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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.j - The Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, was densely packed with people long before the hour 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. Justice Collins took his seat on the bench promptly at 10:30, and the case was called.

The prosecution was conducted by Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., M.P., and the Marquis of Queensberry was defended by Edward H. Carson, Q.C., M.P. Lawyer Besley watched the proceedings on behalf of Lord Douglas of Hawock.

Oscar Wilde, wearing a light blue overcoat, entered the court room in company with his solicitor, Mr. Humphreys. He resolutely maintained an air of unconcern.

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.

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. This writing alleged that Mr. Wilde had been posing immorally.

During Sir Edward's speech 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 189O, 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 Alfred 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 Knebly 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 Douglas, in answer to a poem the latter had written. Despite the sentiments expressed in this 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, Sir 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 servant and refused further admittance. The annoyance was aggravated by the behavior of the Marquis of Queensberry on the first night of the production of any of Mr. Wilde's plays.

The letter which Mr. Wilde had written to Lord Albert Douglas was read, as follows:

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 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 his "Dorian Grey," and his articles in the "Chameleon," which it is alleged that he published in the interests and for the furtherance of immoral practises.

Mr. Wilde was then called to the stand and detailed his relations with the family of the Marquis. He 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. Wide laughed at him and 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. When the Marquis of Queensberry called at his house in 1893, Mr. Wilde asked him whether he had come to apologize, but Queensberry, instead of apologizing, declared that he (Wilde) had taken furnished rooms for Lord Alfred Douglas. 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

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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, of 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 had been altered when published in book form.

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

Referring to his publication, "Philosophy for 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."

Mr. Wilde, continuing his testimony on cross-examination, said that 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."

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 any one except himself, nor did he believe that any book affected the conduct of its reader.

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 black, yet he gave the man £5 besides his dinner the next day and saw him off for America. He knew a youth named Shelley. He and Shelley had often dined together, and he had given Shelley £9 upon one occasion. 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 occured between himself and Conway or Worthing.

The case was adjourned until to-morrow.