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The collapse of Oscar Wilde's case and subsequent arrest, says the correspondent of the 'New York World' on 5th April, have cause 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 issues 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 To an interviewer Wilde stated, in a nervous tone quite unlike his flippant audacity as a witness, that he had withdrawn from the case to spare Lord Alfred Douglas the pain of testifying against his father, adding that he willingly sacrificed himself for his friend.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 foreshadowed by Lord Queensberry's counsel, took Wilde completely back. The 'Word'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 extradited under the charge. It was reported he had fled, but he was seen in Chelsea at 4 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 £500 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 to 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 prosecution of the Marquis of Queensberry."—Oscar Wilde.

LONDON, April 5. - The career of Oscar Wilde ended to-day in blackest infamy. All London is saying to-night that it is a pity the miserable creature had not sufficient pluck to blow out his brains before the police seized him and put him behind bolts and bars to await the punishment for the crimes of which he is already proved guilty. Those who were his friends until his guilt was established by his own admissions under yesterday's merciless cross-examination urged him last night to take the shortest road to oblivion, which, they declared, was the only proper sequel to the exposure of his character.

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 speedily brought home to Wilde that although nominally the 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 true did not make the strange creature realize his position. He wrote a note to an 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 to allow the son to testify against his father. This was simply imbecile because nothing has been adduced in the trial about the relations between Wilde and Lord Alfred.

There is reason to believe that the disgraced man was prepared to flee from the country. But English law for once acted with commandable 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 misdemeanor, 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 jail until the trial takes place in May, for the magistrate is certain to refuse to accept bail.

The cynical and supercilious bravado which Wilde manifested during the trial changed when he found himself in custody. He listened in silence to the reading of the warrant. He had been aware for an hour or two that escape was impossible, for detectives had been closely following him. He refused to say a word to the officers or to others. He asked at the police station for a special cell and that his valet be allowed to bring him his portmanteau. The police currently refused all requests, and locked him up like an ordinary prisoner.

It is impossible to describe the sensation which the case has created in London. The Cleveland street scandals of a few years ago were bad enough, but the public interest then was mild compared to the talk created by this case. It has been the only subject discussed wherever men have congregated for the last few days. It must be said that public opinion is almost unanimous in thanking the Marquis of Queensberry, in spite of his many eccentricities, for bringing to a crisis what has long been a rapidly spreading scandal in the metropolis. The effect of the exposure and of the exemplary punishment which is sure to follow in Wilde's case will be far reaching. It comes none too soon. The growth of this evil among certain classes of this country is appalling. The police and others are prepared to make fearful revelations as soon as it becomes evident that no other means will suffice to check and destroy the vice which undermined the civilization of the ancient Romans. Those who possess accurate knowledge believe that this point has now been reached. Publicity is a dreadful price to pay for overcoming such an evil, but the investigation in the Wilde case alone has convinced those engaged in it that the situation demands desperate remedies. Mr. Carson, whose wonderful management of the case against Wilde excited the admiration of the members of the bar, detailed to newspaper men, after the verdict had been rendered to-day, some of his appalling discoveries. He did this, he said, as a public duty, not that revolting details should be published - that, indeed, he forbade - but that public attention should be called to the unsuspected but monstrous danger undermining English society.

London newspapers have printed far more about the matter than has been telegraphed to the American press. Great morning dailies like the Times and Telegraph have given their readers 6,000 to 12,000 words daily of the court proceedings. The St. James’s Gazette achieved distinction yesterday by placarding London with the announcement that it was the only paper printing no report of the evidence in the Wilde-Queensberry trial. A lively controversy has begun over the duty of the press in the matter.

Many seats which had been purchased at the Haymarket and St. James's theatres, where Wilde’s plays "An 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.

By United Press.

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 that the Marquis of Queensberry's charges were true in substance and in fact, and that they had been made for the public good. Wilde was not present when the verdict was rendered. He had been in a room adjoining the courtroom, where he had consulted with his solicitor. When the verdict was announced Wilde and a companion drove from the Old Bailey to the Holborn Hotel, where they were joined soon afterward 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.

