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LONDON, April 3. -- The approaches to the central criminal court were crowded this morning in anticipation of sensational developments growing out of trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on the charge of libelling Oscar Wilde, the apostle of aestheticism. Tickets, however, had been issued by the clerk of the court for almost the entire seating capacity, a fact which was greeted with hoots and yells when it became known to the besieging throng. The favoured ticketholders were about equally divided between "the middle classes" and the "dipper ten;" hence the court room presented a much more attractive presence than is usually the case. The marquis and his accuser were among the earliest on the scene. Both sides were represented by formidable array of counsel, the marquis having as his leading attorney, Mr. Carson, M.P., queen's counsel. The case against the marquis is that on the 18th of February last he gave to the porter of the Albemarle club a card to be delivered to Oscar Wilde on which a sentence that constitutes the alleged libel. This card was not read or shown to the press at the preliminary investigation, and its content are known only to the principals and lawyers in the case. It is in fact doubtful whether the exact language will be made public in court to-day. The Marquis claims that he wrote the card to "save his son," Lord Alfred W. Douglas who has been very intimate with Oscar Wilde for several years past. The peculiar nature of the defense and the language employed suggests the notorious Cleveland street scandal of some years since, and the atrocious practices which at that time were exposed. Lord Queensberry pleads justification in reply to the indictment, asserting that it was necessary to the morality of his son to put a stop to his relations with Wilde. It is said, that the names of certain young members of the nobility, including one of exalted birth, may be brought into the case, if the defense be hard-pressed. Judge Collins, recently appointed to the criminal court, presides over the trial. In case of conviction, the sentence will probably be a heavy fine, although it is within the discretion of the judge, to impose a term of imprisonment.

Oscar Wilde charges the marquis with libel, by leaving on February 28, last, an uncovered card at the Albermale club, on which card was written certain foul epithets.

The marquis, who wore a shabby overcoat, was placed in the docket 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.

Letters, addressed by Oscar to Lord Alfred Douglas, second son of the Marquis of Queensberry, alleging to contain information that the plaintiff had solicited persons named to commit indecent offenses were presented.

Oscar Wilde took the stand and testified to a visit of the Marquis of Queensberry with another gentleman to his (Wilde's) home. When they arrived, the marquis ordered Oscar to sit down, whereupon the latter replied: "Lord Queensberry, I will not allow any one to talk that way in my house. I suppose you have come to apologize. Is it possible that you accuse your son and me of sodomy?"

Queensberry replied: "I don't say it, but you look like it, and appear like it."

A letter written by Oscar, which was alleged to reflect seriously upon Oscar's relations to Lord Douglas, referring to the latter as having "rose, red lips" and addressing him as "my own boy," and signed "With undying love, Oscar," was read by the judge.

Counsel, amid much laughter, explained that the letter might seem extravagant to those who were in the habit of writing commercial letters, but he added, it was "mere poetry."

Counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry quoted from one of Oscar Wilde's novels of modern life, "Dorian Gray," to show the author upheld sodomy. Oscar said the description of Dorian Gray, given on page 6, was taken from Shakespeare's sonnets.

Carson, attorney for Queensberry, cross-examined Wilde and brought out the story of certain intimacy with a newsboy 18 years of age. The cross examination regarding various other boys and men were so pointed as to be unprintable. To all of them, however, Wilde emphatically denied that he had done anything improper. The cross-examination was not completed when the court adjourned.

LONDON, April 3. -- Every available inch of the Old Bailey was occupied this morning when 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, on February 28 last, an uncovered card at the Albemarle club, on which were written certain foul epithets. As a result, Oscar 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. The aisles of the old court-room, were crowded with lawyers. Admission was obtained by ticket only, and the sheriff in charge showed the representative of the Associated Press a pile of applications a foot-high, many being from well-known people. Rumors were current in London yesterday that Oscar Wilde had suddenly left the city in order to avoid being present in court to-day, and reports were also current that a startling development would arise to-day. But both of these rumors were set at rest by the arrival in court of the principals to the suit.

The Marquis Called.

