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London, April 8

The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry for criminally libelling Mr Oscar Wilde, the well-known dramatist, has begun. The alleged libel was contained on a post-card which the Marquis left with the hall porter at Mr. Wilde's club. The defence is justification the Marquis declaring that the letter was written with the object of saving his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, from immoral influences exerted over him by Mr Wilde. The defence is based on revelations contained in certain letters from Mr Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas. For some of these letters Mr Wilde has had, it is alleged, to pay heavy blackmail. The letters, which were of a very gushing character, were found in some old clothes which Lord Alfred Douglas had given away.

Yesterday the plaintiff Mr Wilde, was subjected to a very severe cross-examination, with a view to showing that his novel Dorian Grey and articles in the Chameleon, a magazine with which he is connected, were intended to inspire criminal practices. Mr Wilde insisted that they were merely the expression of his artistic faculty. His letters to Lord Alfred Douglas were, he said, prose poems, extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation. he admitted that he gave one of his alleged blackmailers £21, and lunched with him afterwards in a private room. He admitted also that he as on terms of intimacy with two lads who were not his social equals. He had given them money and expensive presents, but that was because he liked them.

Mr Wilde's epigrams, paradoxes, and extravagant statements while in the witness box caused much amusement. The case was adjourned, the Marquis of Queensbury being admitted to bail. The case is attracting a very large amount of interest, and the Court in which the trail is taking place is crowded at each sitting. - Australian Papers.

London, April 4.

Oscar 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. He insisted that they are merely expressions of 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 £21, and lunched with him in a private room afterwards. The case was adjourned, defendant being admitted to bail.

In cross-examination Wilde admitted that he was acquainted with young men named Taylor, Parker, and Atkins. Taylor had introduced him to five young men on separate occasions to whom witness had given money, but he was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. He said that he derived pleasure from being in the company of bright, happy people. Witness had frequently been in Taylor's room, and was aware that both Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but he continued their friendship. Once he took Atkins and a youth named Price 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.

The 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 at the time the charges levelled against him, and showed the Marquis the door.

Wilde, continuing his evidence, said he wrote to the Marquis complaining that his wife encouraged his son's visits. Wilde's friendship with Lady Queensberry and the Marquis's son remained unbroken.

Certain letters from the youths already named showed that the writers were poverty stricken, some of them imploring assistance or employment.

[Special to Press Association.]

London, April 4.

Oscar 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 Wilde, the latter responding "You are the most infamous brute in London."