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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.

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."