The Marquis of Queensberry, 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 that it was published for the public good. The Marquis seemed quite unconcerned, and, replying to the questions put to him, he 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. Continuing, counsel said that the gravest issues had been raised as the defendant in his pleadings alleged that the plaintiff had for some time solicited persons named to commit indecent offenses. 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 Mr. 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. on February 28, and, on entering the club, received an envelope from the hall porter, Sidney Wright, who said that the Marquis of Queensberry had desired him to hand it to Mr. Wilde. The exact words were: "Lord Queensberry desired me, sir, to hand this to you when you came to the club." 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.

Wilde on the Stand.

Oscar Wilde was then called, and he languidly arose from the solicitor's table, at which he had been seated, and entered the witness box. The plaintiff was faultlessly dressed, in a long, black frock coat, and carried his gloves in his hands, showing his fingers to be covered with rings. He was very pale, but was seemingly composed. 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. 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 moments ago he found two gentlemen awaiting in the library. One of them was the Marquis of Queensberry and the other one was 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 apologize. Is it possible that you accuse your son and me of crime?"

He replied: "I don't say it, but you look like it, and appear like it."

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. 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 handed to Justice Collins. The letter referred to the "rose-red lips" of Lord Alfred Douglas, and the writer addressed him as "my own boy," and asked, "Why are you alone in London?" The letter was signed "With undying love, Oscar."

Counsel, in explaining this letter, said that it might seem extravagant to those who were in the habit of writing commercial letters, but, he added, it was "mere poetry."

"Dorian Gray" In Evidence

Interest in the case was heightened when Sir Edward Clarke, upon finishing the direct examination of his client, turned the letter over to E. H. Carson, Q. C, M. P., counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry, for cross examination. Mr. 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 the character of the author, the plaintiff following counsel with a copy of the book, and laughing at Mr. Carson's insinuation. Mr. Carson, addressing the plaintiff, asked:

"Do you think that the description of 'Dorian Gray,' given on page 6 is, a moral one?" "Yes," replied Wilde, "just what an artist would notice in a beautiful personality." "Did you ever adore, madly, as described in 'Dorian Gray,' any person of the male sex younger than yourself?" was Mr. Carson's next question. In reply Wilde said: "I took the idea from Shakespeare's sonnets."

During this portion of the proceedings, the Marquis of Queensberry followed his counsel with a copy of "Dorian Gray", in his hands, with seeming enjoyment.

Wilde testified to the fact that the man to whom he gave £20 on the receipt of the letter in which he had referred to the "rose red lips" of Lord Alfred Douglass, which amount was used to pay his passage to America, was named Wood. Replying to other questions by Mr. Carson, Wilde said that the letter to Lord Alfred was "merely poetical," and he added that he had "undying love" for Lord Alfred, who, he claimed, was his best friend. The witness denied having misconducted himself with Wood. The latter, he added, was introduced to him by Lord Alfred Douglass, who asked him to befriend the man. Wilde and Wood, it was also shown by the cross-examination, addressed each other by their Christian names.

Cross-Examination of Wilde.

Cross-examination was very severe, and brought out the great difference in the ages of Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglass (the former was born in 1856 and the latter in 1870), how the two had visited various towns together, stopped at the Savoy hotel together, and how Lord Alfred visited Wilde's chambers in St James Place, which the plaintiff maintains in addition to his house at No. 16 Tite street. Mr. Carson then drew out Wilde's opinions regarding literature in general, to which line of cross-examination the plaintiff made many smart responses in the same line as in his plays.

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

It was also developed during the cross-examination of Wilde that in writing he did not concern himself to produce morality or immorality. He had no purpose in the matter, and was concerned merely with literature, beauty, wit and emotion. He rarely thought if anything he wrote was true, indeed, he might say never, in regard to "Dorian Gray." Sir Edward Clarke objected to Mr. Carson's cross-examination of his client on that novel as it appeared in Lippincott's Magazine, not as it was published in England. Wilde thereupon descended from the witness-box and whispered a few words to his counsel, after which Sir Edward Clarke withdrew his objection.