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As reported in the Evening Post yesterday, a warrant was issued yesterday for the arrest of Oscar Wilde. He was arrested last evening. At the conclusion of the trial at the Old Bailey yesterday, Oscar Wilde left in a brougham drawn by two brown cobs. He was driven to the Holborn Viaduct Hotel, where he had reserved a large sitting-room. In a few minutes he was joined by Lord Alfred Douglas and Lord Douglas of Hawick, and another gentleman. The four had lunch, finishing shortly before three. After satisfying themselves Wilde and the two Douglases left the hotel, and entering the brougham drove to the offices of Sir George Lewis in Bly Place, where Wilde personally delivered a note. He re-entered the brougham and drove back with his two companions to the Viaduct Hotel. There Lord Alfred Douglas and Lord Douglas of Hawick left the carriage and took up a cab, which the brougham followed. There was a drive into Fleet Street, and thence to St. James's Square, where the cab pulled up at the London and Westminster Bank, and Lord Alfred Douglas cashed a cheque. Wilde, in the brougham, did not stop, but drove straight to the Cadogan Hotel, in Sloan Street. Shortly after his arrival, there entered Lord Alfred Douglas and Lord Douglas of Hawick. Another account says that Wilde went to a bank in St. James's, where a large sum of money was drawn out on a cheque payable to "self."

Later in the day Mr. Oscar Wilde was arrested by Inspector Richards at this hotel in Sloane Street. The inspector, who had with him Sergeant Allen, made the arrest about half-past six 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. In the room were two young men. Wilde was seated by the fireplace in a saddle-bag chair, calmly smoking a cigarette. He raised his inquiring eyes to the intruders. Inspector Richards said, "Mr. Wilde, I believe?" Wilde languidly responded, "Yes! yes!" The floor of the room was strewn with some eight or nine copies of evening papers which had evidently been hastily scanned and then thrown aside. Inspector Richards said, "We are police officers, and hold a warrant for your arrest." Wilde replied, "Oh, really." Inspector Richards added, "I must ask you to accompany me to the police station." " Whither shall I be taken?" inquired Wilde. "To Scotland Yard," replied the inspector, "and thence to Bow Street." "Shall I be able to obtain bail?" plaintively said Wilde. The officer sternly replied, "That is a matter for the magistrate."

With a deep sigh Wilde dropped an evening paper, and raising himself by the aid of the arms of the chair into standing position he remarked with characteristic nonchalance to the officers, "Well, if I must go I will give you the least possible trouble." Wilde then passed over to a couch, picked up his overcoat and was assisted in putting it on by one of the young men present. Carefully he lifted and adjusted his hat. He grasped his suéde gloves in one hand and seized his stick with the other. Then he picked up from the table a copy of "The Yellow Book," which he placed in security under his left arm. Before departing with the police-officers be asked one of the young men present to go to his house and obtain some clean linen and forward it to the police-station whither he was to be conveyed. Then said he to the detectives, "I am now, gentlemen, ready to accompany you."

Detective Allen, acting upon this condescension, ran down the stairs and hailed a four-wheel cab. It was about 6.45 when the departure took place. It was noticed that Wilde looked considerably flushed, but he did not appear in any way to have lost the arrogant self-possession which he displayed at the court, and that he never for a moment relaxed the grasp of his arm upon "The Yellow Book." One of the young men referred to as having been in the room of the hotel—a sallow complexioned young fellow, wearing a fur-lined coat and a silk hat—exhibited the intention of entering the cab, but, on a strong hint from one of the detectives, he desisted. The detectives and Wilde were now fairly seated in the growler. Detective Allen directed the cabman to drive by the shortest route to Scotland Yard. The driver accordingly proceeded by way of Cadogan Square, and as he passed the cab rank he cried out to some of his brethren, "I've got him inside." The man was evidently animated by the full glory that he had captured a distinguished fare. The four-wheeler then proceeded to Scotland Yard.

Detective Allen alighted first, and Wilde came next. In alighting he missed the carriage-step and nearly fell to the stone pavement. Quickly recovering his position and still retaining between his teeth the cigarette which he was smoking, he dived his hand into his pocket and pulled out some money for the purpose of paying the cabman. Detective Allen interposed, "I'll pay." "No! No!" said Wilde, "Allow me, if you please," but on being informed that it was a way they had at Scotland Yard of paying for the conveyance of prisoners, Wilde returned the coins to his pocket. Wilde was then hurried by the two detectives into "the Yard," where he was detained for some time, and subsequently removed to Bow Street. To that place he was conveyed at 8 p.m. in a cab.

