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Sensational cases have been the order of the day in London. First the trial of Oscar Wilde, then the Russell divorce, and now the arraignment of that religious swindler, Jabez Balfour, who squandered so many millions in his "Liberator" funds, and has been given up by Argentina.

Speaking of the Wilde case, our local papers told us scarcely anything about its termination though we had any amount about the commencement. This is another example of the miserable system of telegraphic news supplied to us in British Columbia. In order to begin to keep up with the times one has to subscribe to an Eastern paper and read telegrams a week old, trying to get up some excitement over them.

What happened at the trial was this. The charges of conspiracy were withdrawn by the Crown, after deliberating three and a half hours the jury returned to the court room and announced that they had failed to agree upon a verdict. They were thereupon discharged, and the prisoners were remanded for a new trial. Application was made for the admission of Wilde and Taylor to bail, but the Judge refused to accept bail for either of them. The Jury acquired Wilde of the charges against him in connection to Atkins, and reported to the court that it was impossible for them to agree in regard to the other charges. They, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy. Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said the case would undoubtably be tried at the next session.

The speech of Sir Andrew Clarke, for the defence, was a remarkable and telling one, resting its force largely on the argument that the witnesses against Wilde were avowed criminals and blackmailers. The most dramatic incident was the appearance of the prisoner in the box on his own behalf. He swore that the evidence he had given at the Queensberry trial was absolutely true. He repeated this testimony upon cross-examination without variation. Continuing his testimony, he said he had had nothing to do with the publishing of Lord Alfred Douglass’ poems, nor had he 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 perfect. He 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. Beyond a doubt, the disagreement of the jury is largely due to the favourable impression he made in the box.

STATUTE.

London, April 30.- Oscar Wilde was put in the witness box on his own behalf today. 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 he 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 perfect. 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.

The Judge's Charge.

London, April 1.- The old Bailey court room was crowded at the opening of the Wilde trial this morning. Wilde looked careworn and anxious, but Taylor maintained the air of unconcern which has characterized him throughout.

Justice Charles, in the beginning of his charge said that the evidence had not sustained the charges of conspiracy and he, therefore, directed the jury to acquit the prisoners of those charges. The judge then proceeded to analyze the evidence, solely referring to Wilde, and begged the jury to dismiss from their minds all press comments and other outside expressions of opinion upon the case. It was a wholesome rule, he said, to refuse to accept the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice. He was of the opinion, however, that there was corroboration in the testimony of all the witnesses in the sense that the law required. It did not, it is true, amount to seeing the actual act, but it showed the relations and general conduct of the parties. The young men who had been called to the witness stand were not only accomplices, but Parker, Wood and Atkins were properly described as blackmailers. Furthermore, Atkins had told deliberate falsehoods within the hearing of the jury, who in weighing the details of the evidence of these witnesses, could not overlook the fact that they were persons of a character which they themselves had asserted.

The judge then proceeded to trace the history of the Queensberry trial. In regard to Wilde's literature, he did not think that in a criminal case the jury ought to base an unfavorable inference upon Wilde's authorship of "Doran Grey." As regarded the story of the priest and Acolyte, he thought it would be absurd to inpute it to Wilde. Sonnets of Lord Alfred Douglas, which Wilde had approved, were much more material, as were also Wilde's letters, which Mr. Carson in the Queensberry trial had described as horribly indecent These letters were couched in the language of passionate love but Wilde denied that there was anything in them to be ashamed of. The jury, he said, must exercise their own judgment in regard to the letters.

He then proceeded to deal at length with the case of the young man Shelley, who, he said, was not tainted with blackmail. Shelley's letters showed that his mind had become excited. In regard to the evidence of the hotel servants and other persons of similar positions, the judge said that what they saw was only seen when they answered a bell-call from Wilde's room. Instances of this was shown in the testimony of the chambermaid, who swore to having seen a boy in the room, but admitted that Wilde had asked the boy to come to the room and light the tire.

The judge, in concluding his charge, said the case was one of great importance to the community. He said if he jury believed that the charges against the prisoners were true, they should say so fearlessly.

Given to the Jury.

At 1.30 p.m. the case was given to the jury and the jury retired. After deliberating 3 1-2 hours the jury returned to the court room and announced that they had failed to agree upon a verdict. They were thereupon discharged, and the prisoners were remanded for a new trial.

Application was made for the admission of Wilde and Taylor to bail, but the judge refused to accept bail for either of them.

Mrs. Oscar Wilde has commenced proceedings for divorce.