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LONDON, April 3. - The town to-night talks in subdued tones. The topic requires it: Oscar Wilde and a scandal. The esthetic Oscar, he of the passion poems, was on the stand today in his libel suit against the Marquis of Queensberry. The dense crowd in the Old Bailey had waited long for his appearance. When, at last, a figure in a light blue overcoat appeared in company with Lawyer Humphrey, it was recognized as Wilde.

The poet looked bored. The crowd stared. Then the accused Marquis, wearing a frayed overcoat, was called to the dock. He was asked as to the truth of the charge against him. "Not guilty" came the answer. "The so-called libel is true, and I made it known in the interest of public morality." The Marquis spoke with a tremor of suppressed anger. As he took his seat he glared at Oscar. He clenched his hands and then started up suddenly from his seat, all ready in an instant to annihilate the esthetic one then and there. Others hastily interposed and the dignity of the Old Bailey did not suffer. But the Marquis looked more daggers at the poet.

Sir Edward Clarke, counsel for Wilde, mentioned the writing on a card by Queensberry, charging Wilde with gross immorality. He observed that other gentlemen were concerned in the same accusations, and that they would appear later. Edward spoke of Wilde paying the fare to America for a man named Wood, who made offensive statements against the poet based on letters written by Oscar to Lord Alfred Douglas. One of these prose sonnets was read in court. This letter, Sir Edward said, was merely an expression of high poetic sentiment, which the jury must remember emanated from one moving in artistic circles.

WILDE TAKES THE STAND.

Here Wilde took the stand. He testified in his usual drawl that he paid Wood’s fair to America at the latter's earnest entreaty. A man named Allen, he said, came to him claiming to have a damaging letter in his possession. One was a missive said to have been sent by Wilde to Actor Beerbohm Tree. Allen asked $300 for this. Wilde said he laughed at this demand, as he had never received that price for his own short prose writings. He told Allen he had better sell the letter to someone else. Subsequently he donated half a sovereign to Allen.

When the Marquis of Queensberry called at his house in 1893 Mr. Wilde asked him whether he had come to apologize, and Queensberry said "No." Wilde then asked the Marquis if he really accused him of what his suggestions implied, whereupon the Marquis replied: "If I ever catch you with my son again I will thrash you."

Mr. Wilde, continuing, said he replied to the Marquis: "I don't know Queensberry rules, but the Oscar Wilde rules are short and at sight. The letters you have written about me are infamous. You are trying to ruin your son through me." Then when they were in the hall he said to his servant: "This is the Marquis of Queensberry, the most infamous brute in London. Do not let him enter the house again."

Under the fire of cross-examination the poet became nervous and sought refuge frequently in drinking water. A chair was placed at his side, to be in readiness in case of possible collapse. The strain began with the questions touching on the morality of his passion writings. The Marquis' lawyer, Carson, opened fire by questioning passages from Wilde’s to novel, "Dorian Gray."

WORSE THAN IMMORAL.

Pressed to say whether the articles in the Chameleon were not immoral, Mr. Wilde replied: "They were worse; they were badly written."

Wilde frequently ran his fingers through his hair, a habit which is peculiar to him. Several times he propounded paradoxes to Mr. Carson, and in the course of the questioning contended that the letter addressed to Lord Alfred Douglas, which was read in court, was beautiful, but that it could not be judged as a letter apart from art. He denied that he had madly adored Lord Alfred, a man twenty years his junior. He did not adore anyone except himself, nor did he believe that any book affected the conduct of its reader.

"I don’t care tuppence what is thought about my writings," he said. "I don’t believe what I write."

BEERBOHM TREE’S CONTEMPT He Declines to Discuss the Matter of the Anonymous Letter.

WASHINGTON, April 3. – Beerbohm Tree, the English actor, was shown today a copy of the report of the hearing in the Queensberry-Wilde case, in which Mr. Tree is mentioned as having had in his possession a letter purporting to have been written by Wilde, and on which a man named Allen attempted to levy blackmail on the esthete.

"I know nothing more about the matter than is stated in the dispatch," said Mr. Tree; "but I always treat anonymous letters with contempt."

Mr. Tree declined to discuss the matter further.

