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London, Friday.The hearing of the action brought by Mr Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensbery was resumed to-day at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr Carson, continuing his address for the defence, said he hoped he had convinced the jury that the defendant was justified in bringing to a climax the association of his son with Wilde. It would be his painful duty to call several young men to tell their own tale. He would show that Taylor acted on behalf of Wilde. Mr Carson remarked with much emphasis that it was a wonder the man Wilde had been tolerated in London society so long. He regretted to have to call the young man Parker because he had joined the service of his country, and now bore an excellent character. The learned counsel characterised Wilde’s behaviour to a Worthing fisher boy as an instance of his disgusting audacity.

Mr Carson was continuing his argument, when Sir E Clarke and Mr Mathews retired from the court for a moment.

Wilde had up to this point been absent.

Consent to a Verdict.

Sir E Clarke on returning whispered to Mr Carson, who resumed his seat.

Sir E Clarke then, addressing the Court, said he had to make a statement under the gravest responsibility. Mr Carson, by saying yesterday that he hoped he had said enough regarding Mr Wilde’s letters and literature to influence the jury, relieved him from the necessity of dealing in detail with the other issues. Those representing Mr Wilde had therefore before them a terrible anxiety, and could not conceal from themselves what the judgment of the jury might be, and that the jury might say Lord Queensbery was justified in using the words he had done. The position he (Sir Edward) stood in was that without expecting to obtain a verdict he would be going on from day to day investigating circumstances of a most appalling character. Under those circumstances he hoped his lordship would think he was taking the right course. After consulting with Mr Wilde in reference to the letters and literature he felt that he could not resist a verdict of not guilty in regard to the words "posing as a ——." He therefore asked on behalf of Mr Wilde to withdraw from the prosecution and submit to a verdict of "not guilty" in respect to that part of the particulars connected with the publication of "Dorian Grey" and "Chameleon."

Sir Edward Clarke’s statement produced a profound sensation in court.

Mr Cason said the verdict of "not guilty" involved a verdict also of justification.

Justice Collins said that if the jury found a verdict of not guilty they would also find that the justification set up was true in substance and in fact, and that statement was published for the public benefit.

The jury, after a moment’s consideration, returned a verdict of "not guilty" against the Marquis of Queensbery, the foreman adding that what he had written was published for the public benefit.

The Judge thereupon ordered the Marquis of Queensbery’s discharge from custody, and certified for costs.

The Marquis, on descending from the dock, was heartily congratulated by his friends, and the court soon rapidly cleared.

The letter written by Mr Russell and accompanying documents is as follows—"In order that there may be no miscarriage of ujstice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witness’s statements together with the copy of the shorthand notes of the trial."

WILL A PROSECUTION ENSUE?

Wilde’s Movements To-Day.

London, Friday Evening.The Press Association on enquiring of Lord Queensbery’s solicitors (Messrs Russell and Day) is informed that it is not his lordship’s intention to take the initiative in any criminal prosecution of Oscar Wilde, but after the finding of the jury this morning in the libel action the whole of the documents with proofs of the evidence upon which the defence had intended to rely were forwarded to the Public Prosecutor, the Hon Hamilton Cuffe.

As was surmised Wilde was in the precincts of the Old Bailey when the speech for the defence of Lord Queensbery was resumed. It was for the purpose of holding a conference with Wilde that his leading counsel left the Court. At the close of the consultation in one of the waiting rooms Wilde hailed a hansome and drove away leaving Sir E Clarke to formally withdraw from the prosecution.

The Dramatis Personae.

Our London Correspondent wrote last night:—"The Wilde case has attracted the largest and most heterogeneous crowd to the Old Bailey that has been seen there for many years. It is largely a fashionable crowd—minus the ladies—and it includes many persons well known in theatrical circles. It was not easy to gather how the sympathies of this motley throng went, but judging from the manifestations in court they were not seemingly very strongly enlisted for the complainant. Unlike his appearance at the police-court, when he drove up in a splendidly appointed carriage and pair, he now arrives in an unpretentious hansom unaccompanied. His imperturbability, under Mr Carson’s ruthless cross-examination, was quite noteworthy—only once or twice did he speak harshly, and then as it were from sheer weariness. The Marquis of Queensberry, however, is more cool and collected still, in fact he looks quite pleased at the development of the case. He is a determined little man, though he has the eccentricity which marked all the Douglases.

