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The collapse of Oscar Wilde's case, and subsequent arrest (say the London correspondents of the New York papers), on the 5th, caused a sensation without parallel in London since the exposure and flight of the forger Pigott. The poor fool imagined it still possible to brazen it out, so he persuaded his lawyer, who refused to go on with the case, to bring the trial to a close by withdrawing the charges against Lord Queensberry.

This was done, and then the fact was brought home to Wilde that although nominally prosecutor, it was he and not the Marquis of Queensberry who was really on trial. Even the prompt verdict of the jury declaring explicitly that the infamous charge against him was justified did not make the strange creature realise his position.

He wrote a note to the evening newspaper, declaring that he was unable to prove his innocence, except by putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness box, and that he preferred to suffer shame rather than allow the son to testify against the father.

This was simply imbecile, because nothing has been adduced in the trial about the relations between Wilde and Lord Douglas. There is reason to believe the disgraced man was prepared to flee from the country, but the English law for once acted with commendable promptness. Red tape was cut. The Public Prosecutor applied for a warrant within two hours after the dramatic collapse of the case in court, and tonight the man who a few days ago was a pampered exquisite lies on a plank bed in an eight-by-four cell in the Bow-street police station.

The charge against him, for some reason not explained, is not felony, but misdemeanour, and the maximum penalty is two years at hard labour, but the Grand Jury may change the indictment to a more serious offence.

He must remain in gaol until the trial takes place in May, for the magistrate is certain to refuse to accept bail.

The London newspapers have printed far more about the matter than has been telegraphed to the American press. The great morning dailies like the "Times" and "Telegraph" have given their readers 6,000 to 12,000 words daily of the court proceedings.

Many seats which had been purchased at the Haymarket and St. James Theatres, where Wilde's plays, "The Ideal Husband," and "The Importance of Being Earnest," are running, were empty tonight. The audiences were small and there was a smaller proportion of ladies than usual, but no demonstration of any kind.

The "Leader" published an interview with Lord Douglas, in which the latter says: "Myself and every member of the family except father disbelieve all the charges. We think them simply part of the persecution father has carried on against us ever since I can remember, and that Mr Wilde and his counsel are to blame for not showing, as they should have done, that that was the fact."

The "Chronicle" says: It suffices us to know as some return for undamming the public tidal wave that our life is rid forever of a pestiferous poser of decadence which has received its death blow, and the way is cleared for increased wholesomeness in life. We seem for some unhappy purpose to have been shuddering witnesses of a revival of society under the late Roman empire, or against the dark background of the Italian Renaissance.

THIRD AND LAST DAY.

The collapse of Oscar Wilde's case, and subsequent arrest, says the London correspondent of the New York papers, on April 5th, caused a sensation without parallel in London, since the exposure and flight of the forger Pigott during the sittings of the Parnell Commission. Still, since Wilde's first day's testimony, the result had been foreseen. The expectation was that the jury would stop the trial and return a verdict for Lord Queensberry.

Before 10 o'clock every available foot of space in the Old Bailey courtroom was filled with spectators armed with newspapers and packages of sandwiches, and otherwise ready to spend the day in court in the most comfortable manner possible.

The Marquis entered the court at 10.20 o'clock, looking calm and confident of the result. Promptly at 10.30 o'clock Justice Collins entered and court was opened. Oscar Wilde, however, was absent.

Edward M. Carson, leading counsel for the defence, resumed his speech, which was not concluded yesterday when the court adjourned. Carson said he hoped he had demonstrated that the Marquis was justified in bringing to a climax in the way he did the connection between his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, and Wilde.

Continuing, the counsel said he now approached the more painful duty. It would be his task to call several young men who would tell their own tales, and who would show that the man Taylor, frequently referred to during the proceedings, was Wilde's procurer.

It was no wonder the Marquis of Queensberry protested against the intimacy between his son and Wilde. The wonder was, the counsel said, that this man had been so long tolerated in London Society.

Wilde's conduct regarding the boy at Worthing, continued Carson, was an instance of his disgusting audacity. He picked up the boy on the pier and introduced him to his family, and dressed him up as a gentleman.

Carson was continuing his terrible denunciation of Oscar Wilde when Sir Edward Clarke and the witnesses for the plaintiff left the courtroom for consultation. They soon returned and Sir Edward asked for permission to interrupt the proceedings.

Then, amid the most oppressive silence, the leading counsel for the plaintiff announced the withdrawal of the case on behalf of his client.

The chief concern of Sir Edward Clarke seem to be his desire to justify himself in undertaking the case for Wilde. He said that after consulting with his client—who, by the way, was in the room to which his counsel had adjourned, but left eh building hurriedly when Sir Edward Clarke began his statement—he asked to withdraw the suit, and on Wilde's behalf counsel said he did this more especially in view of the extracts which had been read in court from Wilde's novel of Modern social life, "Dorian Gray," and from a magazine "The Chameleon."

Carson here interposed, saying if there was to be a verdict of not guilty it also involved a verdict of justification as the case of his client must succeed upon that plea.

Justice Collins said that as to the jury putting any limit on their verdict, the words on the Marquis' card were either justified or not justified. If the jury consented to the course suggested, and were to return a verdict of not guilty, they were also to find that the justification set up by the defence was true in substance and in fact, and that the words complained of were published for the public benefit.

The jurymen consulted together for a moment, and then without leaving their seats returned a verdict as directed by Judge Collins, namely, that the Marquis of Queensberry was not guilty of libel, and that the words he had written on a card, which formed the basis of the suit, were published in the interests of the public.

The verdict was received with loud applause in court, and Justice Collins made no attempt to check it. The Marquis of Queensberry was then discharged from custody and left the court triumphant, smiling, and surrounded by his friends.

The defence, it appears, had a long array of witnesses on hand, including waiters employed in the hotels of Paris London, and other cities which Wilde had visited.

Later in the day application was made at the Bow-street Police Court, for a warrant for the arrest of Wilde, and the magistrate granted the application. He was subsequently arrested at the Cadogan Hotel.

The officials of the Treasury Department, under which branch of the Government public prosecutions are directed, visited the Bow street Police Court several times this afternoon previous to granting the warrant for Oscar Wilde's arrest. Upon the last visit they were accompanied by a detective and two boys.

After a short consultation between the Treasury officials and Sir John Bridge, during which several questions were addressed to the detective and the boys, the magistrate issued the warrant.

Wilde spent several hours in company with Lord Alfred Douglas at the Hotel Holborn. Bis brougham was waiting in front of the hotel. Early in the afternoon Lord Alfred drove to the bank, cashed a cheque and returned to the hotel. Soon after both Wilde and Alfred drove away.

Wilde, after his arrest at the Cadogan hotel, was taken in a cab by two detectives to Scotland Yard.

Wilde wore an ulster and a silk hat. He was very pale, but cool, when he arrived at Scotland Yard.

Later, Lord Alfred Douglas went to the police station and inquired whether Wilde could be admitted to bail. The police inspector explained that Wilde had been arrested for a criminal offence, which did not allow of bail being accepted until he was arraigned in court. Lord Alfred was greatly distressed by this information.