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London, Friday. Sir Edward Clarke, who appeared for Wilde, to-day accepted the verdict of not guilty against the Marquis of Queensberry, and the jury found the plea of justification proved. The Marquis was at once discharged.

The Press Association, on enquiring 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. As it was surmised Wilde was in the precencts of the Old Bailey when the speech for the defence of Lord Queensbury was resumed. It was for the purpose of holding a conference with Wilde that his leading counsel left Court at the close of the consultation in one of the waiting rooms. Wilde hailed a hansom and drove away leaving Sir E Clarke to formally withdraw from the prosecution.

The letter written by Mr Russell and accompanying the documents is as follows:—"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 copy of shorthand notes of trial."

The London Evening News states that it has received four letters from Mr Oscar Wilde written on notepaper of a Holborn hotel:—"To the Editor—It would be impossible for me to prove my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness box against his father. Lord Alfred Douglas was extremely anxious to go into the witness box, but I would not let him do so. Rather than put him in so painful a position I determined to retire from the case and to bear on my own shoulders whatever ignomy and shame might result from my prosecuting Lord Queensberry."

Mr. Angus Lewis of the Treasury, who was accompanied by Detective-Inspector Brockwell, attended at Bow-street this afternoon and said he would like some private conversation with Sir John Bridge. The magistrate granted the request, and it is understood that Mr Lewis intimated that an application might be made during the day with reference to an important case which is at present engaging such public attention.

The hearing of the charge against the Marquis of Queensberry of maliciously publishing a false and defamatory libel concerning Mr. Oscar Wilde was yesterday resumed before Mr. Justice Collins at the Central Criminal Court.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., Mr. C. Mathews, and Mr. Travers Humphreys appeared for the prosecution; Mr. Carson, Q.C., Mr. C. F. Gill, and Mr. A. Gill for the defence; and Mr. Besley, Q.C., and Mr. Monckton watched the case on behalf of Lord Douglas of Hawick.

Mr. Wilde did not make his appearance in Court, but it was understood that he was within the building.

Mr. Carson, continuing his speech for the defence, said that he almost hoped that he had on the previous day sufficiently demonstrated upon the matters that were not really in dispute—that Lord Queensberry was absolutely justified in bringing to a climax in the way he did the question of the relationship between Mr. Wilde and his son. It would, however, be his painful duty to bring before the Jury, one after the other, the young men referred to, to give their versions of the story. One startling similarity between all of the cases was that none of the young men were in any way on a social equality with Mr. Wilde. They were not educated people such as he would naturally associate with, nor his equals in age, and could he not easily have found companions to please his expressed ideas of youth and beauty among people of his own class? The whole thing was absurd. It might be a very noble and generous instinct to wish to throw down all social barriers; but if Mr. Wilde had desired to benefit the young men whose acquaintance he made, surely he could have found a better way of doing so. The ridiculous explanation given by the prosecutor would not bear a moment's examination. Then there was no sufficient explanation as to why he took the suite of rooms at the Savoy Hotel; but when they heard the evidence of the various witnesses that he would call, they would wonder not that the gossip about Mr. Wilde had reached Lord Queensberry's ears, but that Wilde had been tolerated, as he had been, for years in society.

While the learned counsel was further elaborating his case, Sir Edward Clarke came into Court, and, interrupting Mr. Carson, entered into a brief consultation with him.

Sir Edward Clarke, then rising, said—Perhaps your Lordship will allow me to interpose at this moment in order to make a statement, which I, of course, make under a feeling of grave 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 with regard to the letters to Mr. Oscar Wilde which were read yesterday. My learned friend began his address this morning by saying that he had hoped that be had said enough yesterday in dealing with these topics to enable him to be relieved of the necessity of dealing in detail with the other issues in this case. I think it must be present to your Lordship's mind that those who are representing Mr. Wilde have before them a very terrible anxiety. They cannot conceal from themselves the fact that the judgment that may be formed of that literature, and of the conduct which has been admitted by Mr. Wilde, might not improbably induce the Jury to say that when Lord Queensberry used the words complained of, he was using words for which there was sufficient justification for a father using under the circumstances—words which entitled him to the utmost justification, as well as relieving him from the criminal charge in respect to his statement. It being our clear view that that might not improbably be the result upon that part of the case, I and my friends, who desire to be associated with me in the matter, had to look forward to this, that a verdict given in favour of the defendant on that part of the case might be interpreted outside as a conclusive finding in regard to all parts of the case; and the position in which we stood was this, that without expecting to obtain a verdict in this case, we should be going, day after day, through long evidence, and into an investigation of matters of a most appalling character. In these circum- stances I hope your Lordship will think that I am taking the right course—a course which I am taking after communication with Mr. Oscar Wilde—and that is, that having heard what has been already said by my learned friend in respect to matters connected with the literature and the letters, I feel that we could not resist a verdict of not guilty in respect to the words of the libel. I hope your Lordship will not think I am going beyond the bounds of duty in doing what I can to prevent what would be a most terrible task, however it might close, if I now interpose on behalf of Mr. Oscar Wilde, and ask leave to withdraw from the prosecution. (Applause.) If your Lordship does not think that at this point in the case, after what has taken place, I ought to be allowed to do this, I am prepared to submit to a verdict of not guilty having reference—if to any part of the particulars—to that part which is connected with the publication of "Dorian Gray" and the publication of the Chameleon. I do trust, my Lord, that my application may make an end to the case.

