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(PER MAIL STEAMER AT AUCKLAND)

The collapse of Oscar Wild's case and subsequent arrest, says the correspondent of the 'New York World' on 5th April, have caused a sensation without parallel in London since the exposure and flight of the forger Pigott during the sitting of the Parnell Commission. Still, since Wilde's first day's testimony the result was foreseen. The expectation was that the jury would stop the trial and return a verdict for Lord Queensberry. Wilde's lawyers acted wisely in consenting to a verdict at the stage the suit had reached. If Lord Queensberry's witnesses had been examined the judge would have had no recourse, but must have issued a warrant for Wilde's arrest on a charge entailing as a maximum a penalty of twenty years' imprisonment, but upon the evidence already unfolded, if Wilde is convicted it can only be of a misdemeanor, for which the maximum penalty is two years' imprisonment. Wilde looked a changed man this morning as he slunk into the court buildings. His complexion was ghastly, and altogether he had the aspect of a man who had passed a wakeful and anxious night. To an interviewer Wilde stated, in a nervous tone quite unlike his flippant audacity as a witness, that he had withdrawn from the case to spare Lord Douglas the pain of testifying against his father, adding that he willingly sacrificed himself for his friend. That was the hollowest 'bluff.' The truth is that Wilde's chief lawyer, Sir Edward Clarke, decided after the close of Thursday's proceedings to withdraw from the suit. This decision was immediately communicated to Oscar, hence the restless, hopeless night he passed. Wilde's lawyers say that up to that time he had never evinced the slightest appreciation of the enormity of the accusations against him. It was only when the imminent prospect of his taking Lord Queensberry's place in the dock dawned upon him that he lost his self-command. The mass of testimony ready to be given against him, as forshadowed by Lord Queensberry's counsel, took Wilde completely back. The 'World's' correspondent hears that this testimony was tendered by the police to Lord Queensberry's lawyers, it having accumulated during their investigations. They had planned a public prosecution if the case had proceeded. It is rumored that one of the reasons why Sir Edward Clarke decided to stop the trial was that to go on would have involved the disclosure of the names of distinguished personages, but this story is discredited. If Wilde had escaped to the continent he would have been safe from arrest, as he could not have been extradicted under the charge. It was reported he had fled but he was seen in Chelsea at 1 p.m. to-day, and was arrested by 7 p.m. Mrs Wilde who is distracted with grief at the turn affairs have taken, has about L600 a year of her own. For the last three years she has received no financial help from her husband.

Ever since the Police Court proceedings the bookings for both Wilde's pieces have steadily declined. The London public will never tolerate the performance of any more of his plays. Thus his principal means of livelihood is gone, and as he lived very extravagantly he has nothing from the large income he has had for some years.

FLIGHT PROJECTED.

A later London cable says: Oscar Wilde was arrested by a detective of Scotland Yard this afternoon on charges growing out of his own evidence given in the libel suit against Lord Queensberry, which was decided against the dramatist to-day. The warrant was issued on the application of Sir George Lewis, on behalf of the Public Prosecutor. After the trial this afternoon Wilde went to the Westminster Bank, where he drew out the funds to his account, after which he was constantly shadowed. He returned to his hotel, accompanied by Lord Alfred Douglas, only remaining a few minutes, after which they drove off to Ely Place, and thence to the Cadogan Hotel where they vanished. The Scotland Yard authorities issued descriptions of Wilde, and spread them over the city, and he was captured before he could get out of the country, as was evidently his intention. He was taken to Scotland Yard and locked up; then he was taken to Bow street and placed in the dock. At the police station he stood with his hands in his pockets while the charge against him was being taken. The police inspector then read the charge aloud, and asked Wilde if he had anything to say, adding the usual warning that anything he said might be used against him. The prisoner, apparently indifferent, made no reply. He was then searched, after which he was locked in a cell. Subsequently Lord Alfred Douglas went to the police station and inquired whether Wilde would be admitted to bail. The police inspector explained that Wilde was arrested for a criminal offence, which did not allow of bail being accepted until he had been arraigned in court. Lord Alfred seemed greatly distressed by this information. Sworn informations have been lodged against several persons mentioned in the trial, some of whose names were not made public. They will be arrested.

WILDE'S EXPLANATION.

The Evening News to day received the following letter from Oscar Wilde, written upon note paper of the Holborn Hotel: "It would have been impossible for me to have proved my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness-box against his father. He was extremely anxious to go into the witness-box but I would not let him. rather than put him in so painful a position I determined to withdraw from the case and bear upon my own shoulders whatever ignominy and shame might result from my persecution of the Marquis of Queensberry."—Oscar Wilde.

London, April 5. -- The case of Oscar Wilde against the marquis of Queensberry for libel was brought to a close this morning in a verdict in favor of the defendant.

The jury found not only that the defendant was not guilty of libel, but in a subsidiary verdict declared that the marquis of Queensberry's charges were true and had been made for the public good.

