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LONDON, April 3. -- Every available inch of the Old Bailey was occupied this morning when the Marquis of Queensberry surrendered to bail, and the libel suit brought against him by Oscar Wilde was opened before Justice Collins. Oscar Wilde charges the Marquis of Queensberry with libel by leaving, in February last, an uncovered card at the Albemarle Club, on which card were written certain foul epithets. As a result Mr. Wilde on March 2 caused the arrest of the Marquis of Queensberry, and the latter, at the Marlborough Street Police Court, was placed under £1,500 bail.

Rumors were current in London yesterday that Oscar Wilde had suddenly left the city in order to avoid being present in court today, and reports were also current that a startling development would arise today. But both these rumors were set at rest by the arrival in court of the principals to the suit. The Marquis was placed in the dock, and answered to the indictment by pleading first, not guilty, and secondly, that the libel was true, and that it was published for the public good. The Marquis seemed unconcerned and, replying to the questions put to him, spoke quietly and clearly.

Sir Edward Clarke, formerly Solicitor General, in opening the case, said that the card left at the Albemarle Club for Mr. Wilde was one of the visiting cards of the Marquis of Queensberry, and it was upon this that the libel was written. Certain letters addressed by the plaintiff to Lord Alfred Douglas, second son of the Marquis of Queensberry, were brought to plaintiff by a man who said he was in distress, and Mr. Wilde gave him £20 with which to pay his passage to America. Another letter was handed to Beerbohm Tree, the actor, who gave it to the plaintiff. Counsel then recounted the facts already known in the case, showing that Mr. Wilde, who had recently returned from Algiers, drove up to the Albemarle Club at about 5 p.m. Feb. 28, and on entering the club he was handed an envelope by the hall porter. Inside the envelope plaintiff found a card, on the back of which was the date "4:30, 18. 2. 95," and on this card were written certain foul epithets, which formed the basis of the suit. Oscar Wilde was then called and he languidly arose from the solicitor's table, where he was seated, and entered the witness box. Wilde spoke with his customary drawl, leaning his arms upon the rail of the witness box and replying distinctly to the questions addressed to him. Counsel for the plaintiff asked the witness about the man to whom he had given £20 with which to pay his passage to America. Witness said: "The man told me he had been offered £60 for the letter, and I advised him to immediately accept it. But finally I gave him the money in order to relieve his distress and he gave me the letter."

The document referred to was here produced in court and was handed to Justice Collins. The cross-questioning was very severe and, though the witness emphatically denied having done anything improper, he became troubled and confused, so that at one time it seemed as though he was about to faint. His cross-examination was not finished when court adjourned for the day.

London, April 3.

Every available inch of the Old Bailey was occupied on April 3rd, when the hearing of the libel suit brought against the Marquis of Queensbury by Oscar Wilde was opened before Justice Collins. Wilde charged the Marquis with leaving, on February 28th, an uncovered letter at the Albemarle Club, on which was written certain foul epithets. As a result Wilde, on March 2, caused the arrest of the Marquis, and the latter, at Marlborough street police court, was placed under £1,500 bail.

The courtroom was to-day crowded with lawyers. Admission was obtained by tickets only, and the Sheriff in charge showed the representative of the Associated Press a pile of applications foot high, many being from well-known people, while rumours were current in London yesterday that Wilde had suddenly left the city to avoid being present in court to-day, and reports were also current that startling developments would arise to-day. But both these rumours were set at rest by the arrival in court of the principals to the suit. The Marquis, who wore a shabby overcoat was placed in the dock, and answered to the indictment by pleading first not guilty, and secondly that the libel was true and it was published for the public good.

The Marquis seemed unconcerned, and in replying to questions spoke quietly and clearly. Sir Edward Clarke, formerly Solicitor-General, in opening the case, said the card left at the Albemarle Club for Mr Wilde was one of the visiting cards of the Marquis of Queensberry. Continuing, the counsel said the gravest issues had been raised, as the defendant, in his pleadings, alleged that the plaintiff had for some time acted in a disgraceful way. Certain letters addressed by the plaintiff to Lord Alfred Douglas, the second son of the Marquis of Queensberry, were brought to the plaintiff by a man who said he was in distress, and Wilde gave him £20 with which to pay his passage to America. Another letter was handed to Beerbohm Tree, the actor, who gave it to the plaintiff.

Counsel then recounted the facts already known in the case, showing that Wilde, who had recently returned from Algiers, drove up to the Albemarle Club about 5 p.m., February 28, and on entering was handed an envelope by the hall porter, Sidney Wright, who said: "Lord Queensberry desired me, sir, to hand this to you when you came to the club." Inside the envelope the plaintiff found a card, on the back of which was written the date "4.30, 18, 2, 95," and on this card was written certain vile epithets, which formed the basis of the suit.