"Mr. Carson is making a decided mark at the Bar, though his position in the House is scarcely improving. He has great gifts as an advocate of a certain order, but these very gifts are against his success in the House. In such a case as that in which he is now engaged, however, he is quite invaluable. He has decided courage, great keenness and resource, and showed a masterly indifference to Mr Oscar Wilde’s shower of carefully prepared epigrams. They did not turn Mr Carson in the least from his point, and he pursued the witness with undeviating determination right through the case. There was an expression of disgust on his face at times that was very telling with the jury, and an occasional shrug of the shoulders or raising of the heavy eyebrows that told volumes. Some of the English barristers make fun of Mr Carson’s brogue—which, to his credit, he does nothing to temper—but all the same his cross-examination in this case has been a revelation to the Old Bailey. Since the early days when Sir Charles Russell practised there no such display has been seen."

When the court adjourned last evening Mr. Carson, Q. C., was in the middle of one of the most pitiless and scathing opening speeches ever heard within the four walls of the Old Bailey. Mr. Oscar Wilde had dicussed at length the grounds for accusing the Marquess of Queensberry of criminally libelling him. He had been searchingly cross-examined. Now Mr. Carson was undertaking to demonstrate that even the cross-examination had fallen short of exposing the real gravity of the case against Mr. Wilde. The earlier stage of the case had been redeemed from utter offensiveness by the brilliancy of Oscar's sparring with a dogged assailant. Now Oscar was out of it, and the proceedings treatened to sink into matter unreportable.

Oscar could not be seen this morning, and excited exclamations began at half-past ten to find sensational reasons for the unexpected non-appearance. The Marquess of Queensberry arrived before the half-hour, and was very civilly handed into the dock and relieved of his overcoat and hat. Sitting there like a rather rusty house-servant, with an untidily-tied white scarf sticking up above the ill-fittng collar of his discolored coat, he quietly perused a newspaper till the three premonitory taps announced the coming of Mr. Justice Collins, when he came up to attention at the front of the dock.

MR. CARSON LOOKED HAGGARD

and ill, and his saturnine face appeared even more drawn and lined than is usual, when he rose to resume his denunciatory address. Still Mr. Wilde had not arrived. It was the more painful part of the case, said Mr. Carson, to which he was now coming. It would be his painful duty to bring before the jury the young men whose names had already been mentionned. Let those who were inclined condemn these lads for allowing themselves to be dominated, misled, and corrupted by Mr. Oscar Wilde. But at least let them remember the relative positions of the parties, and they would realise that the younger men had been more sinned against than sinning.

There was a close similarity, said Mr. Carson, between the history of all the cases, and there could be no doubt that Taylor's position was that of procurer for Wilde. It was Taylor who first met the lad named Parker in a restaurant in Picadilly. If his relations with Wilde were innocent, what an idea of Wilde's tastes he must have had to bring a groom and a valet to dine woth him. Charlie Parker would tell for himelf the story of what happened when,

PLIED WITH WHISKY AND CHAMPAGNE,

he was taken by Wilde to the Savoy Hotel. When they had heard the story the jury would wonder less that gossip and scandal reached Lord Queensberry's ears than that "this man Wilde" had been tolarated in society in London as long as he has. "No doubt in many of his answers yesterday Mr. Wilde thought he was making a smart repartee, and scoring off counsel." But now the bail was at Mr. Carson's feet, and he kicked it pitiliessly. As if by prophetic instinct of what in a few moment was to happen, he added with reference to the seeming candor of Mr. Wilde as to his friendship with these lads, "he knew we had all the evidence," and he preferred to discount it as far as possible in advance.

SIR. E. CLARKE WITHDRAWS.

At this point Sir Edward Clarke touched Mr. Carson's arm, and whispered a word in his ear. "Will your lordship excuse me?" said Mr. Carson, and returned his seat. Sir Edward Clarke was in earnest conversation with Mr. Mathews. Then, very slowly, he rose to address the judge. "Your lordship," he said, "I rise to make a statement under a feeling of very great responsibility. My learned friend Mr. Carson yesterday addressed the jury upon the question of the literature involved in this case, and upon the inferences to be drawn from the admissions made by Mr. Oscar Wilde in regard to letters, and began his address this morning by saying he hoped yesterday that he had said enough upon these topics to induce the jury to relieve him from the necessity of dealing in detail with the other issues of the case. It must have been present to your lordship's mind that those representing Mr. Oscar Wilde in this case had before them

A VERY TERRIBLE ANXIETY

that they could not conceal from themselves that the judgment that might be formed of that literature of conduct which had been admitted might not improbably induce the jury to say that when Lord Queensberry used the words of the libel, he was using words for which there was sufficient justification to entitle a father who had used these words in these circumstances to the upmost consideration, and to be relived from a criminal charge in respect to the statement. And, my lord, in our clear view that that may not improbably be the result upon that part of the case, I and my learned friends, who desire to be associated with me in this matter, have to look forward to this--that a verdict given in favor of the defendant upon that part of the case might be interpreted outside as a conclusive finding with regard to all points of the case; and the position in which we stood was this--that, without expecting to obtain a verdict in this case, [...] be going on from day to day, it might be with long evidence to investigate matters of

A MOST APPALLING CHARACTER.