On the road Wilde smoked his cigarette and made divers inquiries of the detectives: Could he have a private cell? Would he be allowed to smoke? Might he order his food from outside the prison? At Bow Street Wilde was placed like other alleged criminals in the station dock. The warrant upon which he had been arrested was read out to him. The charge referred to acts committed on March 25, 1895, and on divers other dates. Wilde, leaning on the side of the dock, smiling, made no reply to the charge. He, however, requested that the dates be repeated. He was searched according to the police regulations, and then conveyed to one of the ordinary cells of the station.

Shortly alter the prisoner's arrival at Bow Street a Mr. Rose, a friend of Mr. Wilde, drove up with a small Gladstone bag containing a change of clothes and other necessaries for Wilde, but after a short interview with the inspector on duty Mr. Rose returned to his cab with the bag, he not being allowed to leave it. Later Lord Alfred Douglas visited Bow Street in order to see it he could bail out 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 in the shape of bedding for his friend, but this offer was also refused by he officer on duty. Wilde occupies an ordinary cell, but will be allowed to supply himself with any extra food he thinks fit.

THE TRIAL. A GRATIS DEFENCE BY SIR EDWARD CLARKE.

The doors of Bow Street Police Court were besieged at an early hour this morning, it being known that Mr. Oscar Wilde, who had been arrested on the previous night on a warrant granted shortly after the termination of tho Wilde v. Queensberry case, would be placed in the dock. A few minutes before ten the doors were opened, but only representatives of the press were admitted. They quickly seized upon all available accommodation. After a few minutes' delay it was intimated that the case would be taken in the Extradition Court upstairs, thereupon there was a wild rush from this part of the building on the part of the public, who had by this time got within the gates. The small court was thronged to its fullest capacity by an assemblage of well-dressed men. Only one woman was present and, seated immediately behind the dock, was the object of a great deal of curious and audible speculation.

Mr. C.F. Gill, who in the libel action acted as junior to Mr. Carson, Q.C., in defending the Marquess of Queensberry, entered at eleven o'clock. A moment later Sir Augustus Harris appeared, followed by several gentlemen understood to be connected with the drama. Sir John Bridge took his seat at five minutes past eleven. Simultaneously the door of the passage leading from the cells was thrown open, and the prisoner was seen approaching, carrying a silk hat in his hand. He advanced with an easy and even a stately step. He was wearing the overcoat which he wore at the Old Bailey, with a heavy velvet collar and cuffs. Having reached the centre of the dock, Wilde calmly deposited his hat upon the seat at his side, bowed slightly to Sir John, then crossing his arms over the rails, he bent slightly forward and listened attentively to the opening sentences which fell from Mr. Gill.

Mr. C.F. Gill, rising immediately the prisoner was placed in the dock, said he appeared to prosecute the prisoner on a series of charges, which he then specified. With regard to the nature of the case, he did not think it desirable that he should trouble the Court with any opening detail. No good purpose would be served by going into this matter in an opening speech. He would indicate to the Court generally what had occurred, and the evidence he proposed to adduce, and the nature of the charges upon which he should ask for the prisoner to be ultimately committed for trial would depend upon the evidence disclosed. The case, which counsel went into, in the first instance related to the conduct of the prisoner with regard to a young man named Charles Parker. Mention was also made of the part played by a person named Taylor. Thereafter counsel went on to give details unfit for publication.

Charles Parker was called, and as he entered the witness-box the prisoner, who by this time was seated and supporting his head on his gloved hand, looked steadily for a moment at the youth. Parker is a good-looking, well-set up young man of 19 years. He was smartly dressed, having a full depth white collar and light velvet-cuffed overcoat approximating somewhat to the Newmarket cut. Answering Mr. Gill, he said he was formerly a valet.

During his evidence the learned counsel startled the Court by the sudden intimation that Taylor bad been arrested, and he would postpone the further examination of Pinker pending Taylor's arrival in the dock.

At this juncture Detective-inspector Marshall announced "Alfred Taylor," and in obedience to the call a young man of similar build and address to Parker stepped briskly into the dock, and took his stand on Wilde's left.