London, April 5 — Oscar Wilde in his case of libel against the Marquis of Queensberry, testified that a man named Wood had either stolen or found some letters written by Mr. Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas. These letters were of no importance. Afterward, in response to a strong appeal from Wood, he gave him £15 with which to go to America. Later Allen brought him a copy of one of these letters which had been sent to Mr. Beerbohm Tree. Allen demanded £60 for the letter. Mr. Wilde laughed at him and refused to pay the money, saying he had never received as much as £50 for his own short prose writings. He told Allen he had better sell the letters to somebody else. Subsequently he gave Allen a half sovereign for himself. Mr. Tree had handed him (Wilde) what purported to be a copy of a letter written by Mr. Wilde. When the Marquis of Queensberry called at his house in 1893 Mr. Wilde asked him whether he had come to apologize, but Queensberry instead of apologizing declared that he (Wilde) had taken furnished rooms for Lord Alfred Douglas. Wilde asked the marquis if he really accused him of the crime implied, whereupon the marquis replied: "You look it, and if ever I catch you with my son again I’ll thrash you."

Mr. Wilde continuing, said he replied to the marquis: "I don’t know the Queensberry rules, but the Oscar Wilde rules are short and at sight. The letters you have written about me are infamous. You are trying to ruin your son through me. Then when we were in the hall I said to a servant: This is the Marquis of Queensberry, the most infamous brute in London. Do not let him enter the house again."

Mr. Wilde said it was absolutely untrue that he had taken rooms for Lord Alfred Douglas, or that he had stopped with him at the Savoy Hotel. He had no connection with the Chameleon and strongly disapproved of the article entitled, "Acolyte and Priest," which had been punished therein. As regarded "Dorian Grey, " Mr. Wilde said it had first appeared as a serial in Lippincott’s Magazine, but had been altered when published in book form.

Cross-examined by Mr. Carson, Mr. Wilde admitted that he had stayed with Lord Alfred Douglas, Mr. Cromer and Mr. Worthington at various hotels in London. He was aware that Lord Alfred had written articles in the Chameleon. One of them, entitled "Two Loves " he did not read as improper, though the "Loves" were boys. He regarded portions of "Priest and Acolyte" as disgusting but did not think it was blasphemous.

Referring to his publication, "Philosophy for the Young" Mr. Carson asked Mr. Wilde said that he believed that the realization of self was the primal end of life.

Carson asked Mr. Wilde if he believed what he had written. Mr. Wilde answered: "I rarely write what I believe is true."

Continuing Mr. Wilde said that he believed that the realization of self was the primal end of life.

Mr. Wilde continuing his testimony on cross-examination, said that the man Allen when endeavoring to obtain money for the copy of the letter in his possession, and remarked that it might bear a curious meaning. To this Mr. Wilde testified that he replied: "Art is rarely intelligible to the criminal classes."

Pressed to say whether the articles in the Chameleon were not immortal, Mr. Wilde replied: "They were worse, they were badly written." Throughout his testimony Mr. Wilde maintained perfect composure. He frequently ran his fingers through his hair, a habit which is peculiar to him. Several times he propounded paradoxes to Mr. Carson, and in the course of the questioning contended that the latter addressed to Lord Alfred Douglas, which was read in court, was beautiful, but that it could not be judged as a letter apart from art. He denied that he had madly adored "a man 20 years his junior," he did not adore anyone except himself, nor did he believe that any book affected the conduct of its reader.

Mr. Wilde said that he gave Wood the £15 because Lord Alfred had asked him to assist Wood. He admitted that he thought the matter was blackmail, yet he gave the man £5 besides his dinner the next day, and saw him off for America. He knew a youth named Shelly. He and Shelly had often dined together, and he had given Shelly £9 upon one occasion. He denied any misconduct with Shelly. He also knew a youth named Conway and had met young Worthing. He had given the latter a suit of clothes. Nothing of an important nature had occurred between himself and Conway or Worthing.

The cross-examination of Wilde yesterday revealed the fact that he attended afternoon tea parties at the house of a man named Taylor, where he met a youth named Mavari, who has since disappeared. Wilde was aware that Taylor had been arrested but he did not think Taylor was notorious because of his practices. Taylor had introduced him to five young men. Witness made young men presents because they were poor. Wilde said he knew two brothers named Parker. He had dined with them. He was not aware one was a valet and the other a groom. He had given one money on the occasion of his taking tea with him (Wilde) in the latter’s private rooms. When Taylor and one of the Parkers were arrested, they wore women’s clothes and were charged with felonious practices. Wilde said Taylor’s arrest did not affect witness’ friendship for him. Wilde knew a man named Atkins. They went to Paris and stopped together. Wilde paid the fares, but declared it was an infamous lie to say they were guilty of misconduct. Wilde knew a youth named Granger and became angry when asked if he had ever kissed Granger. He declared that counsel was insolent. This ended the cross-examination.

Counsel for the defence in opening declared that Queensberry wanted to save his son from Wilde, who, according to his own admission, was a friend of a man known to be a procurer of boys for vicious purposes. Counsel declared the letter from Wilde to Lord Douglas showed Wilde to be guilty.