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The Central News says:-- "After conferring briefly with his counsel, Sir Edward Clarke, at the Central Criminal Court yesterday morning, Mr. Oscar Wilde proceeded in company with Lord A. Douglas and two other men to the Holborn-viaduct Hotel. The party remained in conference in a private room until 1 o'clock, when they partook of luncheon. At a quarter past 2 the four men drove off in Mr. Wilde's brougham, which had been waiting outside 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 Mr. Wilde was lost sight of."

Lord Queensberry's solicitors yesterday stated that it was not his lordship's intention to take the initiative in any criminal prosecution of Mr. Oscar Wilde, but after the finding of the jury 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.

On leaving the Court Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry's solicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor:-- "37, Norfolk-street, Strand. Re: Oscar Wilde. The Hon. Hamilton Cuffe, Director of Public Prosecutions, The Treasury, Whitehall.--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."

At Bow-street, after the luncheon interval, Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, intimated to Sir John Bridge, who had taken the place of Mr. Vaughan, that he might have occasion during the afternoon to make an important application. The nature of the case did not transpire. Nothing more was said in public, but it was understood that Mr. C. F. Gill, Mr. Angus Lewis, and Mr. Charles Russell waited upon Sir John Bridge in his private room and obtained a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Oscar Wilde. Among those in attendance at the Court during the afternoon were Detective-Inspector Brockwell, of Scotland-yard, and two of the youths referred to during the hearing of the case against the Marquis of Queensberry.

Later in the day Mr. Oscar Wilde was arrested by Inspector Richards at an hotel in Sloane-street. The inspector, who had with him Sergeant Allen, made the arrest about half-past 6 o'clock. When the senior officer asked for Mr. Wilde he was told that he was not there, but on the inspector's insisting, he was conducted to his room. Mr. Wilde had with him two friends, and the inspector stated the object of his visit. Mr.Wilde made no reply, and the party at once drove to Scotland-yard in order to meet Inspector Brockwell, who had the warrant for the arrest. The warrant was read to the prisoner, who made no reply, and after some delay he was brought to Bow-street, arriving there at 8 10 in a four-wheeled cab. Mr. Wilde was the first to alight, and walked straight into the station, followed by the detectives. He did not appear to be at all affected by the circumstances of his position. He was at once placed in the dock, and stood there with his hands in his pockets while the charge was taken down by Inspector Digby. When the charge had been entered Mr. Wilde was taken to the cells. Later Lord Alfred Douglas visited Bow-street in order to see whether he could bail out Mr, Wilde, and appeared much distressed when he was informed that on no consideration could his application be entertained. He then offered to procure extra comforts for the prisoner, but this also was not allowed by the officer on duty. Mr. Wilde occupies an ordinary cell, but will be allowed to supply himself with any extra food he thinks fit. He will be brought up to-day at 10 o'clock at Bow-street.

The Central News says:--"Lord Queensberry states that as soon as the trial ended yesterday he sent this message to Mr Wilde:-- 'If the country allows you to leave all the better for the country; but if you take my son with you I will follow you wherever you go and shoot you.'"

Mr. Oscar Wilde's name was yesterday removed from the play-bills and programmes of the Haymarket and St. James's Theatres, where his plays An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest were performed respectively.

Messrs. Ward, Parks, and M'Kay (85, Gracechurch-street), solicitors, write to us as follows with regard to toe Chameleon:--"On behalf of Messrs. Gay and Bird, the publishers of the first and only number of this publication, we ask you to be good enough to allow us to say through your columns that our clients of their own act stopped the sale directly they were aware of the contents of the magazine. Such sale was not stopped at the request of a contributor or any one else. They were requested to renew the sale and refused. Had the trial proceeded, we should, at the proper time, have tendered our clients to give the above facts in evidence."

At the Central Criminal Court, yesterday, before Mr. Justice Collins, the Marquis of Queensberry again surrendered to his bail to further answer an indictment charging him with having published a defamatory libel of and concerning Mr. Oscar Wilde, by leaving a card containing a serious charge against him at Mr. Wilde’s club—the Albemarle. The Marquis of Queensberry pleaded justification. Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., Mr. C. Matthews and Mr. Travers Humphreys prosecuted; Mr. Carson, Q.C., Mr. C.F. Gill. and Mr. A. Gill defended the Marquis of Queensberry; and Mr. Besley and Mr. Monckton watched the case on behalf of Lord Douglas of Hawick. Mr. Oscar Wilde was not present in court.