Parker, replying to Mr. Gill, said he identified Taylor. When Taylor introduced him to Wilde Taylor said Wilde was a good man. Witness then described his visits to Taylor's rooms. He also gave an account of dining with his brother, Taylor, and Wilde in a private room at a restaurant. The table was lighted with candles with red shades.

Was it a good dinner?—Yes, a very good. (A laugh).

What wine?—Champagne.

Anything besides after dinner?—Yes; Coffee and brandy.

Did you smoke?—Yes.

What?—Cigarettes.

Did you see who paid for the dinner?—Wilde wrote out a cheque.

Parker gave his evidence with some hesitancy, and blushed deeply. As the examination of this witness had proceeded, Wilde moved restlessly about the corner of the dock in which he had seated himself, and occasionally passed his hands across his face in a way indicative o£ distress of mind.

Mr. C.O. Humphreys here announced that he had instructed counsel for the defence, and Mr. Travers Humphreys, who was with Sir Edward Clarke and Mr. Mathews at the Old Bailey, now entered the court and took his seat at the barristers' table.

Cross-examination was reserved. The Court then adjourned for luncheon.

During the adjournment for luncheon the gossip in court was to the effect that Sir Edward Clarke had written to Wilde's solicitor expressing his willingness to defend the prisoner without fee. On inquiry this statement proved to be well founded.

On the court resuming W. Parker, a brother of the former witness, and strongly resembling him, waa called. The witness complained or feeling unwell, and was accommodated with a seat. Parker, whose face was deathly pale, said falteringly that he, his brother, Taylor, and Wilde dined together.

Mrs. Ellen Grant, 13 Little College Street, described prisoners peculiar way of furnishing and lighting his rooms.

ANOTHER ARREST.

The Press Association telegraphs:—The man Taylor, who is alleged to have acted as an intermediary for Oscar Wilde, was arrested this morning and taken to Bow Street.

THE NIGHT IN THE CELL.

As soon as Wilde was inside the police-station last night his demeanour appeared to change completely. Had he not supported himself by the rail which runs down the lower end of the office he would have fallen. In a few seconds, however, he recovered himself, and sweeping back his hair from his forehead desired to know in what manner he was to be treated. He was informed, says to-day's Echo, that he would be placed in an ordinary cell. "Cannot I have a private room?" he plaintively queried. "No." was the reply, "but we will make you as comfortable as possible." He was requested to give up any articles winch he had upon him. He, without a word, turned out his pockets. A few loose coins, a pencil case, some papers, and 20 £5 notes, this was all he had upon him. The notes were kept by the police, but the remaining articles, excepting the pencil, were returned to him. Then he was conducted to the cell. "How am I to sleep to-night?" was Oscar's next question. In reply a constable brought in a few rugs, and throwing them upon a bench in the cell indicated that that would be the bed for the night.

LAST NIGHT'S DINNER.

The question of dinner was next considered. The prisoner, placed as he was, would be allowed to secure special food if he desired it. He did so desire, and a messenger acting on his request was despatched to an hotel. He returned attended by one of the hotel servants bearing a waiter piled with soup, fish, chicken, and a small bottle of champagne. For this repast Oscar displayed only the slightest partiality. Then he requested to be provided with a book, but the light in the cell, however, prevented reading. He also pleaded for permission to smoke, but this was refused. He slept very lightly, and now and then paced his cell. As soon as morning broke he stepped up to the door of the cell, and catching sight of the constable who had been detailed for the duty of watching him during the night had a brief conversation with him. At eight o'clock a messenger arrived with his breakfast of coffee and bread and butter. The coffee he drank, but the solid food he returned untouched. A curious feature, however, was that before this food could be taken from the cell another messenger arrived with coffee, bread and butter, and two eggs. This, of course, was returned.

HIS AGITATION.

It is reported from Bow Street that when Mr. Gill stated that Taylor had been arrested Wilde displayed the greatest agitation, and repeatedly laid his head on his hands. Tayior, on going into the dock, smiled at his felloW prisoner, who, however, was buried in a fit of abstraction.

ALL IRISHMEN.

The Westminster Gazette points out that it is somewhat remarkable that Oscar Wilde, Mr. Carson and Mr. Gill (the leading counsel against him), and Mr. Justice Henn Collins, who tried the case, are all Irishmen, and are ail graduates of Dublin University.

ON THE WATCH.

