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London, April 4. -- There was unabated interest today at the Old Bailey in the taking of testimony on the second day of the suit of libel brought by Oscar Wilde against the marquis of Queensbury. Oscar upon resuming his jlace on the witness stand, admitted that he had attended tea parties in the rooms of a man named Taylor, which were artistically furnished and in which perfumes were burning. He denied any improper relations having been permitted there. Wilde in his answer to questions put to him exhibited confusion and contradicted himself frequently.

Queensbury's attorney, Carson, plied him with questions which were in the main pitiless and unprintable. The cross-examination was concluded at noon, after having lasted six hours. Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for Wilde, then began the examination of his client by putting in evidence certain letters of the marquis in which he called upon his son Lord Alfred Douglas, to cease his "infamous relations" with the plaintiff, saying that his blood turned cold at the sight of their "infamous faces." He added: "I hear that Wilde's wife will petition for divorce on the ground of unnatural crime. If you do not cease to let him disgrace us, I shall feel justified in shooting him on sight."

To this letter Lord Alfred replied: "What a funny little man you are."

After the production of other letters the case for the plaintiff was closed. Carson began his speech for the defense. It was terribly denunciatory of Wilde, who left the court-room.

Most of the newspapers are printing the testomony verbatim, but the character of the testimony is such today that the St. James Gazette says: The nature of the evidence and the whole circumstances of the case prove to be of such a character that we cannot repeat it. The English public is at the present moment involved in one of the worst orgies of indecency permitted by the operation of open law courts and an enterprising press."

London, April 30.

The trial was continued to-day at the Criminal Assizes of Oscar Wilde and his alleged accomplice Taylor. The greatest public interest continues to be taken in the proceedings, and the court was crowded with spectators.

Shortly after his Honor took his seat on the bench this morning it was announced by counsel for the prosecution that it had been decided to abandon the charge of conspiracy against Wilde and Taylor, and this portion of the indictment was, therefore, withdrawn.

The taking of evidence on separate charges of misdemeanor against Wilde and of felony against Taylor was then proceeded with.

Oscar Wilde entered the witness-box and gave evidence on his own behalf. He gave an absolute and emphatic denial to the allegations of indecent conduct between himself and Taylor or any other person. He referred to the intimacy which had existed between himself and Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the Marquis of Queensberry, and declares that his relations with Lord Alfred were merely of the nature of a deep spiritual affection, as pure as perfect, and of a character similar to that which existed between David and Jonathan. The intimacy was purely one based on the lines of Plato's philosophy. Referring to his dealings with the other accused, Taylor, he said that the latter's rooms, which had been described as being draped with heavy curtains and closed to the light of day, while the atmosphere was laden with perfumes of a varying and seductive nature, were merely appointed as the apartments of a Bohemian. In conclusion he asserted that the evidence he had given as plaintiff in the charge of criminal libel preferred against the Marquis of Queensberry was absolutely true.

The prisoner Taylor also gave evidence on his own behalf. He stated that some time ago he had inherited £45,000. When he became possessed of the money he spent it freely and lived a life of pleasure. His expenditure was so great that the whole of his heritage disappeared, and he was ultimately compelled to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Court. After that he enlisted in the army. With reference to the present charge he denied the evidence given by the two witnesses Parker as to the allegations of his abominable practices.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., counsel for the prisoner Wilde, addressed the jury. His speech, which was a passionate appeal on behalf of his client, occupied two hours in delivery. He severely criticised the various points in the evidence, and described some of the witnesses as blackmailers upon whose testimony no reliance could be placed. Referring to Wilde's intimacy with youths much his social inferiors, Sir Edward asserted that they were entertained by his client because they ministered to Wilde's vanity and pleased him. In concluding his address he appealed eloquently to the jury to find a verdict of acquittal, and clear the character of a renowned and accomplished man, and, by clearing him, clear society of the stain which the scandal had inflicted upon it.

The following incidents in the trial of the libel suit, Oscar Wilde v. the Marquis of Queensberry, are to hand by the American mail yesterday. The hearing of the libel case started at the Old Bailey on April 3:—

When Wilde was called he languidly arose from the solicitors' table, where he was seated, and entered the witness-box. The plaintiff was faultlessly dressed, and carried gloves in his hand, showing 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.

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 the offence alleged, the plaintiff following counsel with a copy of the book and laughing at Carson's insinuations.

During this portion of the proceedings the Marquis of Queensberry followed his counsel with a copy of "Dorian Gray" in his hands with seeming enjoyment.

The cross-examination was very severe and brought out the great differences in the ages of Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas (the former was born in 1866, the latter in 1870), how the two had visited various towns together and had been much in one another's company.

