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LONDON, April 6. -- Although Oscar Wilde is languishing in jail as a criminal without bail on a heinous charge, he still has a number of influential friends who are zealous in his defense, notwithstanding that they are intimate enough with him to know most of the secrets of his private life. Lord Douglas of Hawick, second and eldest living son of the Marquis of Queensberry, is one of these. He is altogether the manliest-looking of the family. Before the death of his elder brother. Viscount Drumlanrig, he was well and favorably known as plain Percy Douglas. He has an unsmirched reputation, and entirely differs in every respect from his effeminate next younger brother. Lord Alfred Douglas. Since his return from Australia last Fall Lord Douglas of Hawick has been an almost constant associate of Oscar Wilde. He is willing at any time to go upon the witness stand in Wilde's behalf, and is vehement in his denunciation of Wilde's counsel for having withdrawn the suit.

London, April 6.—Although Oscar Wilde is languishing in jail as a criminal without bail on a heinous charge, he still has a number of influential friends, who are zealous in his defense, notwithstanding that they are intimate enough with him to know most of the secrets of his private life. Lord Douglas, of Hawaick, second and eldest living son of the Marquis of Queensberry, is one of these. He is altogether the manliest looking of the family. Before the death of his elder brother, Viscount Drumlaneyg, he was well and favorably known as plain Percy Douglas. He has an unsmirched reputation and entirely differs in every respect from his effeminate next young brother, Lord Alfred Douglass.

Since his return from Australia last fall Lord Douglas, of Hawaick, has been an almost constant associate of Oscar Wilde. In an interview this afternoon he said that every one in his family, excepting his father, has refused to believe the accusations against Wilde. He himself, he said, was willing at any time to go upon the witness stand in Wilde’s behalf, and he was vehement in his denunciation of Wilde’s counsel for having withdrawn the suit.

One thing is certain, however, that no matter what may be the outcome of the case, whether Wilde goes free or is sent to prison, the death-knell of Wildeism has been rung and the corpse is prepared for burial. The prurient plays of Wilde and the cognate productions, "The Second Ms. Tanqueray" and "The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith," which are now called "Pinerotic," are doomed and there is a strong reaction toward a healthier treatment of stage representation, while the current decadent literature will also get a setback.

Archibald Edward Douglas, brother of the Marquis of Queensberry, has written a letter repudiating the statement made to-day in the course of an interview, by Lord Douglas, of Hawaick, eldest living son of the marquis, to the effect that no member of the family except his father believes the charges against Wilde. In refutation of this statement, the writer of the letter says:"My mother, my sister, and myself believe the allegations made against Oscar Wilde."

The charge against Wilde in the meantime is being prosecuted under the criminal law amendment act, under which his offense is a misdemeanor, the maximum penalty being two years for each conviction.

Oscar Wilde’s Arraignment.

Oscar Wilde’s friend, Taylor, was arrested and taken to the Bow street police station this morning.

Oscar Wilde was arraigned before a magistrate this morning, charged with inciting young men to commit a foul crime, and also with having actually committed the crime himself.

When Wilde was arraigned in the Bow street police court this morning Alfred Taylor was also placed in the prisoners’ dock, charged with being accessory to Wilde’s crimes. As Taylor stepped into the dock Wilde smilingly recognized him. Taylor is a man of medium size, with sharp features, and a fair complexion. Charles Parker, 19 years of age, was the first witness examined. He gave in detail the particulars of his introduction to Wilde by Taylor, and stated that the latter said Wilde was "good for money." Parker testified that he had frequently dined with Wilde at various restaurants, and detailed the conversation between them on these occasions.

He also told of visits to the Savoy Hotel with Wilde, and of meeting Wilde at his chambers in St. James’ place. He made frequent visits to the latter place. Parker described the conduct of himself and Wilde at these meetings, and swore that he had received money and other presents upon almost every occasion. The story told by Parker, if true, proves the case of the treasury against Wilde.

William Parker, a brother of the first witness, called, was placed on the stand and confirmed the story of the first meeting between his brother and Wilde in March, 1893, Charles Parker was bound over in the sum of £85 to give evidence in the Old Bailey proceedings.

The landlady of the house in which Taylor lodged, was next examined, and gave testimony regarding the youths who attended the tea parties given by Taylor. She said she had heard Taylor address somebody as Oscar, but did not recognize Wilde as having been one of her lodger’s visitors.

Wood’s Relations with the Poet.

Alfred Wood, the man whose passage to America was paid by Wilde, upon being sworn, testified that he met Wilde at the Cafe Royal, in January, 1893. He went to Wilde’s house, No. 16 Tite street, Chelsea southwest, where he remained with Wilde in a bedroom for three hours. WItness described in detail what occurred during this time. He said he was drunk at the time of this visit. He also stated that Wilde had often given him money and had visited him at his lodgings, but strenuously denied that any wrong doing had occurred during these visits.

In regard to this point the witness was strongly pressed by the magistrate, but reiterated his denials of misconduct, saying that Wilde had simply called upon him. Continuing, the witness said Wilde had given him altogether £35, upon the receipt of which sum he had handed over to Wilde a number of letters written by him. Subsequently, he went to America, remaining abroad fourteen months. He desired to go to America, he said, to get away from Wilde and certain other persons who are now absent from England.

The next witness was a youth named Mayor, who absolutely denied that he had been guilty of any misconduct with Wilde and also denied positively that he had admitted to the Marquis of Queensberry or the latter’s solicitor, that there had been anything wrong in his relations with Wilde.

Wilde and Taylor were remanded in custody. A request was made that the prisoners be admitted to bail, but bail was refused.

The Westminster Gazette, commenting on the result of Wilde’s prosecution of the Marquis of Queensberry, says: "The case proves that it is untrue to say that art has nothing to do with morality. Wilde’s art rests on a basis of rottenness and corruption."