Old Bailey courtroom was crowded almost to suffocation this morning when Mr. Carson resumed his speech in behalf of the marquis of Queensberry. It would be his painful duty, he said, to put upon the witness stand men who would speak freely of the nature of their connection with the plaintiff, Wilde. The ages of these men have varied from eighteen to twenty-five years. They were of a class of servants, valets, etc., not belonging to Wilde's station in life, nor interested in literature or art, yet they addressed this distinguished dramatist by his Christian name, "Oscar," he in turn calling them "Charley," "Freddy," etc.

Proposition of Oscar's Counsel.

Sir. Edward Clarke interrupted Carson and said he had undertaken great responsibility in defending Wilde against the charges made against him by the marquis of Queensberry. In regard to the literature which Wilde had published and upon which Mr. Carson had questioned him, he (Sir Edward) had come to the painful conclusion that it could not be expected that the jury would find a verdict of guilty on the actual words used by the defendant. He had consulted with Wilde in the interim of the adjournment of court, and in order to save the court the painful details connected with the rest of the case he was prepared to accept a verdict of the jury in regard to Wilde's literature. The judge interposed and said if the jury were satisfied in agreeing upon a verdict on one point of the case they must return a verdict of guilty or not guilty as regards the entire case.

The jury then rendered a verdict of not guilty, to which Sir Edward Clarke assented, and supplemented their verdict with the declaration that the charges made by the defendant against Wilde, which constituted the libel complained of, were true, and that they had been made in the public interest.

When the verdict was rendered the marquis of Queensberry left the dock amid loud cheers.

The judge granted an order requiring Wilde to pay costs of defense.

Mr. Wilde was not in court this morning. Wilde and a companion drove from Old Bailey to Holborn hotel, where they were joined soon afterwards by Lord Alfred Douglas and a companion. The four took luncheon together in a private room, Wilde's carriage remaining in front of the hotel.

Wilde's Statement in the News.

The Evening News has received the following letter from Oscar Wilde, written upon a note paper of the Holborn Viaduct hotel:

"It would have been impossible for me to have proved my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness box against his father. He was extremely anxious to go into the witness box, but I would not let him. Rather than put him in so painful a position I determined to withdraw from the case and bear upon my own shoulders whatever ignominy and shame might result from my prosecution of the marquis of Queensberry. OSCAR WILDE."

The Westminster Gazette says:

"Mr Wilde hurriedly left the building during Sir Edward Clarke's statement, A warrant for his arrest had not yet been applied for."

At 3:30 o'clock this afternoon a solicitor whose name is not given applied at Bow street police station and obtained a warrant for immediate action. The court officers refused to give the name of the person upon whom the warrant is to be served.

Queensberry's Message to Wilde.

In an interview this afternoon the marquis of Queensberry said to a representative of the United Press:

"I have sent this message to Wilde:

"If the country allows you to leave, all the better for the country, but if you take my son with you, I will follow you wherever you go and shoot you."

Sworn informations have been lodged against several persons mentioned in the trial, some of whose names were not made public, and the civil officers are only awaiting the authority of the treasury department to make the arrests.

Arrest of Wilde.

After lunching at the Holborn hotel Wilde went to the Westminster bank, where he drew out the funds to his account. He was constantly shadowed. He returned to the hotel, accompanied by Lord Alfred Douglas only. Remaining a few minutes, they drove to Ely place and thence to the Cadogan hotel, where they vanished for the time and the police issued descriptions of Wilde, spreading them all over the city. Later he was found in the Cadogan hotel, taken to Scotland Yard and placed in a cell at the Bow street station.

Before being locked up the charge indicated by his testimony in court was read to him. He stood with his hand in his pockets, silet and apparently unconcerned. The warrant for Wilde's arrest was procured by Mr. Lewis, solicitor of the treasury.

One of the managers of the Haymarket theater, where one of Wilde's plays is running, in reply to the question how the result of the case would affect future business, said he would rather not express an opinion. He would say, however, that Mr. Wilde's name had been taken out of the bills and advertisements of "An Ideal Husband," and from this the public could form its own conclusions.

Mr. George Alexander, manager of the St. James theater, where Oscar Wilde's play, "The Importance of Being Ernest," is running, said:

"When the scandal was first rumored, business here was slightly affected but it is now normal. Mr. Wilde's name has been withdrawn from the bills and advertisements of his comedy, which is the most innocent play in the world. It does not contain a line that could hurt the most tender susceptibility."

He said also that the play would be kept on the stage pending the public verdict. If he should be compelled to withdraw it some 150 persons would be thrown out of work, as he had nothing ready to replace it with.

It is reported that the Criterion to which "An Ideal Husband" was to be transferred from the Haymarket, has declined to put the play on its stage.

The audiences at the Haymarket and St. James theaters, where Mr. Wilde's plays are being given, were rather small this evening, but they made no hostile demonstration. At the St. James there were few persons excepting those who had bought their tickets in advance. The gallery was somewhat critical and two or three audible comments confused the players slightly.