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London, April 30.- At the opening of to-day's sitting of the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor, Counsel C. F. Gill intimated that the prosecution withdrew the charges of conspiracy.

Sir Edward Clarke, on behalf of Wilde, said that if those charges had been withdrawn at the outset, he would have made application to have the prisoners tried separately.

The court said that after the evidence which had been given, the counts charging conspiracy were needless.

Sir Edward' Clarke- Then I ask for a verdict of not guilty on these counts.

The judge refused to listen to such a verdict, saying that he would simply accede to the application of Mr. Gill to have the charges of conspiracy withdrawn.

Sir Edward Clarke then began his opening address to the jury for the defence. He intended, he said, to put Wilde in the witness box, where he would make an unqualified denial of the charges against him. He quoted Wilde's literary works, and argued that in no instance had his client written anything that would lead any one to suppose him guilty of the practices alleged. Sir Edward explained the ending of the Queensbury trial, saying that Wilde’s counsel were entirely responsible for its abrupt termination. It became clear, he said, that the jury would not convict Lord Queensbury, and he, (Clarke) therefore, advised Wilde to accept a verdict against himself.

Wilde in the box.

Wilde was called to the witness box. He swore that the evidence he had given at the Queensbury trial was absolutely true. He repeated this testimony upon cross-examination, without variation. Wilde, continuing his testimony, said he had had nothing to do with publishing Lord Alfred Douglas’ poems, nor had be anything to do with the publication of his articles in the Chameleon (magazine). On being asked to define Lord Alfred’s expression, "I am the love that dare not speak its name," Wilde said he thought it meant spiritual love, as pure as it was prefect. Wilde proceeded to enlarge upon the subject, and became so eloquent as to evoke a burst of applause, causing the judge to threaten to clear the court unless silence was observed.

London, April 30 - At the opening of to-day's proceedings in the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor Mr. Gill intimated the prosecution withdrew the charges of conspiracy. Sir Edward Clarke, on behalf of Wilde, said that if those charges had been withdrawn at the outset he would have made application to have the prisoners tried separately. The Court said that, after the evidence which had been given, the counts charging conspiracy were needless.

Sir Edward Clarke - Then I asked for a verdict of not guilty on those counts.

The Court refused to consent to such a verdict, saying that it would simply accede to the application of Mr. Gill to have the charges of conspiracy withdrawn.

Sir Edward Clarke then began his opening address to the jury. He argued that in no instance had his client written anything that would lead anyone to suppose him guilty of the charges against him. Sir Edward Clarke explained the ending of the Queensberry trial, saying that Wilde’s counsel were entirely responsible for its abrupt termination.

Wilde was then called to the witness-stand. He swore that the evidence he had given at the Queensberry trial was absolutely true, and repeated this testimony on cross-examination without variation. Taylor was called to the stand and told of his careeer. He absolutely denied the charges against him.

The evidence for the defence was finished this afternoon, when Sir Edward Clarke addressed the jury. The only direct evidence against Wilde, he declared, was the testimony of three blackmailers. He spoke in this strain at considerable length, and finished his address with a peroration remarkable for its display of passion and eloquence and the extraordinary efforts of the orator to secure the acquittal of his client. Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, contended that the witnesses against Wilde had no object in swearing falsely. The judge will charge the jury to-morrow.

The United Press learns that the statement is at least premature, if not altogether groundless, that Mrs. Oscar Wilde has begun proceedings for a divorce. At all events, she certainly could take no steps in that direction pending a verdict in the present trial of her husband.