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London, April 3 — The Central Court was densely packed today to hear the proceedings in the action brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry for libel. Wilde was present and maintained an air of unconcern. The Marquis of Queensberry pleaded not guilty, adding that the so-called libel was true, and made known in the interests of public morality.

Sir Edward Clarke for the prosecution reviewed the evidence, dwelling upon the writing on the card which constituted the libel. When the counsel said certain witnesses would deny the marquis’ testimony, the marquis made an attempt to attack Wilde but could not get at him. The counsel said the Marquis of Queensberry had openly libeled Mr. Wilde in the latter’s own house and was put out. Counsel admitted that Wilde had written an extravagant letter to Lord Douglas. The latter was read and it contained such expressions as "Your rose-leaf lips," "Your slim, gilt soul walks between poetry and passion," "I know that Hyacinthus, who was loved by Apollo was you in the Greek days."

Wilde then took the stand and detailed at length his relations with the family of the marquis.

Wilde said that in 1893 Queensberry came to his house and accused him of having taken rooms for the latter’s son, Lord Douglas, and threatened to thrash Wilde, if he again caught him with his son. Wilde denied he had taken rooms for Douglas. On cross-examination, Wilde admitted stopping with Douglas and other young men at hotels.

He denied that he had "madly adored" a man twenty years his junior. In regard to his productions he said he did not believe any of his books had affected the conduct of its readers.

The Marquis of Queensberry is being tried as an ordinary citizen, before a judge and a jury, for his offence in connection with his alleged libel of Oscar Wilde. This is due to the fact that criminal libel is not a felony, but a misdemeanor, and the only privilege which the marquis enjoys, if he chooses to exercise it, is the right to wear his hat in court, a favor denied to all other persons under the penalty of being imprisoned for contempt.

The last occasion on which it was exercised was when the Earl of Abingdon was tried for libel and sentenced to imprisonment and fine. Were the charge against Lord Queensberry that of felony instead of mere misdemeanor, the ordinary courts would have no jurisdiction over him, and his trial would take place in the House of Lords, where his fellow-peers would be his judges, their president for the time being the lord chancellor, or the lord steward of the Queen’s household, who at the present is the Marquis of Breadalbane. During a trial of this kind the president is invariably addressed by the counsel as "Your Grace." The peers taking part in the proceedings are not sworn, but pronounce the verdict of guilty or not guilty "upon their honor," the peer of most recent creation and of lowest rank being the first to give his vote. The verdict of the majority prevails.

London. Apr. 3. -- The central criminal court, Old Bailey, was densely packed with people long before the hoiur of opening-10:30 A.M.-today, the attraction being the trial of the action of Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry for libel. The prosecution was conducted by Sir Edward Clarke, and the Marquis of Queensberry was defended by Mr. Edward H. Carson. Lawyer Besley watched the proceedings on behalf of Lord Douglas of Hawick.

The Marquis of Queensberry pleaded not guilty, adding that the so-called libel was true and had been made known in the interest of public morality.

Sir Edward Clarke, in opening the case, reviewed the evidence taken in the police court, dwelling upon the writing on the card which constituted the libel complained of.

The Marquis of Queensberry, Sir Edward said, had also accused Mr. Wilde of having solicited a number of gentlemen to engage with him in a series of grave offences. of these gentlemen would be called to deny whatever the marquis might say on cross examination.

Sir Edward, continuing, said that Mr. Wilde had been a close friend of the Queensberry family until 1890, when he learned that offensive statements were being made against him by a man named Wood, who had either stolen or found some letters written by M.r. Wilde to Lord Albert Douglas.

Wood offered to return these letters for money, and afterwards, at Wood's earnest entreaty, Mr. Wilde paid his fare to America.

Later Mr. Wilde learned that two men named Knebley and Allen pretended to have in their possession compromising letters, but Mr. Wilde refused to purchase them. Mr. Wilde, he said, admitted having written in 1893 a most extravagant letter to Lord Albert Douglas in answer to a poem the latter had written.

The annoyance was aggravated by the behavior of the marquis on the first night of the production of any of Mr. Wilde's plays. The letter which Mr. Wilde had written to Lord Alfred Douglas was read:-

"My dear boy: Your sonnet is quite lovely. Your roseleaf lips seem made no less for the music of song than for the madness of kisses. Your slim, gilt soul walks betweens poetry and passion. I know that Hyacinthus, who was loved by Apollo, was you in the Greek days. Why are you alone in London and when do you go to. Salisbury? Do you sleep fih the gray twilight of the Gothic things? Come here whenever you like, but go to Salisbury first."

Mr. Wilde was then called to the stand and detailed his relations with the family of the Marquis.

Mr. Wilde testified that Wood produced three letters, which were of no importance.

Afterwards, in response to a strong appeal from Wood, he gave him £15 with which to go to America. Later Allen brought to him a copy of one of these letters, which had been sent to Mr. Beerbohm Tree. Allen demanded £60 for the letter. Mr. Wilde refused to pay the money, saying he had never received as much as £60 for his own short prose writings. He told Allen he had better sell the letter to somebody else. Subsequently he gave Allen a half sovereign for himself. Mr. Tree had handed him (Wilde) what purported to be a copy of a letter written by Mr. Wilde.

Mr. Wilde, continuing his testimony on cross-examination, said the man Allen, when endeavoring to obtain money for the copy of the letter in his possession, had remarked that it might bear a curious meaning. To this Mr. Wilde testified that he replied: "Art is rarely intelligible to the criminal classes."