Mr. Carson, Q.C., proceeded with his speech for the defence. He contended that he had already shown, from Mr. Wilde's writings and admissions, that Lord Queensberry was absolutely justified in bringing to a climax this question been Mr. Wilde and his (Lord Queensberry’s) son. Distasteful as the task would be to him, he had now to discuss the more painful part of the case, viz., the evidence which it would be his duty to lay before the jury. Mr. Carson then proceeded to describe the nature of the evidence in support of the plea of justification and was alluding to the doings of Mr. Oscar Wilde at the Savoy Hotel, doings in regard to which, he said, the wonder was, not that they reached the ears of the Marquis of Queensberry, but that, in the face of such rumours, Mr. Wilde had been tolerated in society in London the length of time he had.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., who, with Mr. Matthews, have left the court during Mr. Carson’s address, and who now returned, after a hurried conversation with Mr. Carson, rose, and addressing his lordship, said: Will you allow me to interpose at this moment and to make a statement which is, of course, made under a feeling of great responsibility. My learned friend, Mr. Carson, yesterday addressed the jury upon the question of the literature involved in this case and from the inferences to be drawn from the admissions made by and the letters read yesterday with regard to Mr. Oscar Wilde. My learned friend began his address this morning by saying that he hoped that he had said enough yesterday, dealing with those topics, to induce the jury to believe from the necessity of dealing in detail with other issues of this case. My lord, I think it must have been present to your lordship’s mind that those representing Mr. Oscar Wilde in this case have before them a very terrible anxiety. We could not conceal from ourselves that the judgement that might be formed of that literature and of the conduct which has been admitted, might not improbably induce the jury to say that when Lord Queensberry used the words that he did, he was using words of which there was sufficient justification to entitle a father to use, and, under these circumstances to be relieved from a criminal charge in respect of that statement. That being our clear view—that that would not improbably be the result of the issue of that part of the case—I and my learned friends, who desire to be associated with me in this matter, have to look forward to this—that the verdict given in favour of the defendant on that part of the case might be interpreted outside as a conclusive finding with regard to all parts of the case and the position in which we stood was this—that without expecting to obtain a verdict in this case, we should be going through, day by day, it might be, matters of a most appalling character. Under these circumstances, I hope your lordship will think that I am taking the right course, which I take after communication with Mr. Oscar Wilde, and having regard to what has already been referred to by my learned friend, in respect to the matters connected with the literature and letters, when I say that I feel we could not resist a verdict of not guilty in this case. I hope, therefore, that your lordship will not think I am going beyond the bounds of my duty and that I am doing something to save and to prevent what would be most terrible task, however it might close, if I now interpose, and say on behalf of Mr. Oscar Wilde that he would ask to withdraw from the prosecution. If your lordship does not think, after what has taken place, that I ought to be allowed to do that, on his behalf, my lord, I am prepared to submit to a verdict of not guilty, having reference, if to any part of the particulars at all, to that part connected with the publication of "Dorian Grey" and "The Chameleon." I trust that this suggestion may meet with the approbation of the Court and my learned friend.

Mr. Carson—I do not know that I have any right whatever to interfere in any way in the application my learned friend has made. I can only say, as far as Lord Queensberry is concerned, that if there is a plea of not guilty—a plea which involves that he has succeeded in his plea of justification—I am quite satisfied. Of course, my learned friend would admit that we must succeed on that plea in the manner in which he has said, and, that being so, it will rest entirely with your lordship as to whether the course suggested by my learned friend ought to be taken.

Mr Justice Collins—Inasmuch as the prosecutor in this case is prepared to acquiesce in verdict of not guilty against the accused, I do not think it is any part of the function of the judge or of the jury to insist on going into details which can have no bearing on the matter which is already concluded by the assent of the prosecutor to an adverse verdict. But as to jury putting any limitation on their verdict, the justification is one which is a justification or not of the charge. If that is justified it is justified, and if it is not it is not, and the verdict of the jury upon it must be Guilty or Not Guilty. As I understand the prosecutor assents to a verdict of Not Guilty, there can be no terms, there can be no limitations—the verdict must be Guilty or Not Guilty; and as I understand the prosecutor assents to a verdict of Not Guilty, the jury will of course return that verdict.

Mr. Carson—The verdict will be that the plea of justification is proved, and that it is for the public benefit.

Mr. Justice Collins—Of course that is involved in the verdict.The verdict will be not guilty, but it is arrived at by that process. I should have had to tell the jury that two things ought to be established. One, that the justification set up was true, and secondly, that the statement was published in such a manner as to be for the public benefit. If they find those two things in favour of the defendant then he would be entitled to a verdict of not guilty. That is, I understand, the right verdict to which the jury ought to come. You will have to say whether you find complete justification has been proved or not.

The jury, without leaving the box, almost immediately came to a conclusion, the foreman stating that they found the plea of justification had been proved, and that the defendant was not guilty, the foreman adding: And we also find that it was published for the public benefit. (Applause.)

Mr. Carson, Q.C.,—Costs to the defendant will follow?

Mr. Justice Collins—You are entitled to it.

Mr. Carson, Q.C.,—May I ask that Lord Queensberry be discharged?

Mr. Justice Collins—Certainly.

As the Marquis quitted the dock there was loud applause in the court, no attempt being made to suppress it, and he was immediately surrounded and congratulated by his friends. The court adjourned until Monday.

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At Bow-street Police-court yesterday afternoon Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury Solicitors' Department, attended before Sir John Bridge and made a private application, which it was understood resulted in the issue of a warrant for the apprehension of Mr. Oscar Wilde on certain grave charges. At any rate, that gentleman was arrested between six and seven o'clock in the evening at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-street, and conveyed to Bow-street Station after a short visit to Scotland Yard. He will be brought before the magistrate to-day.

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Sir,—on behalf of Messrs. Gay and Bird, the publishers of the first and only number of this publication, we ask you to be good enough to allow us to say through your columns that our clients, of their own act, stopped the sale directly they were aware of the contents of the magazine. Such sale was not stopped at the request of the contributor or anyone else. They were requested to renew the sale and refused. Had the trial proceeded we should, at the proper time, have tendered our clients to give the above facts in evidence.—We are, your obedient servants,

WARD, PERKS, and McKAY.

WARD, PERKS, and McIKAY.

85, Gracechurch-street, E.C.