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The hearing of the libel action brought by Mr Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry was resumed yesterday at the Old Bailey.

Mr Carson, Q C, M P, cross-examined the plaintiff at length as to his acquaintance with several persons, to whom he admitted having given money and presents.

In re-examination Sir Edward Clarke read a strong letter of warning against Wilde, addressed by Lord Queensberry to his son, Lord A Douglas, to which Lord A Douglas replied by telegram, "Queensberry, what a funny little man you are."

The case for the plaintiff closed, and Mr. Carson, Q C, began his address for the defence.

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."