After leaving 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 seem to have eluded the detectives, as the Scotland Yard authorities began issuing descriptions of Wilde and spreading them over the city.

In the meantime Mr. Lewis, solicitor for the Treasury, had applied at the Bow Street Police Court for a warrant for Wilde’s immediate arrest. The warrant was placed in the hands of Scotland Yard detectives, who found Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel, where he had for a time eluded the men who were shadowing him. He was arrested and taken to Scotland Yard. Afterward he was transferred to the Bow street station and locked up in a cell.

Before Wilde was taken to his cell the charge, indicated by his testimony in court, was read to him. He stood with his hands in his pockets, silent and apparently unconcerned.

The Old Bailey court room was crowded almost to suffocation this morning when Mr. Carson resumed his speech on behalf of the Marquis of Queensberry. It would be his painful duty, he said, to put up on the witness stand men who would speak freely of the nature of their relations with the plaintiff, Wilde. The ages of these men varied from 18 to 23 years period they were of the class of servants, valets, &., not belonging to Mr. Wilde’s station in life, not interested in literature or art, yet they addressed this distinguished dramatist by his Christian name, Oscar, he in turn calling them Charley, Freddy, &. Mr. Carson said he would produce overwhelming evidence of the abominable immorality of this man Wilde.

Sir Edward Clarke interrupted Mr. Carson and said he had undertaken a 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, viz., that Wilde was posing as a devotee of unnatural practices. He had consulted with Wilde in the interim of the adjournment of the court, and, in order to save the court the painful details connected with the rest of the case, he was prepared to accept the verdict of the jury in regard to Wilde's literature.

The Judge interposed and said if the jury were justified in agreeing upon a verdict on one part of the case they must return a verdict of guilty or not guilty as regards the entire case.

The jury then rendered the verdict, to which Sir Edward Clarke assented, in accordance with the direction of the Court. When the verdict was rendered the Marquis of Queensberry left the dock amid loud cheers. The Judge granted an order requiring Wilde to pay the costs of the defence.

The reports previously cabled in regard to Mr. Beerbohm Tree's connection with the case were inaccurate. Mr. Carson explained to the Court last evening that Mr. Tree received a copy of a letter written by Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas, and thereupon sent for Wilde and handed him the copy. Mr. Carson said that Mr. Tree had cabled this information to him, and that it tallied perfectly with the account given by Wilde in the witness box. Mr. Carson added that he thought Mr. Tree had acted perfectly right in the matter.

The Judge said there was not the smallest ground for any suggestion adverse to Mr. Tree, who had acted with perfect propriety.

Sir Edward Clarke agreed with Mr. Carson and the Judge that Mr. Tree could not properly have done otherwise than he did.

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 arrests.

The Marquis of Queensberry’s solicitors have sent to the Public Prosecutor a copy of the statements of all the witnesses which the defence intended to call to the stand, together with a full shorthand report of the trial as far as it had gone.

This afternoon a United Press reporter visited the Haymarket and St. James's theatres, where Oscar Wilde's plays are running. Mr. Morell, one of the managers of the Haymarket, in reply to a question as to 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's Theatre, where Oscar Wilde's play, "The Importance of Being Earnest," 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 the 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 susceptibilities. Whether the trial will cause a change in the business in the future remains to be seen."

Mr. Alexander said also that "The Importance of Being Earnest," 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.

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’s theatres, where Mr. Wilde’s plays are running, were rather small this evening. But they made no hostile demonstration. At St. James’s there were few persons accepting those who had bought their tickets in advance. The gallery was somewhat critical, and two or three audible comments confused the players slightly.

The Evening News has received the following letter from Oscar Wilde, written upon the notepaper 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 Daily Chronicle will have a long leader to-morrow on the Oscar Wilde case. It will say:

"Either Mr. Carson's brief contained a series of the wickedest slanders or the prosecutor perjured himself unspeakably."

The Daily Telegraph will say tomorrow in a leader on Wilde’s case:

"It was a just verdict and must be held to include with Wilde the tendency of his peculiar careeer, the meaning and the influence of his teachings, and all the shallow and specious arts by which he attempted to establish cult and even set up new schools of literature and social thought."