carson’s masterly cross-examination [ . . . ] were made by ex-Inspector [ . . . ], who lately retired from Scotland Yard, after long and distinguished service in the Metropolitan Detective service.

(LATER.)

Oscar Wilde was arrested shortly after 7 o’clock this evening and taken to Scotland Yard. There he was formally charged. He will be charged in the ordinary course at Bow street Police Court tomorrow morning. Lord Queensberry states that as soon as the trial ended he sent this message to Wilde—"If the country allows you to leave [ . . . ] for the country, but if you take my son with you, I will follow you wherever you go and [ . . . ] you."

The warrant issued for the arrest of Oscar Wilde was executed by Inspector Richards of Scotland Yard, who, with Sergeant Allen, proceeded to the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane street, after [ . . . ] o’clock, and arrested the prisoner. He appeared somewhat surprised when the charge was read over to him, but made no reply, and was immediately taken to New Scotland Yard, and handed over to Inspector Brockwell, who held the warrant. After remaining for some time at Scotland Yard, Oscar Wilde was placed in a four-wheeled cab and conveyed to Bow street, where he arrived at ten minutes past 8 in the custody of Inspectors Brockwell and Richards.

On alighting from the cab, Wilde walked up the steps to the door of the police station briskly, with his hands in his pockets, and was at once placed in the dock and [ . . . ] for Digby. While the charge was being read the prisoner leaned over the dock, and keeping his hands in his pockets, and appearing unconcerned.

The prisoner did not make any reply to the charge, and he was removed for the night to an ordinary cell. Soon after Wilde had been removed to the cells a man drove up in a hansom cab, bearing a portmanteau containing some of the prisoner’s clothes. [ . . . ] the bag into the station, but the police would not permit him to leave it, and he had to carry it away again. Lord Alfred Douglas [ . . . ] Bow street in the course of the evening. When the four-wheeler containing Wilde and the police inspectors drove up in front of Bow street station several newspaper reporters were waiting there, but there was no excitement of any kind.

The prisoner was not recognised by anybody save the reporters. He will be brought up before the magistrate and charged tomorrow, when, it is understood, evidence of a formal character only will be tendered.