All the railway stations from which trains left in connection with steamers for foreign ports were watched by detectives yesterday afternoon, aud Wilde's description was sent by telegraph to the chiefs of police in British ports with urgent requests that, if he was seen there, he might be arrested at sight.

"THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST."

Mr. George Alexander, lessee and manager of St. James's Theatre, London, where Mr. Oscar Wilde's successful comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, is being performed, does not at present intend to remove the play from his boards, although the name of the author will no longer appear in the advertisements or the bills. He points out that no kind of objection, on grounds of morality or of taste, can be taken to the comedy.

(Continued from Page 3.)

The prisoners were remanded until Thursday next. Bail was refused, and prisoners were taken to the cells.

The police have re-searched Taylor's rooms, and it is said other startling disclosures are on the tapis.

London, May 21.

Oscar Wilde is being re-tried to-day before a new jury.

Wilde is being tried on the charge of indecency with Taylor, Parker, Woods and Shelly.

The Marquis of Queensberry is attending the trial.

London, May 22.

The relations existing between the Marquis of Queensberry and his son (Lord Alfred Douglas), as the result of the Oscar Wilde scandal, continue strained; and in Piccadilly to-day the Marquis severely chastised his son.

Both were arrested, and subsequently admitted to bail.

Lord Alfred Douglas began the quarrel by calling the Marquis of Queensberry a liar and a slanderer.

The latter eventually knocked his son down, and a furious struggle resulted until the police interfered and separated the pair.

LATER.

It was not Lord Alfred Douglas, but Lord Douglas of Hawick, who quarrelled with his father the Marquis of Queensberry, in Piccadilly.

Lord Douglas accused his father of sending insulting letters to Lady Douglas because he was one of Wilde's sureties. Lord Queensberry shouted out that he was anxious to renew the fight for £10,000; and addressing the crowd he said be disowned his son.

Both the disputants were bound over, in sureties of £500 each, to keep the peace.

February 24.

Oscar Wilde's case has been adjourned.

The charge against him in conjunction with Shelley has been withdrawn, as there was no corroborative evidence.

OSCAR WILDE CONVICTED

London, May 25.

The trial of Oscar Wilde concluded to-day.

The summing up of the Judge occupied three hours, and the jury were absent two hours in considering their verdict.

At the end of that time they returned with a verdict of guilty on all counts.

His Honor, in sentencing the prisoners Wilde and Taylor, spoke with great emotion. He said that to his mind the verdict was a correct one, beyond all shadow of doubt, and it-appeared to him useless to address the prisoners, who were evidently dead to all sense of shame. The case was the worst of its kind he had ever had before him; and in passing the most severe sentence the law permitted, he regretted that it was totally inadequate to the dastardly nature of the offence.

He then sentenced each of the prisoners to two years' hard labour.

Taylor left the dock with a firm step, but Wilde appeared haggard and dazed.

London, May 26.

Wilde after being sentenced appeared quite dazed and horror-struck.

In his despair he weakly muttered a request to be permitted to address the Court, but this was unheeded, and the warders hurried him off to his cell.

During the trial Wilde, who appeared to be suffering from weakness, was allowed to remain seated in the witness-box while giving evidence on his own behalf.

He said he always understood Taylor to be a respectable man, and, referring to his association with him, said the reason for the friendship was because he personally liked praise, and lionising was delightful to him.

Sir Edward Clark, Q.C., counsel for the accused, declared that the witnesses were blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe them.

The jury asked whether it was intended to arrest Lord Alfred Douglas.

The Judge replied that he was not aware of the intention of the police, but in any case it did not affect the present trial.

The jury thought that if Wilde's letter showed him to be guilty, the guilt applied equally to Lord Alfred Douglas.

His Honor concurred in this opinion, but added that the suspicion of the jury that the son of the Marquis of Queensberry was being allowed to escape owing to his connections was both unfounded and impossible.

London, May 27.

The Marquis of Queensberry and his two sons Lord Alfred Douglas and Lord Douglas of Hawick were all present at the close of the trial of Wilde and Taylor.