Carson then drew out Wilde's opinion regarding literature in general, to which line of cross-examination the witness 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 'tuppence' for what Philistines think about me."

Carson severely repressed the levity of the witness and began a more serious phase of cross-examination. Wilde emphatically denied that he did 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.

Wilde, in his answers to the questions, exhibited confusion and contradicted himself frequently. He also lost his temper. Carson's questions were pitiless.

Carson's cross-examination of the plaintiff lasted over six hours.

Sir Edward Clarke, counsel for Wilde, then examined his client by putting in certain letters from the Marquis of Queensberry in which he called upon his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, to cease his "infamous intimacy" with the plaintiff, saying his "blood turned cold at the sight of their infamous faces." He added: "I hear that Wilde's wife will petition for a divorce. If you do not cease letting him disgrace us I shall feel justified in shooting him on sight."

To this letter Lord Alfred replied: "What a funny little man you are."

After the noon recess on April 4 the crowd in the courtroom was larger than ever, and the hall and stairs leading to it were filled 10 deep with well-dressed men.

Wilde kept the court waiting 10 minutes, for which he apologised to Justice Collins, saying he had been consulting his doctor.

After the production of other letters the case for the plaintiff was closed, and Carson began his speech for the defence. It was terribly denunciatory of Wilde, who left the courtroom as soon as counsel for the defendant began to speak.

The speech of Mr. Carson for the defence lasted until court adjourned at 6 p.m., and was not then finished. He reviewed the evidence point by point, denounced Wilde, and said the witnesses he would produce would prove beyond any doubt the guilt of the plaintiff.

Mr. Carson alluded in complimentary terms to the course of Beerbohn Tree in forwarding to the plaintiff a copy of an anonymous letter handed the English actor, whereupon Justice Collins said:

"There is no occasion to mention Beerbohn Tree's name?"

Carson, in reply, remarked: "Nor should I do so, my Lord, had it not been that I received a cable message from him to-day asking that his connection with the case be fully explained."

"Everyone understands Mr. Tree's connection with the case. It is in every way honorable and praiseworthy," said the justice in conclusion.

Wilde returned to the courtroom a few minutes before adjournment.

Among the letters produced and addressed by the Marquis of Queensberry to his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, was one saying that Wilde "was a cur and a coward of the worst type."

A special despatch from London on April 5 said:—The career of Oscar Wilde ended to-day in the blackest infamy. All London is saying to-night that it is a pity the miserable creature had not sufficient pluck to blow out his brains before the police seized him and put him behind bolts and bars to await punishment for crimes of which he is already proved guilty.

Those who were his friends until his guilt was established by his own admissions under yesterday's merciless cross-examination, urged him last night to take the shortest road to oblivion, which they declared was the proper sequel to the exposure of his character. The poor fool imagined it still possible to brazen it out, so he persuaded his lawyer, who refused to go on with the case, to bring the trial to a close by withdrawing the charges against Lord Queensberry.

This was done, and then the fact was brought home to Wilde that although nominally prosecutor, it was he, and not the Marquis of Queensberry, who was really on trial. Even the prompt verdict of the jury declaring explicitly that the infamous charge against him was true did not make the strange creature realise his position.

He wrote a note to an evening newspaper declaring that he was unable to prove his innocence, except by patting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness-box, and that he preferred to suffer shame rather than allow the son to testify against the father.

This was simply imbecile, because nothing has been adduced in the trial about the relations between Wilde and Lord Douglas. There is reason to believe the disgraced man was prepared to flee from the country, but the English law for once acted with commendable promptness. Red tape was cut. The Public Prosecutor applied for a warrant within two hours after the dramatic collapse of the case in court, and to-night the man who a few days ago was a pampered exquisite lies on a plank bed in an eight-by-four cell in the Bow-street police station.

The charge against him, for some reason not explained, is not felony, but misdemeanor, and the maximum penalty is two years at hard labor, but the Grand Jury may change the indictment to a more serious offence.

Many seats which had been purchased at the Haymarket and St. James Theatres, where Wilde's plays, "The Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being Earnest," are running, were empty tonight. The audiences were small and there was a smaller proportion of ladies than usual, but no demonstration of any kind.

The CHRONICLE says:—It suffices us to know as some return for undamming the public tidal wave that our life is rid forever of a pestiferous poser of decadence, which has received its death blow, and the way is cleared for increased wholesomeness in life. We seem for some unhappy purpose to have been shuddering witnesses of a revival of society under the late Roman empire, or against the dark background of the Italian Renaissance.