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London, April 3.—At the Central Criminal Court trial of the action of Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry for libel was begun.

The Marquis of Queensberry entered the dock, and 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 reviewed the evidence taken in the Police Court, dwelling upon the writing on the card, which constituted the libel complained of. This writing alleged that Mr. Wilde had been posing immorally. The case was not concluded.

London, April 3 — The Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, was densely packed with people long before the opening, 10.30 am., today, the attraction being the trial of the action of Mr. Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry for libel.

Justice Collins took his seat on the Bench. At 10.30 the case was called. The prosecution was conducted by Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., M.P and the Marquis of Queensberry was defended by Mr. Edward H. Carson, Q.C., M.P. Lawyer Besby watched the proceedings on behalf of Lord Douglas, of Hawark.

Mr. Oscar Wilde, wearing a light blue overcoat, entered the Court room with his solicitor, Mr. Humphreys. He resolutely retained an air of unconcern, notwithstanding the fact that everybody was staring at him, and sat in front of Sir Edward Clarke.

The Marquis of Queensberry entered the dock and in answer to the usual questions pleaded "not guilty," adding that the so-called libel was true and had been made known in the interest of public morality.

Sid Edward Clarke, in opening the case, reviewed the evidence taken in the Police Court, dwelling upon the writing on the card on which constituted the libel complained of. This writing alleged that Mr. Wilde had been posing morally. It would be noticed, he said, that it was not charged that there was any actual difference, but the gravity of the case consisted in the fact that the libels complained of had extended over a long period of time. The Marquis of Queensberry, Sid Edward said, has also accused Mr. Wilde of having solicited a number of gentlemen to engage with him in a series of grave offenses. Several of these gentlemen would be called to deny whatever the Marquis might say on cross-examination.

At this point the Marquis, who with clenched fists sat glaring at Mr. Wilde, made a movement as though he intended to attack him, and he undoubtedly would have done so had it not been for the persons between them.

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 Mr. Wilde to Lord Douglas. Wood offered to return these letters for money and afterwards, at Mr. Wood’s earnest entreaty, Mr. Wilde paid his fare to America. Later, Mr. Wilde learned that two men named Knihby 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 Alfred Douglas, in answer to a poem the latter had written. Despite the sentiments expressed in the letter, the jury must take into consideration the artistic circle in which Mr. Wilde moved. Mr. Wilde himself described this letter as a « prose sonnet. » In 1893, Sid Edward said, the Marquis of Queensberry openly libeled Mr. Wilde in the latter’s own house and was shown the door in the presence of the servants and refused further admittance. The annoyance was aggravated by the behavior of the Marquis on the first night of the production of any of Mr. Wilde’s pays.

The letter which Mr. Wilde has written Lord Albert Douglas was read and is as follows: — " My dear boy, your sonnet is quite lovely. Your rose leaf lips seem made no less for the music of song than for the madness of kisses. Your slim gilt soul walks between 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 in the gray twilight of gothic things? Come here whenever you like, but go to Salisbury first. "

The Marquis, Sir Edward Clarke said, now attacked Mr. Wilde respecting this "Dorian Gray" and his articles in the Chameleon, which it is alleged that he published in the interests and for the furtherance of immoral practices.

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. Afterward, 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 Beerbohm Tree. Allen demanded £60 for the letter. Mr. Wilde laughed at him and refused to pay the money, stating 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 hard sovereign for himself. Mr. Tree had handed him (Wilde) what purposed to be a copy of a letter written by Mr. Wilde. When the Marquis of Queensberry called at his house in 1893, Mr. Wilde asked him whether he had come to apologize, but the Marquis of Queensberry, instead of apologizing, declared he (Wilde) had taken furnished rooms for Lord Alfred Douglas. Mr. Wilde asked the Marquis if he really accused him of the crime implied, whereupon the Marquis replied "you look it and if I ever catch you with my son again I will thrash you." Mr. Wilde continuing said he replied to the Marquis "I don’t know the Queensberry rules, but the Oscar Wilde rules are short and at sight. The letters you have written about me are infamous. You are trying to ruin your son through me." Then, when we were in the hall, I said to a servant:— "This is the Marquis of Queensberry, the most infamous brute in London. Do not let him enter the house again" Mr. Wilde said it was absolutely untrue that he had taken rooms for Lord Alfred Douglas or that he had stopped with him at the Savoy Hotel. He had no connection with the Chameleon and strongly disapproved of the article entitled « Acolyte and Priest » which had been published therein. As regarded "Dorian Grey," Mr. Wilde said it had first appeared as a serial in Lippincott’s Magazine, but has been altered when published in book form.

Cross-examined by Mr. Carson, Mr. Wilde admitted that he had stayed with Lord Alfred Douglas, Mr. Cromer and Mr. Worthing at various hotels in London. He was aware that Lord Alfred had written articles in the Chameleon, one of them entitled "Two Loves." He did not regard it as improper, though the "loves" were boys. He regarded portions "Priest and Acolyte" as disgusting, but he did not think blasphemous. He knew that the Chameleon had a circulation among the students of Oxford University.

Referring to his publications "Philosophy of the Young," Mr. Carson asked Mr. Wilde if he believed what he had written. Mr. Wilde answered, "I rarely write what I believe is true." Continuing, Mr. Wilde said he believed that the realization of self was the primal end of life. He said that the man Allen, when endeavoring to obtain money for the copy of the letter in his possession, had remarked that it might be a curious memory. To this Mr. Wilde testified that he replied: "Art is rarely intelligible to the criminal classes. » Pressed to say whether the articles in the Chameleon were not immoral, Mr. Wilde replied: "They were worse. They were badly written."

Throughout his testimony Mr. Wilde maintained perfect composure. He frequently ran his fingers through his hair, a habit which is peculiar to him. Several times he propounded paradoxes to Mr. Carson, and in the course of the questioning contended that the letter addressed to Lord Alfred Douglas, which was read in Court, was beautiful, but that it could not be judged as a letter apart from art. He denied that he had « madly adored » a man twenty years his junior. He did not adore anyone except himself, nor did he believe that any book affected the conduct of its readers. Mr. Wilde said that he gave Wood the £15 because Lord Alfred Douglas had asked him to assist Wood. He admitted that he thought the matter was blackmail, yet he gave the £3 besides his dinner the next day and saw him off for America. He knew a youth name Shelley. He and Shelley had often dined together and he had given him £9 upon other occasions. He denied any misconduct with Shelley. He also knew a youth named Conway and had met young Worthing. He had given the latter a suit of clothes. Nothing of an improper nature had ever occurred between himself and Conway or Worthing. The Court adjourned.