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LONDON, April 3 -- Every available inch of the Old Bailey was occupied this morning, when the libel suit brought against the marquis of Queensbury by Oscar Wilde, was opened before Justice Collins. Oscar Wilde charges the marquis with libel, by leaving on February 28, last, an uncovered card at the Albermarle club on which card was written certain foul epithets.

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 alleged libellous statement was true and that the matter was published for the public good. Letters addressed by Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglass, second son of the marquis of Queensbury, and all on questionable subjects were offered in evidence.

Oscar Wilde went on the stand and told of a visit of the marquis to him and of his saying that if Wilde was not guilty as charged on the card he looked like it.

An endearing letter written by Wilde to Lord Douglass was read by the judge.

The 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."

The counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry quoted from one of Oscar Wilde's novels of modern life, "Dorian Gray," to show that the author upheld unnatural admiration. Oscar said the description of "Dorian Gray" given on page 6 was taken from Shakespeare's sonnetts.

Mr. Carson, attorney for the Marquis, cross-examined Wilde and brought out the story of certain association with a newsboy, 18 years of age. Cross-examination regarding the 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. Cross-examination was not completed when court adjeurned.

LONDON, April 3. - Every available inch of the Old Bailey was occupied this morning when the Marquis 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 an uncovered card at the Albemarle Club, on which 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 Marlborough Street Police Court, was placed under £1500 bail.

Oscar Wilde arrived early, and his presence set at rest the rumor that he had suddenly left London to avoid being present. The Marquis of Queensberry, who wore a shabby over coat, was placed in the dock and answered the indictment by pleading, first, not guilty, and next, that the libel was true and it was published for the public good.

WILDE PAID FOR A LETTER.

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, and it was upon this that the libel was written. Continuing, counsel said 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. A certain letter addressed by the plaintiff to Lord Alfred Douglas, second son of the Marquis of Queensberry, was brought to the 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.

WILDE AS A WITNESS.

Oscar Wilde was then called, and he languidly arose and entered the witness box. The plaintiff was faultlessly dressed in a long black frock coat and carried his gloves in his hand, showing his 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 the questions.

The witness said that upon arriving at his house a few months ago he found two gentlemen waiting in the library. One of them was the Marquis of Queensberry and the other one was unknown to the plaintiff. The Marquis 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 a horrible crime?" He replied: "I do not say it; but you look like it and appear like it."

A "POETICAL" LETTER.

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 a 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. It read thus:

My Dear Boy: Your sonnet is quite lovely. Your rose-leaf lips seem made no less for the music of song than for the madness of kisses. Your slim, gilt soul walks betweens poetry and passion. I know that Hyacinthus, who was loved by Apollo, was you in the Greek days. Why are you alone in London and when do you go to. Salisbury? Do you sleep in the gray twilight of the Gothic things? Come here whenever you like, but go to Salisbury first. With undying love, OSCAR.

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

Interest in the case was heightened when Sir Edward Clarke, upon finishing the direct examination of his client, turned the latter over to E. H. Carson, Q. C., M. P., counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry for 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 that the author upheld certain forms of immorality, the plaintiff following the 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 every 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."

Replying to other questions put to him 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.

HIS VIEW OF LIFE.

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 of anything he wrote as of life.

"The interpretation of my works does not concern me," said Wilde. "I do not care a 'tuppence' for what the Philistines think about me." But Carson severely repressed the levity of witness and began the more serious phase of 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 a hotel at Brighton.

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

Mr. Carson here produced a silver cigarette case, a handsome silver-mounted cane and a book which Wilde admitted he had presented to the newsboy referred to.

The cross-examination then touched upon Wilde's relations with various boys and men. Wilde emphatically denied that he had done anything improper, but he 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 in the witness box.

The cross-examination of Wilde was not finished when the court adjourned for the day at 5 P.M.