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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.

The hearing of Mr Oscar Wilde [ . . . ] against the Marquis of Queensberry [ . . . ] at the Old Bailey, London, yesterday with Mr Carson said it would be his [ . . . ] witnesses. THe learned counsel [ . . . ] was a wonder plaintiff had [ . . . ] tolerated in London society so long.

At this juncture Sir Edward Clarke and Mr Mathews retired from court for a [ . . . ] On reappearing the former addressed the court, and he had to make a statement [ . . . ] the gravest responsibility. Mr Carson on Thursday said he hoped he had said enough in [ . . . ] Mr Wilde’s letters and literature to influence the jury, and to relieve him from the [ . . . ] of dealing in detail with other [ . . . ]. Those representing Mr Wilde couldn ot conceal from themselves that the [ . . . ] say Lord Queensberry was [ . . . ] he had done. The position he, SIr Edward, stood in was that without expecting to obtain a verdict he would be [ . . . ] circumstances of a most appalling character. After consulting with Mr Wilde in reference to the letters and literature, he felt he could not resist a verdict of not guilty, and 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 the "Chameleon."

Mr Carson said a verdict of not guilty involved a verdict also of justification.

Mr Justice Collins concurred, adding the jury would also find that the justification was true in substance and in fact, and that the statement was published for the public benefit.

A verdict was accordingly given with costs.

It is understood that a warrant in connection with the case was applied for at five o’clock yesterday afternoon, and it was believed that it was granted.

The application was made to Sir John Bridge in his private room by Mr Charles Russell, son of the Lord Chief Justice, and Mr Angus Lewis, of the Treasury.

(CENTRAL NEWS TELEGRAM.)

LONDON, FRIDAY.Sensational and conflicting rumours are current in London respecting the whereabouts of Mr Oscar Wilde and his immediate intentions. One of these was to the effect that he had left Victoria Station by the boat express for Paris.

We are enabled to state, however, that up to four o’clock this afternoon Wilde was, beyond doubt, still in London. After conferring briefly with his counsel, Sir Edward Clarke, at the Central Criminal Court this morning, Wilde proceeded in company with Lord A. Douglas and two other gentlemen, one of whom was a lawyer, to the Holborn Viaduct Hotel, where Wilde had slept on the previous night on account of the convenient proximity to the court.

The party remained in earnest conference in a private room until one o’clock, which they partook of luncheon.

At a quarter-past two the four men drove on in Wilde’s brougham, which had been waiting out side the hotel for a considerable time. Their destination was a bank in St. James’s, where a large sum of money was drawn out on a cheque payable to "self." From that point Wilde was lost sight of.

Meanwhile, an application had been made at Bow street by, it is understood, Mr Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry’s solicitor in the case, and Mr Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, for a warrant for the arrest of Wilde, and the application was granted by Sir John Bridge and placed without delay in the hands of the police. A description of Wilde was afterwards issued, and his arrest is expected momentarily.

All the railway stations from which trains leave tonight in connection with steamers for foreign ports are being watched by detectives, and Wilde’s description has been sent by telegram to the chiefs of police in British ports with urgent requests that he might be arrested at sight.

It may be stated that the [ . . . ] which [ . . . ] in the information upon which Mr Carson’s masterly cross-examination [ . . . ] were made by ex-Inspector [ . . . ], who lately retired from Scotland Yard, after long and distinguished service in the Metropolitan Detective service.

(LATER.)

Oscar Wilde was arrested shortly after 7 o’clock this evening and taken to Scotland Yard. There he was formally charged. He will be charged in the ordinary course at Bow street Police Court tomorrow morning. Lord Queensberry states that as soon as the trial ended he sent this message to Wilde—"If the country allows you to leave [ . . . ] for the country, but if you take my son with you, I will follow you wherever you go and [ . . . ] you."

The warrant issued for the arrest of Oscar Wilde was executed by Inspector Richards of Scotland Yard, who, with Sergeant Allen, proceeded to the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane street, after [ . . . ] o’clock, and arrested the prisoner. He appeared somewhat surprised when the charge was read over to him, but made no reply, and was immediately taken to New Scotland Yard, and handed over to Inspector Brockwell, who held the warrant. After remaining for some time at Scotland Yard, Oscar Wilde was placed in a four-wheeled cab and conveyed to Bow street, where he arrived at ten minutes past 8 in the custody of Inspectors Brockwell and Richards.

On alighting from the cab, Wilde walked up the steps to the door of the police station briskly, with his hands in his pockets, and was at once placed in the dock and [ . . . ] for Digby. While the charge was being read the prisoner leaned over the dock, and keeping his hands in his pockets, and appearing unconcerned.

The prisoner did not make any reply to the charge, and he was removed for the night to an ordinary cell. Soon after Wilde had been removed to the cells a man drove up in a hansom cab, bearing a portmanteau containing some of the prisoner’s clothes. [ . . . ] the bag into the station, but the police would not permit him to leave it, and he had to carry it away again. Lord Alfred Douglas [ . . . ] Bow street in the course of the evening. When the four-wheeler containing Wilde and the police inspectors drove up in front of Bow street station several newspaper reporters were waiting there, but there was no excitement of any kind.

The prisoner was not recognised by anybody save the reporters. He will be brought up before the magistrate and charged tomorrow, when, it is understood, evidence of a formal character only will be tendered.