In these circumstances I hope your lordship will think that I am taking a right course--which I take after communicating with Mr. Oscar Wilde--and it is to say that, having regard to what has already been referred to by my learned friend with respect of the matters connected with the literature and letters, I feel he could not resist a verdict of not guilty--having regard to the words "posing as." In these circumstances I hope your lordship will think I am not going beyond the bounds of duty, and that I am doing something to save and prevent what would be a most terrible task, however it might close, if I know interpose to say on behalf of Mr. Oscar Wilde that I would ask to withdraw from the prosecution. And if your lordship does not think at this time in the case, after what has taken place that I should be allowed to do that, on his behalf I am prepared to submit to

A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY

having reference, if to any part of the particulars at all, to that part connected with the publication of "Dorian Gray."

THE SENSATIONAL END.

This statement had been followed by everybody in court with the most breathless attention, and a long-drawn inspiration audibly followed its closes.

Mr. Carson said he had no right to interfere with the application his learned friend had made. He could only say so far as Lord Queensberry was concerned that if there was a plea of not guilty it would involve a verdict that he had succeeded in his plea of justification. With that Mr. Carson was quite satisfied.

Mr. Justice Collins: Inasmuch a the prosecuter in a verdict of not guilty against the accused, I do not think it is any part of the function of the judge or jury to insist on going through prurient details which can have no bearing on the matter already concluded by the assent of the prosecutor to an adverse verdict. But as to the jury putting any limitations on the verdict as to the justification, if the words used are justified

THEY ARE JUSTIFIED,

if they are not they are not. The verdict of the jury must be guilty or not guilty, and I understand the prosecutor to assent to a verdict of not guilty. There can be no limitation. The verdict will be not guilty. I shall put to the jury two things--that the justification set up was true in substance and in fact, and that the statement was published in such a manner as to be

FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.

The jury at once reached a verdict accordingly, amid loud applause.

Mr. Carson: Lord Queensberry may be discharged?

Mr. Justice Collins: Oh, certainly.

There was again loud applause, and little attempt was made to suppress it, as Lord Queensberry stepped out of the dock and joined his solicitor to the wall of the court. Amid general excitement over the sensational nature of the end to a sensational case, the court was rapidly emptied of its crowded audience.

It appeared that Mr. Oscar Wilde had been somewhere in the precincts of the court. His brougham was in waiting, and he stepped rapidly into it, calling to the coachman to drive to the Holdorn Viaduct Hotel. Before the carriage had stopped at the door of the hotel he thrust his arm and a gold-headed cane out of the window, and signalling to a man who stood there, apparently waiting, hoarsely cried, "The verdict, not guilty ?" Afterwards Lord Alfred Douglas was also seen to go into the hotel.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW ?

The Exchange Telegraph Company states that Oscar Wilde went to the Old Bailey this morning, but did not enter the precincts of the court. He held a consultation with Sir Edward Clarke in a room off the court, and while the learned gentleman was making his statement to the judge Wilde hurriedly left the building. No warrant has been applied for, but on leaving the court Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry's sollicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor:--

Dear Sir,--In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial.

PRIVATE TALK AT BOW-ST.

At half-past two this afternoon Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, attended at Bow-st., accompanied by Detective-Inspector Brockwell, of Scotland-yard, and had a private conversation with Sir John Bridge. It is understood the learned counsel asked whether it would be convenient for the magistrate to ask a certain case to-day in reference to the recent libel suit at the Old Bailey.

"WAITERS" AT THE HOTEL.

There is some ground for supposing that the "prosecutor" had appointed the Viaduct libel as a rendezvous with his particular friends. Within half an hour of his arrival there several gentlemen arrived hurriedly and were conducted at once to the rooms which have been reserved for Mr. Wilde since yesterday. The brougham, with two smart little brown horses, was driven slowly up and down the Viaduct, pausing once while the coachman received instructions from Lord Alfred Douglas, who came out bareheaded with the hall porter. These movements were closely watched, in a number of interests, and it is reported that Scotland-yard was keeping a provisional eye on the hotel.

Lord Alfred Douglas and a friend left the hotel and drove to the London and Westminster Bank. St. James's-sq. They were seen to enter and draw money at the counter.

CURIOSITY AT THE COMMONS.

Our Lobby correspondent writes:--Members of Parliament shared the prevailing curiosity in regard to the Wilde-Queensberry case. It was nearly seven o'clock before Sir Edward Clarke reached the House last night, but the moment he set foot in the Lobby he was surrounded by hon. gentlemen anxious for information concerning the latest developments. Sir Edward Clarke never objects to discuss what has happened in court, but when people try to pump him beyond reason, he withdraws into his shell.