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[...] is sinking deeper and deeper [...] where it becomes increasingly difficult to follow it. The fine verbal fencing of the first day has done little to relieve the horrible darkness of the succeeding passages of the trial, and even the Old Bailey recoiled with loathing from the long ordeal of terrible suggestion that occupied the whole of yesterday when the cross-examination left the artistic literary plane and penetrated the dim-lit, perfumed rooms where the poet of the beautiful joined with valets and [...] bond of the silver cigarette [...] And when Oscar Wilde left [...] the little light that had relieved the [...] of the picture died out, as Mr. [...] to paint a horrid nocturne of [...] suggestions, a thing of [...] only [...] but wholly horrible.

Curiosity, however, was as strong to-day as ever, and brought together if possible a larger crowd than that which on the two preceding days has filled the court. It was known that the defence had a large number of witnesses, [...] how many were to be called of the 15 persons as to whom Mr. Wilde was examined was unknown.

THE ABSENT OSCAR.

Day by day, in the miserable hour of waiting that precedes the sitting of the court, the scene is is curiously the same. Everyone is in the same seat, wedged in the same angle, or standing in the same corner: looking around not a face seems missing that was present on the morning the trial begun. As the time wears on, Lord Queensberry enters and leans nonchalantly against the dock, and after looking about him a moment climbs inside and sits down to read a paper. Everyone is looking for the prosecutor, who does not put in an appearance in court, though several letters addressed to "Oscar Wilde, Old Bailey, London," are awaiting him.

When the Judge taken his seat he is handed a cablegram from America, which he reads slowly.

FOR THE DEFENCE.

Mr. Carson at once went on with his speech. He had dealt fully, he said, with the literature in the case, and almost hoped that, so far as Lord Queensberry was concerned, he was absolutely on that ground [...] in bringing to a climax the connection between Mr. Wilde and his son. The rest of his duty was more painful, to comment on the remaining portion of the case. He had to bring before them the young men, one after the other, to tell their tales, for an advocate a most distasteful task. One word he would say—let those who would blame these young men remember they were mere sinned against than sinning. Mr. Carson then dealt with Mr. Wilde’s admission in cross-examination.

The learned judge sat with his face hidden in his hands, never raising it till Mr. Carson [...] the awful character of his speech by a protest against the slippancy of Mr. Wilde’s answers in the box. "No doubt he thought he was making smart repartees, souring off counsel, that is as it may be." Then to the [...] again.

SIR EDWARD INTERPOSES.

In the middle of Mr. Carson’s speech, Sir Edward Clarke rose and interposed. At once there was an electric shock, everyone knew something had happened.

Sir Edward, looking pale, said "My Lord, I interpose with a sense of great responsibility to make a statement as to what my friend said yesterday in addressing the jury on the question of the literature involved in this case and [...] references he had drawn from the [...] with regard to the letters by Mr. Oscar Wilde yesterday. My friend began his address this morning by saying he hoped yesterday that he had said [...] dealing with [...] to [...] detail with the other [...] who represent Mr. Oscar Wilde [...] have before them a [...] They could not [...] a judgment might be [...] improbably induce the [...] Lord Queensberry in [...] justification to [...] that he should be relieved .. forward [...] which [...] Under these [...] lordship [...] Mr. Oscar Wilde [...] guilty, having reference to that part of the particulars in connection with the literature of the case.

MR. CARSON SPEAKS.

Mr Carson, in a few words, raised no objection, but insisted on the point that Lord Queensberry had justified the libel, had said it was for the public benefit it should be published, and the verdict must be taken on those issues.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID

The learned Judge then said that if both parties acquiesced it was not within his province or that of the jury to stand in the way of taking a [...] which would avoid going into prurient [...] But there would be no limitation of the verdict. The libel is either justified or not; there can be no limitation to the terms of the verdict, and I shall direct the jury to return a verdict that the libel was true in substance and a fact, and that it was for the public benefit that it was published.

THE VERDICT.

After a few moments consultation together on the part of the jury, the foreman intimated that they had arrived at their verdict that the libel was true.

The Clerk of Arraigns : Do you find the plea of justification proved?—Yes.

Mr. Carson: Lord Queensberry may be discharged ?

Mr. Justice Collins: Oh, certainly.

Lord Queensberry at once stepped out of the dock and joined his solicitor in the wall of the court.

There was applause in court, which, in contradiction to usual custom, was not immediately suppressed. There was little excitement outside the Court, very few people being present.

WHERE OSCAR WAS.

Oscar Wilde went to the Old Bailey, but did not enter the court. He had a consultation with Sir Edward Clarke in a room off the court, and while the learned gentleman was making his statement to the judge Wilde hurriedly left the building. The Exchange Telegraph Company has authority for stating that no warrant has been applied for, but on leaving the Court Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry’s solicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor :

"37, Norfolk-street, Strand."The Hon. Hamilton Cuffe, Esq.,"Director of Prosecutions.

"Dear Sir—In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial."Yours faithfully,CHARLES RUSSELL,"The Treasury, Whitehall."

AT THE HOLBORN VIADUCT.

When Oscar left the Old Bailey he drove, in company with a companion, in his carriage which was in waiting, to the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. Shortly afterwards he was joined by Lord Alfred Douglas and another person and the four remained closeted in a private room. At one o’clock the four ordered luncheon to be served in another private room. Wilde’s carriage remains outside the hotel.

London, Friday.The hearing of the libel action brought by Mr Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry was resumed to-day at the Old Bailey. Sir E Clarke, Q C; Mr C Mathews, and Mr Travers Humphreys attended to prosecute. Mr Carson, Q C; Mr C F Gill, and Mr A Gill (instructed by Mr Charles Russell), represented the Marquis of Queensberry, : Mr Besley, Q C, with Mr Monckton, watching the proceedings on behalf of Lord Douglas of Hawick, the eldest son of the Marquis.

When the trial was resumed Mr Carson, continuing his address for the defence, said he hoped he had convinced the jury that the defendant was justified in bringing to a climax the association of his son with Mr Wilde. It would be his painful duty to call several young men to tell their own tale. He would show that Taylor acted as an agent for Wilde. Mr Carson remarked with much emphasis that it was a wonder a man like Wilde had been tolerated in London society so long. He regretted to have to call the young man Parker because he had joined the service of his country, and now bore an excellent character.

Mr Carson was continuing his argument when Sir E Clarke and Mr Mathews retired from the court for a moment. Wilde up to this time had been absent. Sir E 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 yesterday said that he hoped he had said enough regarding Mr Wilde’s letters and literature to influence the jury 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 a most appalling character. Under those circumstances, he hoped his lordship would think he was taking the right course. After consulting Mr Wilde in a reference to his 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 "Dorian Grey and 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 VERDICT.

The jury, after a moment’s 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 rapidly cleared.

THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR INVOKED.

The Press Association, on inquiring of Lord Queensberry’s solicitors (Messrs Russell and Day), is informed that it is not his lordship’s intention to take the initiative in any criminal prosecution of Oscar Wilde, but after the finding of the jury this morning in the libel action, the whole of the documents, with proofs of the evidence upon which the defence had intended to rely, were forwarded to the Public Prosecutor, the Hon Hamilton Cuffe.

The letter written by Mr Russell, and accompanying the documents, is as follows :—

"In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses’ statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial."

WILDE’S RETREAT.

As was surmised, 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 Wilde that his leading counsel left court. At the close of the consultation in one of the waiting rooms Wilde hailed a hansom and drove away, leaving Sir E Clarke to withdraw formally from the prosecution.