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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 the hearing of the libel suit, brought against the marquis of Queensberry by Oscar Wilde, was opened before Jutice Collins. Wilde charges the marquis with leaving, February 23, an uncovered card 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 later, at Marlborough street police court, he was placed under £1,500 bail.

The courtroom was today 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 a foot high, many being from well-known people. Rumors were current in London yesterday that Wilde had suddenly left he city to avoid being present in court today, and reports were also current that startling developments would arise today, but both these rumors 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 docket and answered to the indictment by pleading first not guilty, and second that the libel was true and it was published for the public good.

The marquis seemed unconcerned, and, 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 Wilde was one of the visiting cards of the marquis of Queensberry.

Continuing, the counsel said that gravest issues had been raised, as defendant, in his pleadings, alleged that plaintiff had for some time solicited the persons named to commit indecent offenses. Certain letters addressed by the plaintiff to Lord Alfred Douglass, the second son of the marquis of Queensberry, were brought to 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 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 at about 5 p. m. February 28, and on entering was handed an envelope by the hall porter, Sydney Wright, who said: "Lord Queensberry desired me, sir, to hand this to you when you came to the club." Inside of the envelope the 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 called. He languidly rose from the solicitor's table, where he was seaed, and entered the witness box. Plaintiff was faultlessly dressed in a black frock coat and carried his gloves in his hand, showing fingers 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. Witness said that upon arriving at the house a few months ago he found two gentleman waiting in the library. One was the marquis of Queensberry, the other was unknown to the plaintiff. The former said, "Sit down." I replied, "Lord Queensberry, I will not allow anyone to talk that way in my house. I suppose you have come to apologize. Is it possible that you accuse me and your son of sodomy?"

He replied, "I do not say it, but you look like it, and appear like it."

Counsel for plaintiff then asked witness about the man to whom he had given the £20 pounds with which to pay his passage to America.

Witness said: "The man told me he had been offered £60 for a letter, and I advised him to immediately accept it, but I finally gave him the money in order to relieve his distress. He gave me the letter." The document referred to was here produced in court and was handed Justice Collins. The letter referred to the "rose-red lips" of Lord Alfred Douglass, 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 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 his direct examination, turned the witness over to E. H. Carson, Q. C., M. P., for cross-examination. Carson began the presentation of his case for the marquis by reading a passage from "Dorian Gray," one of Oscar Wilde's novels on modern life, to show that the author upheld sodomy, the plaintiff following counsel with a copy of the book and laughing at Carson's insinuation.

Carson, addressing plaintiff, asked, "Do you think 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 the 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 hand, with seeming enjoyment.

Wilde testified that the man to whom he gave £20, on receipt of the letter, in which he referred to the "rose-red lips" of Lord Douglass, which amount was used to pay his passage to America, was named Wood.

Replying to a question by Mr. Carson, Wilde said 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. Wood, he added, was introduced to him by Lord Alfred, who asked him to be a friend of the man. Wilde and Wood, it was shown also by cross-examination, addressed each other by their Christian names. It was also developed that in his writings he did not concern himself to produce morality or immorality. He had no purpose and was concerned merely with literature, beauty, wit and emotion. He rarely thought of anything he wrote as true, indeed, he might say lover, in regard to Dorian Gray.

Sir Edward Clarke excepted to Carson's cross-examination of his client on that novel, as is appeared in Lippincott's Magazine, and was not published in England.

Wilde thereupon stepped from the witness box and whispered a few words to his counsel, after which Sir Edward Clarke withdrew the exception. The cross-examination was very severe and brought out the great differences in the ages of Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglass (the former was born in 1856, the latter in 1870); how they had visited various towns together, stopped at the Savoy hotel together, and how Lord Alfred visited Wilde's chamber.

MORE DIRTY EVIDENCE.

Carson then drew out Wilde's opinion regarding literature in general, to which line of cross-examination plaintiff made many 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."

Carson severely repressed the levity of witness and began a more serious phase of the cross-examination by questioning Wilde about his intimacy with a newsboy 18 years of age, belonging to Worthing, and brought out the fact that Wilde took the boy to the Hotel Brighton.

"Why did you seek the boy's society?" asked Carson. "Was it for an intellectual treat?" "Oh, he was a bright, careless, amusing creature," replied Wilde.

Carson here produced a silver cigarette case, a handsome cane and a book, which Wilde admitted he had given the newsboy.

The cross-examination then touched upon Wilde's relations with various boys and men, and the questions were so pointed as to be unprintable. Wilde, however, 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 of the witness stand for his use. Throughout the questioning of plaintiff the marquis of Queensberry stood eying 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.