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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 To an interviewer Wilde stated, in a nervous tone quite unlike his flippant audacity as a witness, that he had withdrawn from the case to spare Lord Douglas the pain of testifying against his father, adding that he willingly sacrificed himself for his friend.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 action for libel brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry came to a sudden end today, when Wilde withdrew his suit, thereby practically admitting his guilt of the charges made by Queensberry. A short time after the court proceedings closed Wilde was arrested at the Cadagan Hotel. He is spending tonight in a cell in the Bow Street Police Station.

The name of Oscar Wilde has been withdrawn from the playbills and advertisements of the two theaters, the St. James and the Haymarket, where two of his plays are running.

Before 10 o'clock today every available foot of space in the courtroom in the Old Bailey was filled with spectators, who were ready to spend the day in court. The Marquis at 10:20 a.m. entered court, looking calm and confident of the result. Promptly at 10:30 a.m, Justice Collins entered and the court was opened. Oscar Wilde, however, was absent.

Mr. Carson Resumes His Speech.

Mr. Edward M. Carson, Q. C., leading counsel for the defense, resumed his speech which was not concluded yesterday when the court adjourned. Mr. Carson said that 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, counsel said that the wonder is that this man has been so long tolerated in London society.

Mr. Carson was continuing his terrible denunciation of Oscar Wilde when Sir Edward Clarke and others of Wilde's counsel left the courtroom for consultation. They soon returned, and Sir Edward asked for permission to interrupt the proceedings. Then, amid a most impressive silence, the leading counsel for the plaintiff announced the withdrawal of the case on behalf of his client. He said that after consulting with his client-who, by the way, was in the room to which his counsel adjourned, and who left the building hurriedly when Sir Edward Clarke began his statement-he asked to withdraw the suit. Counsel said that he did this more especially in view of the ex- tracts which had been read in court from Wilde's novel of modern social life. "Dorian Gray," and from the magazine, the Chameleon.

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

The Jury Is Instructed.

Justice Collins said that if the jury should consent to the course suggested and should return a verdict of not guilty, they were also to find that the justification set up by the defense 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, they returned a verdict as directed by Justice Collins, namely that the Marquis of Queensberry was not guilty of libel, and that the words he had written on the 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.

A warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde was promptly applied for. Copies of all the witnesses' statements and shorthand notes of the trial had been furnished to the public prosecutor.

Officials of the Treasury Department, under which branch of the government public prosecutions are directed, visited Bow Street Police Court several times this afternoon previous to the granting of the warrant for Oscar Wilde's arrest. Upon the occasion of their last visit, after a short consultation between the treasury officials and Sir John Bridge, the magistrate issued the warrant.

Caught at the Cadogan Hotel.

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

Wilde was arrested at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloan street, and taken in a cab by two detectives to Scotland Yard.

Few persons witnessed Wilde's arrival there, and those who did maintained silence. At 8:10 p.m. Wilde was arraigned at the Bow Street Police Court. He was placed in the dock in the police station. Here he stood with his hands in his pockets while the charge against him was being taken. A police inspector 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 remained apparently indifferent and made no reply. He was then searched, after which he was locked in a cell.

Shortly after he had been locked up, one of his friends arrived in a carriage at the station with a small Gladstone bag containing a change of clothing and other necessaries, but the police refused to permit him to leave it.

Bail Is Denied Him.

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 offense, which did not allow of bail being accepted until he had been arraigned in court. Lord Alfred was greatly distressed by this information. He was told by the inspector that Wilde had a blanket and other requisites in his cell to be as comfortable as the police regulations allowed.

The prisoner will be allowed to receive food from a hotel until tomorrow, when he will be arraigned in court on a charge involving a penal offense.

Wilde has written a letter to newspapers, in which he says:

It was not possible to prove my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness-box against his father. Lord Alfred was extremely anxious to go into the box, but I would not allow it. Rather than put him in such a painful position I determined to retire from the case, and bear upon my own shoulders whatever shame and ignominy might result from not prosecuting the Marquis of Queensberry.

The Leader publishes an interview with Lord Douglas, of Hawick, in relation to the Wilde scandal Lord Douglas says:

"I and every member of the family except father disbelieve absolutely and entirely all the charges. We think them simply part of the persecution father has carried on against us as long as I can remember, and that Mr. Wilde and his counsel are to blame for not showing, as they could have done, that that was the fact."

Took the Yellow Book to Jail with Him.

LONDON, April 6. -- The Morning says that Wilde received the notification of his arrest with languid nonchalance, plaintively asking whether he would be allowed to furnish bail when accompanying the detective who made the arrest he took under his arm a copy of the Yellow Book. When he arrived at Scotland Yard he asked whether he would be allowed a private cell and whether he would be allowed to smoke. When the charge was read to him he smiled.

The Chronicle says editorially:

It suffices us to know, as some return for the undamming of the putrid stream, that the way is cleared for increased wholesomeness in life. We seem for some unhappy hours to have been shuddering witnesses of a revival of society under the late Roman empire, or against the dark background of the Italian renaissance.