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The calendar at the Central Criminal Court Sessions, which opened at the Old Bailey this morning, before Mr. Justice Wills, contained charges against Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, 40, author, and Alfred Taylor, 33, of no occupation. Wilde was charged with improprieties with Edward Shelley, Alfred Wood, and Charles Parker, and with some person unknown. Taylor was charged with having attempted to commit a felony with William Parker and Charles Parker.

The Court was densely crowded in every part when at eleven o'clock Mr. Justice Wills, accompanied by the Load Mayor and several of the city aldermen, took his seat on the bench. Wilde had some time previously j driven to the Old Bailey, accompanied by his sureties—Lord Douglas ot Hawick and the Rev. Stewart Headlam—and surrendered to his bail. When placed in the dock by the side of Taylor he looked somewhat haggard and worn, but his health had visibly improved since his release from Ho loway. Taylor's features were very pale, but he stepped into the dock with a jaunty air, and seemed in- different to his position.

The Solicitor-General (Sir Frank Lockwood, Q.C..M. P.), Mr. H. Sutton, Mr. C. F. Gill, and Mr. Horace Avory appeared on behalf of the Crown, while the defence of Wilde was conducted by Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., M.P., and Mr. Travers Humphreys. Taylor was represented by Mr. P. Grain.

The jury having been sworn and the indictment read, Sir Eiiwaid Clarke applied thai the two defendants should be tried separately.

Mr. Grain made a similar application on behalf of Taylor.

The Solicitor-General opposed the application in each case on the ground that there were certain matters in the charges which necessitated the joint indictment of both defendants.

Mr. Justice Wills said he had anticipated that this application would be made, and having in view what the evidence was he thought it would be much fairer that the defendants should be tried separately.

The Solicitor-General intimated that he would first take the case of Taylor.

Sir Edward Clarke submitted that the charge against his client Wilde ought first to be taken. There were, he said, obvious reasons why it would be unfair to take | Taylor's case first, and he respectfully asked that, inasmuch as Wilde's name stood first on the indictment, and as the first count in that indictment was one directed against him. he should be taken first.

Mr. Justice Wills said he did not see how he could very well interfere with the rights of the prosecution. It was well within the rights of the prosecution to elect which defendant should first be placed on his trial.

Sir Edward Clarke : Then I shall ask, in the event of Taylor being tried first, that Wilde's case shall stand over til! the next sessions.

Mr. Justice Wills: Don't you think you had better wait until the end of the trial before making such an application? If there should be an acquittal against Taylor it would be so much the bett6r for Wilde.

Sir Edward Clarke: If your lordship pleases, will your lordship allow Wilde to be nut On the same bail as before?

Mr. Justice Wills: Are the sureties here?

The Solicitor-General: It is a matter entirely within your lordship's discretion.

Mr. Justice Wills: Certainly, I will grant the application.

Sir Edward Clarke: They have been here, but they are gone. They would have lieen hack in the afternoon but after your lordship's instruction they shall be sent for.

The defendant Wilde then left the dock and the charges against Taylor were at once proceeded with.

London, Monday.—The second trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor was fixed to commence this morning at the Central Criminal Court before Mr. Justice Wills. There was a large attendance of the public while the Junior Bar was strongly represented. Wilde was accompanied by his two sureties—Lord Douglas of Hawick and the Rev. Stewart Headlam—and when called upon to surrender walked smilingly into the dock. His health benefited greatly by his temporary freedom. He was at once joined by Taylor, who was brought from the cells.

The Solicitor-General (Sir F. Lockwood, Q.C.), Mr H. Sutton, Mr C. F Gill, and Mr. Horace Avory appeared for the prosecution. Counsel for the defence of Wilde were the same as at the previous trial—namely, Sir E. Clarke, Q.C., Mr. Charles Matthews, and Mr. Travers Humphreys. Taylor was again defended by Mr. Grain, assisted by Mr W. Clark Hall, in place of Mr. Paul Taylor. The indictment differed considerably from that originally framed.

Before the jury were sworn, Sir E. Clarke asked that in this case the defendants might be separately tried. On the last occasion he said there were twenty-five counts, and on many of them a verdict of not guilty was returned. There were only eight counts affecting Wiide, none of which affected Taylor, and, therefore, he submitted that as the counts were separate the prisoners should be tried separately.

Mr. Grain concurred in Sir Edward Clarke's application.

The Solictor-Generai opposed the application, and said the evidence in two, at least, of the counts necessitated the defendants being tried jointly. The result of trying them separately would be that evidence would have to be given of the conduct of another person who would not be on his trial.

The Judge said he anticipated that such an application might be made, and had given the subject careful consideration. He thought it would be best that the defendants should be tried separately.

The Solicitor-General then asked to have the case of Taylor taken first.

Sir Edward Clarke opposed the application, and asked to have Wilde's case taken before Taylor's, as Wilde's name appeared first in the calendar.

The Judge thought it was within the discretion of the prosecution to say which case they would take first.

Sir Edward Clarke next asked that Wilde's case should stand over until next sessions. He was proceeding to adduce arguments in support of his application, when The Judge stopped him, and said he had better defer his application until after the trial of Taylor.

On Sir Edward Clarke's application, His Lordship said Wilde could be allowed out on the same bail as before when the sureties were present.

Sir Edward said that they had left the court, but would be sent for.

Mr. Wilde then left the dock.

The Solicitor-General then opened the case against Taylor.

The case for the prosecution concluded at four o'clock, and Mr. Grain proceeded to address the jury for the prisoner, and had not concluded when the Court adjourned.