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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, ENG., 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 Justice Collins. Wilde charges the Marquis with leaving on February 28 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 the latter, at Marlborough-street police court, was placed under £1500 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 a foot high, many being from well-known people, while rumors 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 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 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 Douglass, 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 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 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. 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 apologize. Is it possible that you accuse me and your son of infamous vices?" He replied: "It looks that way."

The counsel for 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 £60 for a letter, and I advised him to immediately accept it. But I finally gave him 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 Douglass, 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.