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London, April 5– The suit of Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry came to a sudden and unexpected termination this morning shortly after the third day’s proceedings were commenced in the Old Bailey, before Justice Collins.

The result was apparently brought about by the terrible denunciations in the opening argument of Queensberry’s lawyer, Edward M. Carson, M. P., who began yesterday his statement of what he proposed to prove against Wilde. To-day he continued laying down further the line of defense that he intended to offer, and had proceeded a few minutes when Sir Edward Clarke, Wilde’s leading counsel, left the court room. He returned after a brief absence, and amid an impressive silence asked permission on behalf his client, Wilde, to withdraw the suit and submit to a verdict of not guilty in regard to the libel alleged, written by the Marquis of Queensberry. The jury, under instructions from Justice Collins, returned a verdict of not guilty, coupled with the statement that the justification set up as a defence by the Marquis of Queensberry was true in substance and in fact and that the statement complained of was published for the public good.

The verdict was received with loud applause, which was not checked by the presiding justice, and the Marquis of Queensberry was discharged from custody and left the court triumphant, smiling and surrounded by his friends.

The Old Bailey was filled before 10 o’clock with a crowd which had brought lunches, prepared to stay to the end of the day. No one had the remotest idea that the end was so near at hand. The Marquis of Queensberry entered the court room at 10:20 o’clock, looking calm and confident of the result. Promptly at 10:30 Justice Collins took his seat on the bench and opened court. It was noticed that Wilde was not in the court room, but nothing was thought of the circumstance, for the plaintiff was late yesterday.

It was learned later, after Sir Eward Clarke retired, that Wilde was in the anteroom to which his counsel had gone. After a brief interview with his client Sir Edward Clarke returned and withdrew the suit, as noted above. Wilde left he building hurriedly when his counsel began his statement of withdrawal.

Sir Edward Clarke, who is a prominent conservative and who was solicitor general under Lord Salisbury’s last administration, seems desirous of setting himself right for taking the case behalf of Wilde, and the developments of the trial the stated to be altogether surprising to him.

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

"It was impossible 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 form not prosecuting the Marquis of Queensberry."

Shortly after it was announced that a warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde was to be applied for, all the papers in the case having been submitted to the public prosecutor.

Later in the day the application was formally made at the Bow street police court before Sir John Bridge, the presiding magistrate, for a warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde and the magistrate granted the application.

Officials of the treasury department, under which branch 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 question of their last visit they were accompanied by a detective and two boys. After a short-consultation between the treasury officials and Sir John Bridge, during which several questions were addressed to the detectives and to the boys, the magistrate issued the warrant. Wilde during the day spent several hours in company with Lord 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.

Oscar Wilde Arrested.

London, April 5– Oscar Wilde was arrested at the Cadogan hotel this afternoon.

He was taken to Scotland yard by two detectives.

London, April 5.- The Old Bailey court room was crowded almost to suffocation this morning when Mr. Carson resumed his speech in behalf of the Marquis of Queensberry. It would be his special duty, he said, to put on the witness stand, men who would speak freely of the nature of their connection with the plaintiff Wilde. The ages of these men varied from 18 to 23 years. They were of the class of servants, valets, etc., 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 Charlie, Freddie, etc. Mr. Carson said he would produce overwhelming evidence of the abominable immorality of this man Wilde.

Sir Edward Throws up the Sponge.

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 a verdict of the jury in regard to Wilde’s literature.

The Verdict.

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 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 public interest.

Queensberry Cheered.

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 cost of the defense. Mr. Wilde was not in court this morning.

The reports previously cabled in regard to Beerbohm Tree's connection with the case were inaccurate. Sir. 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 Mr. Tree had cabled this information to him and 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.

Tree Did the Right Thing.

The judge said there was not the smallest around for any suggestion adverse to Mr. Tree, who had acted with perfect propriety. Sir Edward Clarke agreed with Mr. Carson and the judge said Mr Tree could not properly have done otherwise than he did.

The Marquis of Queensberry's solicitors 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.

After the Trial Was Over.

Wilde and a companion drove from the Old Bailey to Holborn Viaduct Hotel where they were joined soon by Lord Alfred Douglas and companion. The four took luncheon together in a private room. Wilde's carriage remaining in front of the hotel.

The Evening News has received the following letter from Oscar Wilde, written upon the note […] of Holburn 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. (Sgd.) Oscar Wilde."

A warrant was issued for Wilde’s arrest this afternoon.

The Marquis of Queensberry has 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 wherever you go and shoot you."