Our London correspondent gives the following interesting particulars concerning the above horrible case. Writing under date of April 12th, he says:—Though the public owes a debt of gratitude to the Marquis of Queensberry for branding the High Priest of a cult which has been a black disgrace to London for the last fifteen years, the less said about his motives the better. The role of affectionate father resolved at all costs to save his son from the clutches of a foul fiend does not exactly suit. In the words of Lord Douglas of Hawick, "My father has persecuted us ever since I can remember. Scandal after scandal has been heaped upon us till I feel utterly unable to hold up my head." Lord Queensberry disliked Oscar Wilde the first time he met him, and later intervened spasmodically in the family affairs (as he was in the habit of doing from time to time) to stop Lord Alfred's acquaintance with him. The sons Lord Percy and Alfred stood by their mother, who had divorced the estimable Q. for particularly objectionable conduct some time previously. They repudiated their father's authority, and his interference re Oscar Wilde merely aggravated Lord Alfred's friendship for the apostle of "culchah." Moreover, not content with defying his erratic parent (which probably wouldn't have mattered much), Lord Alfred chaffed him and scoffed at him. In reply to an indignant epistle calling Oscar unpleasant names, the son wired "Oh! you funny little man," whilst Oscar himself calmly ignored the Marquis.

This treatment not unnaturally turned Lord Queensberry's smouldering dislike into active malignity. He went about raving against Oscar, and the latter having many enemies and having grown careless with immunity, awkward evidence was soon in his lordship's possession. The statements the Marquis made everywhere became very serious but for "Old Q." being a notorious "crank," Wilde couldn't possibly have ignored them as long as he did.

The scene on the premier of "The Importance of Being Earnest" brought things to a head. Mr Alexander expected Oscar to take Lord Queensberry and his bouquet of vegetables as a joke to be skillfully turned against the joker. But Oscar seemed terrified, sent for the police, and had every entrance strictly guarded. The actors and actresses were amazed.

Two days later a very influential personage in the art world intimated to Oscar that Lord Queensberry's mouth must be stopped. His allegations were too specific to be ignored. Mr Wilde thereupon pledged himself to take action at the first opportunity.

This was the time to bolt or rather to "leave England for an indefinite period." Oscar neglected the opportunity. His conceit and egotism were colossal. He had turned many awkward corners in the past. Mother wit and brazen impudence must enable him to negotiate this one.

Lord Queensberry like "brer Rabbit" lay low. The proceedings at the Police Court reassured Oscar greatly. It was rumoured the defence meant to rely on the "Priest and the Acolyte," and the "Portrait of Dorian Gray" chiefly, "and they," as Oscar said to "Boysey" (Lord Alfred Douglas) "wont settle us."

THE ARREST

Wilde's explanation of his collapse is that he could not prove his case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the box against his parent, and this he declined to do. "I prefer to bear whatever ignominy and shame may result from my prosecuting Lord Queensberry myself."

The new Public Prosecutor lost no time in following up the verdict. Within three hours the police, Sir Jas. Ingham (Chief Magistrate at Bow street), the Home Secretary and the aforesaid official had reviewed the depositions, and at 2 p.m. "Oscar Wilde is wanted by the police" had been wired to every station in the Metropolis.

The morning papers thus describe the arrest:—

"At Scotland Yard, Inspector Brockwell handed the warrant to Detective-Inspector Richards and Detective-Sergeant Allen. They took a cab to the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane street, arriving at 6.20.

"To the hall porter they said, 'Is Oscar Wilde staying here?' They were answered in the affirmative. 'Will you show us to his room?' they asked, notifying that they were police officers. The porter, somewhat flurried, summoned the waiter, who conducted the two detectives to Wilde's sitting-room, No. 53, where they found their man. In the room were two young men. Wilde was seated by the fireplace in a saddle-bag chair, calmly smoking a cigarette. He raised his enquiring eyes to the intruders. Inspector Richards said, 'Mr Wilde, I believe?' Wilde languidly responded, 'Yes! yes!' The floor of the room was strewn with some eight or nine copies of evening papers, which had evidently been hastily scanned and then thrown aside. Inspector Richards said, 'We are police officers, and hold a warrant for your arrest.' Wilde replied, 'Oh, really!' Inspector Richards added, 'I must ask you to accompany me to the police-station.' 'Whither shall I be taken?' enquired Wilde. 'To Scotland Yard,' replied the Inspector, 'and thence to Bow street.' 'Shall I be able to obtain bail?' plaintively said Wilde. The officer sternly replied, 'That is a matter for the Magistrate.' With a deep sigh he dropped an evening paper, and raising himself by the aid of the arms of the chair into standing position, he remarked, with characteristic nonchalance, to the officers, 'Well, if I must go, I will give you the least possible trouble.' Wilde then passed over to a couch, picked up his overcoat, and was assisted in putting it on by one of the young men present. Carefully he lifted and adjusted his hat. He grasped his suéde gloves in one hand and seized his stick with the other. Then he picked up from the table a copy of 'The Yellow Book,' which he placed in security under his left arm. Before departing with the police officers, he asked one of the young men present to go to his house and obtain some clean linen and forward it to the police-station whither he was to be conveyed. Then said he to the detective, 'I am now, gentlemen, ready to accompany you.'