Oscar Wilde was called. He languidly arose from his solicitor's table, where he was seated, and entered the witness-box. The witness was faultlessly dressed in a black frock coat, and carried his gloves in his hand, showing his ringers covered with rings. He was very pale, but seemingly composed. Wilde spoke with his customary drawl, leaning his arms upon the rail of the witness-box and replying distinctly to questions.

The jury, which was composed of very intelligent men of elderly appearance, mainly prosperous tradesmen, eyed him with curiosity. The witness said that upon arriving at his house a few months ago he found two gentlemen waiting in the library. One was the Marquis of Queensberry, the other unknown to the plaintiff. The former said: "Sit down." I replied: "Lord Queensberry, I will not allow any one to talk that way in my house. I suppose you have come to apologise. Is it possible that you accuse me and your son of infamous vices?" He replied: "It looks that way."

The counsel for the plaintiff then asked the witness about the man to whom he had given £20 with which to pay his passage to America. The witness said: "The man told me he had been offered £50 for a letter, and I advised him to immediately accept it. But I finally gave him the money in order to relieve his distress, and he gave me the letter."

The document referred to was here produced in court and was handed to Justice Collins. The letter was to Lord Alfred Douglas, and the writer addressed him affectionately, and was signed "Oscar Wilde." Counsel, in explaining this letter, said it might seem extravagant to those in the habit of writing letters. But he added, "It was mere poetry." (Laughter.)

Interest in the case was increased when Sir Edward Clarke, upon finishing the direct examination, turned the witness over to E. H. Carson, Q.C., M.P., counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry, for cross-examination. Carson began the presentation of the case for the Marquis by reading passages from "Dorian Gray," one of Oscar Wilde's novels of modern life, to show that the author upheld all that he had been accused of, the plaintiff following the counsel with a copy of the book, and laughing at Carson's insinuations.

"The interpretation of my works does not concern me," said Wilde. "I do not care 'tuppence' for what Philistines think about me."

Carson severely repressed the levity of the witness, and began a more serious phase of cross-examination by questioning Wilde about his other vicious acts, and the questions were so pointed as to be unprintable. Wilde emphatically denied that he had done anything improper, but was troubled and confused under the terrible cross-examination to which he was subjected, and frequently drank water. In fact, he seemed ready to faint, and a chair was placed inside the witness stand for his use. Throughout the questioning of the plaintiff the Marquis of Queensberry stood facing him, and did not take his eyes off the man.

The cross-examination of Wilde was not finished when the Court adjourned at 5 p.m. A large crowd had assembled about the Old Bailey to see Wilde leave.

SECOND DAY.

There was unabated interest. The audience was largely composed of lawyers and reporters. There were few notable persons present.

The plaintiff arrived at an early hour and took a seat at the table reserved for solicitors. The Marquis of Queensberry entered a few minutes later, looking jaunty and confident. Several of his friends shook the defendant's hand as he entered the dock.

Oscar Wilde, upon resuming his place on the witness stand, admitted that he had attended tea parties in the rooms of a man named Taylor which were artistically furnished and in which perfumes were burning.

Wilde, in answer to questions, exhibited confusion and contradicted himself frequently. He also lost his temper. Carson's questions were in the main pitiless and unprintable. Carson's cross-examination of the plaintiff was concluded at noon, having lasted over six hours.

After the afternoon recess the crowd in the courtroom was larger than ever, and the hall and stairs leading to it were filled ten feet deep with well-dressed men in waiting. Wilde kept the court waiting ten minutes, for which he apologised to Justice Collins, saying he had been consulting his doctor.

After the production of other letters, the case for the plaintiff was closed, and Carson began his speech for the defence. It was terribly denunciatory of Wilde, who left the courtroom as soon as the counsel for the defendant began to speak. Lord Alfred Douglas was present in the court for a short time during the morning, but did not return in the afternoon.

The speech of Mr Carson, for the defence, lasted until the court adjourned at 5 p.m., and was not finished. He reviewed the evidence, point by point, denounced Wilde, and said the witnesses he would produce would prove beyond any doubt the guilt of the plaintiff.

Carson alluded in complimentary terms to the course of Beerbohm Tree in forwarding to the plaintiff a copy of the anonymous letter handed the English actor, whereupon Justice Collins said: "There is no occasion to mention the name of Beerbohm Tree." Carson in replay remarked: "Nor should I do so, my Lord, had it not been that I received a cable message from him to-day asking that his connection with the case be fully explained."

"Every one understands Mr Tree's connection with the case. It is in every way honourable and praiseworthy," said the Justice in conclusion. Wilde returned to the courtroom a few minutes before adjournment.

Among the letters produced and addressed by the Marquis of Queensberry to his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, was one saying Wilde "was a cur and a coward."

Most of the papers are printing the testimony in the suit almost verbatim, but the character of the testimony is such to-day that the "St. James Gazette" says: "The nature of the evidence and the whole circumstances of the case prove to be of such a character that we cannot repeat it.