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LONDON, FRIDAY.The hearing of the action brought by Mr. Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry 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.

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. 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. 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. CARSON 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 the statement was published for the public benefit.

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

The JUDGE thereupon ordered the Marquis of Queensberry’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 Press Association, on inquiring of Lord Queensberry’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.

ARREST OF OSCAR WILDE.

LONDON, FRIDAY NIGHT.Mr. Oscar Wilde was arrested between six and seven o’clock this evening, and conveyed to Bow Street Police Station, where he arrived at ten past eight.

The arrest was made by Inspector Richards at half-past six, at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane Street, Chelsea, where Mr. Wilde, it appears, drove after leaving the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. Mr. Wilde’s visit to the hotel was of a casual character, he being accompanied by two gentlemen. Throughout the day the accused had been closely followed by two officers, and when Inspector Richards entered the hotel and asked for Mr. Wilde, it was stated that he was not staying there. This was virtually correct, but when the Inspector insisted that he was in the establishment and explained the circumstances, he was conducted to a room in the establishment, where Mr. Wilde was engaged with his two friends. The Inspector informed him that he was a police officer, and that he would arrest him, a warrant being out for his arrest. Mr. Wilde made no reply.

The Press Association understands that the charge alleged against Mr. Wilde is that of committing acts of indecency. Having been searched, Mr. Wilde was removed to the cells. Shortly after Mr. Wilde’s arrival at Bow Street a Mr Rosse, a friend of the prisoner, drove up to the station with a small Gladstone bag containing a change of clothes and other necessaries for Mr. Wilde, but after a short interview with the Inspector on duty, Rosse returned to his cab with the bar, having been refused permission to leave it. Later Lord Alfred Douglas visited Bow Street to inquire as to the possibility of the accused being bailed out, but it was explained that the prisoner had been arrested on a warrant for an alleged criminal offence, which admitted of no bail until prisoner had appeared before the magistrate. Lord Douglas appeared much distressed when he was informed that on no consideration could the authorities entertain his application. He was respectfully informed that the prisoner had a cell to himself, and had been supplied with a blanket and other requisites to make him as comfortable as the police regulations would allow. It will be Mr. Wilde’s privilege to receive food sent him from a neighbouring hotel if he so desires, pending his transference from the cell in the police station to the cells of the adjoining police court. At ten o’clock to-morrow morning Sir John Bridge, who signed the warrant for his arrest, will investigate the charge against Mr. Wilde, which involves a penal offence.

LONDON, THURSDAY.The hearing of the libel action brought by Mr. Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry was resumed to-day at the Old Bailey.

Mr. CARSON, Q.C., resumed the cross-examination of Mr. Wilde, who said he used to go to the upper part of a house, 13 Little College Street, occupied by a man named Taylor. The rooms were artistically furnished and perfumes were burnt. He used to attend tea parties at Taylor’s rooms, but did not know that one of the men frequenting Taylor’s house had disappeared within the past week. He did not know that Taylor and a companion named Parker were arrested in a raid on a house in Fitzroy Square last year. Taylor introduced witness to five young men, to all of whom he gave money. He invited a party to dinner at Kettner’s Restaurant, but was not aware that one of them was a valet and the other a coachman.

MR. CARSON—Was there plenty of champagne?

Witness—What gentleman would stint the valet? (Much laughter.)

Further cross-examined, Mr. Wilde denied driving with one of these men to the Savoy Hotel. He never saw Parker at a house in Camera Square. He did not know that certain men who were arrested in the Fitzroy Square raid were connected with the Cleveland Street scandals. The Fitzroy Square arrest made no difference in his friendship with Taylor. He was introduced to a young man named Freddy Atkins, and took him to Paris, being joined there by a gentleman whose name was written yesterday, and passed to counsel. Atkins was addressed as Freddy, and was plaintiff’s guest. He gave Freddy money to go to the Moulin Rouge. They stayed at the same hotel, but no unseemly conduct ever took place. Freddy suggested he should have his hair curled.

COUNSEL—Did he have it curled?

Witness—No; I should have been very angry if he had. (Laughter.) The gentleman whose name had been written also introduced him to two young men named Scarp and Mabor. The latter met him on his return from Scotland in October, and they stayed at the same hotel in town. He gave Mabor a cigarette case at the rooms occupied by Lord Alfred Douglas. Further examined—he knew a masseur at the Savoy Hotel, but denied that the masseur made any unusual discovery on entering his bedroom one morning. He also repudiated certain suggestions with regard to a visit on one occasion to Paris.

At the conclusion of the cross-examination, Sir E. CLARKE began the re-examination by putting in certain letters of Lord Queensberry. In part of these, written from Chater’s Hotel to Lord A. Douglas, the defendant called upon his son to have nothing more to do with the man Wilde, whose wife he (defendant) had heard on good authority was petitioning for a divorce. Lord Alfred replied by wire:—"Queensberry, what a funny little man you are." The plaintiff denied the suggestion of a divorce petition. Lord Queensberry, in a further letter, called Lord Alfred an impertinent jackanapes, and threatened to cut off supplies. In another letter addressed to the father of his former wife he repeated the accusations against Wilde, to whom he referred in the following terms—"He plainly showed the white feather; he is a cur and a coward of the Rosebery type." Then alluding to his former wife Lord Queensberry also said, "I am convinced that the Rosebery-Gladstone Royal insult came to me through my other son, Drumlanrig, whom I saw on the river last night, and it rather upset me. It shall be known some day that Rosebery not only insulted me by lying to the Queen and to Gladstone, but also has made a life-long quarrel between my son and me." Other letters having been read, the case for the plaintiff closed, and Mr. Carson began his address for the defence.

In opening for the defence, Mr. CARSON said all that Lord Queensberry had done he stood by, and not one of those letters or acts would he withdraw. Lord Queensberry had been consistent throughout, and his only object had been to save his son from the dangerous companionship of Oscar Wilde, who admitted to being a friend of a man known to be engaged in immoral practices. Continuing, counsel read the letter to Lord Alfred Douglas, which the prosecutor termed a sonnet, but which he maintained, if sent by a father to a son 20 years his junior, would still be an abominable and disgusting production. The other letter, of which no mention of publication was made, however, was even more extravagant.

Counsel had not concluded his address when the Court rose.