"Detective Allen, acting upon his condescension, ran down the stairs and hailed a four-wheeled cab from the rank in Cadogan square. When the party came down to the hall, the porter, by force of habit, politely opened the door, while the waiter as politely showed them into the cab. It was about 6.45 when the departure took place. It was noticed that Wilde looked considerably flushed, but he did not appear in any way to have lost the arrogant self-possession which he displayed at the Court, and that he never for a moment relaxed the grasp of his arm upon 'The Yellow Book.' One of the young men referred to as having been in the room of the hotel—a sallow-complexioned young fellow, wearing a fur-lined coat and a silk hat—exhibited the intention of entering the cab, but, on a strong hint from one of the detectives, he desisted. The detectives and Wilde were now fairly seated in the growler. Detective Allen directed the cabman to drive by the shortest route to Scotland Yard. The driver accordingly proceeded by way of Cadogan square, and as he passed the cab rank he cried out to some of his brethren, 'I've got him inside.' The man was evidently animated by the full glory that he had captured a distinguished fare. The four-wheeler then proceeded by way of Hobart place, Buckingham Palace road and St. James's Park to Scotland Yard.

"Detective Allen alighted first, and Wilde came next. In alighting he missed the carriage step and nearly fell to the stone pavement. Quickly recovering his position and still retaining between his teeth the cigarette which he was smoking, he dived his hand into his pocket and pulled out some money for the purpose of paying the cabman. Detective Allen interposed, 'I'll pay.' 'No! No!' said Wilde, 'allow me, if you please,' but on being informed that it was a way they had at Scotland Yard of paying for the conveyance of prisoners Wilde returned the coins to his pocket. Wilde was then hurried by the two detectives into 'the Yard,' where he was detained for some time, and subsequently removed to Bow street. To that place he was conveyed at 8 p.m. in a cab. On the road Wilde smoked his cigarette and made divers enquiries of the detectives: Could he have a private cell? Would he be allowed to smoke? Might he order his food from outside the prison? At Bow street Wilde was placed like other alleged criminals in the station dock. The warrant upon which he had been arrested was read out to him. It charged him with indecencies with male persons on March 25th, 1895, and on divers other dates. Wilde, leaning on the side of the dock, smiling, made no reply to the charge. He, however, requested that the dates be repeated. He was searched according to the police regulations, and then conveyed to one of the ordinary cells of the station."

AT THE POLICE COURT

Oscar Wilde was brought up at Bow street on Saturday and charged under the eleventh section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act with felonious practices. The case had hardly begun before Taylor, the alleged procurer of lads for vicious purposes, was placed in the dock beside Oscar, having just been arrested. Mr Gill (for the Crown) said that the police had known of Taylor's infamous occupation for years but could never secure satisfactory evidence to lay him by the heels. Now, however, they thought they had all that was necessary.

Four witnesses were examined on Saturday, two brothers (Charles and William Parker), Taylor's landlady and Sydney Mavor. Charles Parker is a valet and William Parker a groom. Both are slight, fair young fellows and were in deadly fear. They evidently had been assured that there was no alternative save between the witness-box and the dock. Charles Parker deposed that when out of a situation in March, 1893, he went to the St. James' Restaurant one afternoon with his brother. They there met Taylor, who said Oscar was "a good man" (for money) and kind to youths. A dinner at a restaurant followed and a number of meetings in private, at which certain improprieties took place, and for which witness received money. William Parker and Mavor gave similar evidence.

It is right to state here that the charge at present alleged against Wilde is NOT (as most of the public imagine) the most serious which could be made. It is merely filthy, and the maximum penalty under the Criminal Law Amendment Act is two years. The papers talking about Oscar 10 and 15 years simply "dunno where they are." Of course, the more infamous charge may still be tabled. But at present the prosecution put forward nothing of the kind.

