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London, April 3. -- Every available inch of the Old Bailey was occupied this morning when the marquis of Quuensberry surrendered to bail and the libel suit brought against him by Oscar Wilde was opened before Justice Collins. Oscar Wilde charges the marpuis with libel by leaving on Feb. 28, last, an uncovered card at the Albemarle club on which card was written cartain 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 libel was true and that it was published for the public good.

Letters addressed by Oscar to Lord Alfred Douglas, second son of the marpuis of Queensbury, alleged 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 Queensbury with another gentleman of his (Wilde's) home. When they arrived, the marquis ordered Oscar to sit down, whereupon the latter replied: "Lord Queensbury, I will not allow anyone to talk that way in my house. I suppose you have come to apologize. Is is possible you accuse me and your son of "sodomy?"

Queensbury replied: "I did not say it, but you look lot it and appear like it."

A letter written by Oscar which was alleged to rfleect 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 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 marquis quoted from one of Oscar Wilde's novels of modern life, "Dorian Gray," to show that the author upheld isodomy. Oscar said the description of Dorpian Gray given on page six, was taken from Shakespeare's sonnets.

Carson, attorney for Queensbury, cross-examined Wilde and brought out a story of a certain intimacy with a newsboy 18-years of age. 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 Justice Collins. Wilde charges the Marquis with leaving on Feb. 28th, 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 the Marlborough street police court, was placed under £1,100 bail. The court room was today crowded with lawyers. Admission was obtained by tickets only, and the sheriff in charge showed a representative of the Associated Press a pile of applications a foot high.

Rumors were current in London yesterday that Wilde had suddenly left the 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 by the principals to the suit. The marquis who wore a shabby overcoat, was placed in the docket and answered to indictment by pleading first not guilty and second that the libel was true and published for the public good.

The Marquis seemed unconcerned and replying to the questions put to him he spoke quietly and clearly. Sir Edward Clark, formerly solicitor general, in opening the case said the card left at Albemarle for Mr. Wilde was one of the visiting cards of the Marquis Queensbury. Continuing counsel said the gravest issues had been raised, as the defendant in his pleadings alleged the plaintiff had for some time solicited persons named to commit indecent offenses. Certain letters addressed by plaintiff to Lord Alfred Douglas the second son of Marquis Queensbury, were brought to plaintiff by a man who said he was in distress and he gave him £20, with which to pay his passage to America. Another letter was handed to Mr. Beerboy M. Tree, an 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 Albemarle club at about 5 p.m. on Feb. 28 and on entering was handed an envelope by Porter Sidney Wright who said "Lord Queensberry desired me, sir, to hand this to you when you came to the club." In the envelope plaintiff found a card, and on this card were written certain foul epithets which formed the basis of the suit. Oscar Wilde was called. He languidly arose from the solicitors' table, where he was seated and entered the witness box. Plaintiff was faultlessly dressed in a black frock coat and carried his gloves in his hand showing his fingers to be covered with rings. He was very pale, but seemingly composed. The jury, which was composed of very intelligent men of elderly appearance, mainly prosperous tradesmen, eyed Wilde with curiosity.

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 Queensbury; the other was unknown to plaintiff. The former said: "Sit down." "I replied-"Lord Queensbury, 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 your son and me of sodomy?"

He replied, "I don't 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 20 pound with which to pay his passage to America. Witness said: "The man told me he had been offered 60 pounds for the letter and I finally gave him money in order to relieve his distress and he gave me the letter."

The document referred to was produced in court. It referred to "the rose red lips" of Lord Alfred Douglass and the writer addressed him as "my own boy." It 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.) The interest in the case was increased when Sir Edward Clarke, upon finishing the direct examination, turned the witness over to Mr. E. H. Carson Q.C., H.P., counsel for the Marquis of Queensbury, for cross-examination. Carson begun the presentation of the case for the marquis by reading passages from "Dora Gray," one of Oscar Wilde's novels, to show that the author upheld sodomy. Plaintiff was following counsel with a copy of the book and was laughing at Carson's insinuatios, Carson, addressing plaintiff, asked:

"Do you think that the description of Dora 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 'Dora 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."

Replying to question by Mr. Carson, Wilde said his letter to Lord Alfred was merely "poetical," and he added he had "undying love" for Lord Alfred, who, he claimed was his best friend. Witness denied having misconducted himself. In writing 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 was true. Indeed, he might say never.

The cross examination was very severe and brought out the great differences of ages between Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglass; how the two had visited various towns togther, and stopped at the Savoy hotel together, and how Lord Alfred visited Wilde's chamber.

Carson then drew out Wilde's opinions regarding literature in general, to which line of cross examination plaintiff made many smart responses in the same line as in his plays. The interpretation of my works does not concern me, said Wilde; I do not care twopence for what the Philistines think about me.

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

Carson here produced a silver cigarette case, a handsome 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 he had done anything improper, but he was troubled and confused under the terrible cross-examination. He seemed ready to faint, and a chair was placed inside the witness stand for his use. The Marquis of Queensbury stood facing him and did not take his eyes off of the man.

Cross-examination of Wilde was not finished when the court adjourned for the day at 5 p.m.

A large crowd of people assembled about the Old Bailey to see Wilde leave.