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John Sholto Douglas, Marquis of Queensberry, was arraigned before Mr Newton, Magistrate, in the Great Marlborough Police Court, London, on the afternoon of March 2, on a charge of having libelled Oscar Wilde.

Mr Wilkes Lawyer, in presenting the case, set forth that his client was a husband who was living upon the most affectionate terms with his wife and two sons. For the last nine or ten months, he said, the Marquis of Queensberry had persecuted Mr Wilde with the utmost cruelty. The last act of persecution occurred on February 28, when the Marquis left for Mr Wilde at a club of which both are members, an open card, upon the back of which was written a vile epithet. The porter of the club, upon reading the words, enclosed the card in an envelope so that it might not be seen by any other person than Mr Wilde. The detective who arrested the Marquis at Dover on the morning of March 2 testified that when he approached the Marquis and informed him of the complaint upon which he was arrested his Lordship said – "This has been going on for two years." Sir George Lewis, the Marquis of Queensberry's solicitor, in his address to the Court, said that when the facts became fully known it would be found that the Marquis had been acting under the influence of great indignation, based upon an abundant provocation. It has not been a secret, says the despatch, that the reason for the Marquis of Queensberry's resentment was to be found in the intimate relations existing between Mr Wilde and Lord Alfred, who, until the death of Lord Drumlanrigg placed him next in succession, was the young son of the Marquis. Owing to the friendship existing between Mr Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred, the latter became estranged from his father, who, feeling his position more acutely by reason of sundry reports considering the nature of the relations between Mr Wilde and his son, which are also common property, conceived a most violent antipathy to Mr Wilde.

At the trial on April 4th, Oscar Wilde was subjected to a stringent cross-examination, with the view of showing the "Dorian Grey' and some other articles in that magazine Chameleon, with which he is connected, are of an immoral tendency. Wilde insisted that they were merely an expression of the artistic faculty. His letters to Douglas were prose poems, extraordinary, perhaps, but not justifying immoral interpretation. He admits he gave one of his alleged blackmailers twenty-one pounds and lunched with him in a private room afterwards. The case was adjourned, defendant being admitted to bail.

LONDON, April 3

Mr Wilde explained the effusive language of the letters addressed to Lord Douglas as the natural expression of an artist attracted by a beautiful personality. The Marquis of Queensberry visited his residence and threatened Mr Wilde, to which that gentleman responded with, "You are the most infamous brute in London."

April 4.

Mr Wilde was subjected to a stringent cross-examination with a view to showing that "Dorian Grey" and some articles in the magazine Chameleon with which he is connected are of an immoral tendency. Mr Wildd insisted that they are merely an expression of the artistic faculty. His letters to Lord Douglas were prose poems, extraordinary, perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation. He admitted that he gave one of his alleged blackmailers twenty-one pounds and lunched with him in private rooms afterwards.

The case has been adjourned. The defendant has been admitted to bail.

In cross-examination Oscar Wilde admitted that he was acquainted with young men named Taylor, Parker and Atkins, Taylor had introduced him to five young men on different occasions, to whom witness had given money, but he was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. He said he derived pleasure from being in the company of bright and happy people. Witness had frequently been in Taylor's room. He was aware that both Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but continued their friendship. Onca he took Atkins and a youth to Paris, and introduced them to another youth named Ernest Scarp, who became acquainted with Lord Douglas when making a voyage to Australia. Wilde said he had made presents to Scarp and Mabor because he liked them. Letters read in Court proved that the Marquis of Queensberry was endeavoring to stop his son from visiting Wilde. The son wired back to his father that Wilde was a funny little man. The Marquis subsequently called at Wilde's house, where a furious scene took place. The latter denied the charges levelled against him, and showed the Marquis the door. Witness wrote to the Marquis complaining that his wife encouraged his son's visits. Wilde's friendship with Lady Queensberry and her sons remained unbroken. Certain letters from the youths already named showed that the writers were poverty-stricken, some imploring assistance or employment.

Wilde admitted a close intimacy with a number of young men, but denied there was anything improper in it. He paid no regard to social inferiority if his friends were amusing. Lord Douglas' letters showed that he had threatened to shoot his father if he attempted to thrash him. The Marquis's letter referred to an eminent statesman, but the reference was political.

Mr Carson, in opening the defence, declared that the plaintiff's proteges were among the most immoral people in London. Wilde's intimacies were absolutely irreconcilable with his claims as an exponent of culture. His literature alone justified the charges against him. In conclusion he claimed that the defendant's witnesses, amongst whom was Wood, the chief blackmailer, would prove the case to the hilt.