Taylor's landlady, a stupid old woman, evidently selected to wait upon him because of her denseness, described his rooms. He burnt quantities of pastilles, and the curtains in the drawing-room were drawn and the gas lit day as well as night. Young men were constantly coming to see Taylor. They usually drank champagne. Witness did not recognise the prisoner Wilde. To the best of her belief she had never seen him before.

Wilde heaved a sigh of relief.

"But you've heard of Mr Wilde?" enquired Mr Gill, taken aback.

"Never 'eard 'is name," replied the woman.

"Didn't you ever hear Parkins or Taylor mention him?" said Mr Gill.

"No, never," persisted the witness.

"Whom did they talk about, then?"

"They was allus going on about a man called Hosker."

"Oscar, you mean?"

"Yes, that's 'im." (Laughter.)

At the close of Saturday's proceedings, the case was adjourned till yesterday (Thursday), bail being refused. Mr Wilde was removed in "Black Maria" to Holloway Castle, in a cell whereof he has had abundant time to distinguish between the beautiful and the degradingly prosaic.

A UNITED FAMILY

Lord Douglas of Hawick stated to a reporter on Friday that "every member of our family, excepting my father, utterly and absolutely disbelieves the allegations of the defence concerning Mr Wilde." This, however, was promptly contradicted by his lordship's uncle, the Hon and Rev Lord Archibald Douglas, who, on behalf of Lady Queensberry and his sister, stated that they did "most certainly believe the allegations against Wilde, and repudiated all sympathy with his nephew's statement."

Between the police court proceedings in the libel case and the trial, Lord Queensberry sent Oscar a contemptuous message, advising him to bolt, but not to take Lord Alfred with him. If he did, the Marquis might follow, and shoot him. Oscar's reply was to go abroad at once with Lord Alfred and to send "Old Q." his address.

PUBLIC OPINION

Great is the power of the verdict of a British jury. On Friday morning last the plaintiff in the Queensberry libel case was "Mr Oscar Wilde," the "apostle of culture," and an undoubted leader of London society. Despite the rumours concerning his gross and fœtid immorality which have been freely current for over twenty years there were very few smart houses where he was not an honoured guest. To be quite just, certain well-known persons, as for instance Lord and Lady Bath and Mr and Mrs Gladstone, have never stomached him. But these exceptions were not numerous. Even as late as Thursday night Oscar was the hero of a big "crush." It was his last. Twenty-four hours later the reporters no longer prefixed the well-known name with "Mr." He became "Wilde," or "the man Wilde," or the "infamous Wilde."

The papers with one or two exceptions passed by the trial without comment. The Daily Twaddlegraph, which has on many occasions "gushed" fulsomely anent Oscar's "coruscating wit" and "undoubted genius," now dilated on his "spurious brilliancy, inflated egotism, diseased vanity and shameless disavowal of all morality." I preferred the tone of the Chronicle, which summed up the situation and its moral accurately thus:—

"For long past London life, or—let us say—as small and obscure section of it, has been under the shadow of a black cloud. Everybody has suspected and feared: nobody—no decent person—has known. There was some centre whence a most deadly infection spread; it was apparent in a certain class of literature. Now the jury has declared that even a man of unattractive character has done a public benefit in branding one of the most prominent figures in our drama, our literature, and a by no means 'unfashionable' section of society. Upon the genesis of this pose—upon the causes of this degradation of great natural abilities and talents almost amounting to genius—we will not dwell. Suffice it to know that as some return for the undamming of this putrid stream, our life—to go no step beyond the verdict of the jury yesterday—is rid for ever of a pestiferous poseur. 'Decadence' among us has received a death-blow, and the way has been cleared for an increased wholesomeness of life. Public opinion has been so sharply screwed up during the past two days that certain things in current art and literature, no less than in conduct, will be intolerable for at least a long time to come.

"One aspect of this sombre and dreadful case forces itself on the public view, and cannot be withheld from it. We seem for some unhappy hours to have been the shuddering witnesses of a bastard revival of society under the later Roman Empire, or of the dark background of the Italian Renaissance. That is a grave fact, which must be recorded, albeit we set it down with 'mourning and lamentation and woe.' The æsthetic movement has been dragged into the mud. Great names are associated with its earlier influences, names as great as those of Keats, and of Ruskin, and of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and as pure and high as the name of Christina Rossetti. But all things—even the noblest—are subject to contamination, and we must bear, with what patience we may, the feeling that essentially right and inevitable tendencies in art and in literature have been foully prostituted."