Mr. Carson—l do not know that I have any right whatever to interfere in any way in the application my learned friend has made. I can only say, as far as Lord Queensberry is concerned, that if there is a plea of not guilty—a plea which involves that he has succeeded in his complete justification—I am quite satisfied. Of course my learned friend would admit that we must succeed on that plea in the manner in which he has said, and, that being so, it will rest entirely with your Lordship as to whether the course suggested by my learned friend ought to be taken.

Mr. Justice Collins—Inasmuch as the prosecutor in this case is prepared to acquiesce in a verdict of not guilty against the accused, I do not think it is any part of the function of the Judge or of the Jury to insist on going into details which can have no bearing on the matter which is already concluded by the assent of the prosecutor. But as for putting any limitation on the verdict, the justification is one which is a justification of the charge. If that is justified it is justified, and if it is not it is not, and the verdict of the Jury upon it must be guilty or not guilty. As I understand, the prosecutor will assent to a verdict of not guilty. There can be no terms. There can be no limitation of the verdict, which must be guilty or not guilty. Of course tho Jury will return a verdict of not guilty.

Mr. Carson—The verdict will, of course, be that complete justification is proved, and that the publication was for the public benefit.

Mr. Justice Collins—The verdict will be not guilty, but it is arrived at by that process, of course. I shall have to tell the Jury that the justification was proved, and that the statement was true in substance and in fact. I shall also have to tell them that they will have to find that the statement was published in such a manner as to be for the public benefit. If they find on these two points then the verdict will be not guilty in favour of the defendant. That is the verdict which I understand that the Jury are invited to give. A few seconds later his Lordship, turning to the Jury, said :—Your verdict will be not guilty, but there are other matters which have to be determined with reference to specific finding of complete justification, and. as I told you, that involves that the statement is true in substance and in fact, and that the publication is for the public benefit. These are the facts on which you will have to find, and if you find them in favour of the defendant, your verdict will be not guilty. You will have to say whether you find complete justification has been proved or not.

After consulting for a few minutes, the Jury signified that they had arrived at their decision.

The Clerk of Arraigns—Do you find the complete justification proved or not?

The Foreman of the Jury—Yes.

The Clerk—Do you find a verdict of not guilty?

The Foreman—Yes.

The Clerk—And that is the verdict of you all?

The Foreman—Yes; and we also find that the publication was for the public benefit.

The announcement of the verdict was received with loud applause.

Mr. Carson—And the costs of the defence will follow?

Mr. Justice Collins—Yes, he is entitled to his costs.

Mr. Carson—May I ask that Lord Queensberry may be discharged?

Mr. Justice Collins—Yes, certainly.

Lord Queensberry then left the dock amid renewed applause, and, on descending into the body of the Court, was congratulated by his friends.

At the conclusion of the trial at the Central Criminal Court yesterday morning, Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry's solicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor:—

"37, Norfolk-street, Strand.

"To the Hon. HAMILTON CUFFE, Director of Prosecutions.

"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—Yours faithfully,

"Charles Russell."

During the afternoon Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, had an interview with Sir John Bridge at Bow-street, and subsequently a warrant was issued by the Magistrate.

—

Mr. Oscar Wilde was arrested shortly after seven o'clock last evening, and taken to Scotland Yard. The warrant for the arrest was executed by Inspector Richards, of Scotland-yard, who, with Sergeant Allen, proceeded to the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-street, shortly after six o'clock. When the charge was read over to him he made no reply, and was immediately taken to Scotland Yard and handed over to Inspector Brockwell, who held the warrant. After remaining for some time at Scotland Yard, Mr. Wilde was placed in a four-wheeled cab and conveyed to Bow-street. He was at once placed in the dock and charged by Inspector Digby. The prisoner made no reply, and was removed for the night to a cell. Mr. Wilde will be brought up before the Magistrate and charged at ten o'clock this morning, when it is understood evidence of a formal character only will be tendered. At one o'clock this morning Mr. Wilde still remained in custody, the police officials not being empowered to accept bail.