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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. -- Before 10'clock to-day every available foot of spacenin the old Bailey court room was filled with spectators, armed with newspapers and packages of sandwiches, and otherwise ready to spend the day in court in the most comfortable manner possible. The marquis, at 10:20, entered court, looking calm and confident of the result. Promptly at 10:30 Justice Collins entered and court was opened. Oscar Wilde was absent. Edward M. Carson, Q. C., leading counsel for the defense, resumed his speech, which was not concluded yesterday when the court adjourned. Carson said he hoped that 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 Douglass and Wilde. Continuing, counsel said he now approached a more painful duty. It would be his task to call several young men who would tell their own tales, and who would show that the man Taylor, frequently referred to during the proceedings, was Wilde's procurer. It was no wonder that the Marquis of Queensberry protested against the intimacy between his son and Wilde. "The wonder is," counsel said, "that this man has been so long tolerated in London society."

"Wilde's conduct regarding the boy at Worthing," continued Carson, "was an instance of his disgusting audacity. He picked up this boy on the pier and introduced him to his family, dressed him up as a gentleman, and put public colors upon his hat."

Carson was continuing his terrible denunciation of Oscar Wilde when Sir Edward Clarke and others of the plaintiff's counsel left the courtroom for consultation. They soon returned, and Sir Edward asked for permission to interrupt the proceedings. Then, amid the most impressive silence, the leading counsel for plaintiff announced the withdrawal of the case on behalf of his client.

CLARKE'S APOLOGY

The chief concern of Sir Edward Clarke seemed to be his desire to justify himself in undertaking the case for Wilde. 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, and on Wilde's behalf to submit to a verdict for the marquis of not guilty in regard to the words, "posing as a --- --- ---." Counsel said he did this more especially in view of the extracts which had been read from Wilde's novel of modern social life, "Dorian Gray," and from the magazine, "The Chamelion."

Carson here interrupted, saying if there was to be a verdict of not guilty it also involved a verdict of justification, as this was a case in which his client must succeed upon that plea. Justice Collins said the jury could put any limit on their verdict that the words "posing as a --- --- ---" were justified or not justified. If the jury consented to the course suggested and were to return a verdict of not guilty they were also to find 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, returned a verdict as directed by Judge Collins, namely, that the Marquis of Queensberry was not guilty of libel and that the words which he had written on the card which formed the basis of the suit were published in the interest of the public. The verdict was received with loud applause in the 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 friends.

Defense, it appears, had a long array of witnesses on hand, including waiters employed in hotels of Paris, London and other cities, which Wilde had frequented.

POSES AS A MARTYR.

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

"It was not possible to prove my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglass 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 the case and bear upon my own shoulders whatever shame and ignominy might result from not prosecuting the Marquis of Queensberry."

WILDE ARRESTED.

The authorities were reticent as to what course would be pursued, but to-day application was made at the Bow street police court for a warrant for the arrest of Wilde, and the magistrate granted the application.

The officials of the treasury department, under which brand of government public prosecutions are directed, visited the Bow street police court several times this afternoon, previous to granting a warrant for Oscar Wilde's arrest. Upon their last visit they were accompanied by a detective and two boys. After a short consultation between the treasury officials and Sir John B. Reige, during which several questions were addressed to the detective and boys, the magistrate issued a warrant.

Wilde spent several hours in company with Lord Alfred Douglas. Early in the afternoon Lord Alfred drove to the bank, cashed a cheque, and returned to the hotel. Soon after both Wilde and Lord Alfred drove away. Wilde was arrested at Cadogan hotel. He was taken in a cab by two detectives to Scotland Yard.