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London, Friday.

The trial of Oscar Wilde was resumed at the Old Bailey to-day. The prisoner, who betrayed tokens of the keenest anxiety, had a consultation with his counsel, and afterwards talked with Lord Douglas of Hawick before entering the dock

The Solicitor-General again raised the question of the withdrawal of the case as regarded Shelly, and contended that Mr Justice Collins laid it down in 1894, that evidence, even of an accomplice, could not be withdrawn from the jury

The Judge adhered to his decision.

Sir Edward Clarke, on behalf of the prisoner, said he had to deal with the remnants of the case. He animadverted upon the conduct of the case by counsel for the Crown, and said he should call Wilde to face, for the third time the cross-examination to which he might be subjected. He submitted that Wilde's conduct throughout had been that of an innocent man, and on the evidence he urged that the jury could only return a verdict of not guilty.

The prisoner then entered the witness-box and denied that there was any truth whatever in the charges made against him.

He was then cross-examined.

Witness admitted having met young men at Taylor's rooms. He went there because of his vanity and love of admiration. Charles Parker had visited him seven or eight times at 10 St James's place. Parker had lunched and dined with him alone. A man named Scarfe had also visited him there. He had taken a young man named Conway to Brighton, and had dined with Wood at the Cafe Royal in a private room. He had been to give Wood assistance. He ultimately gave Wood £15 because he wanted to go to America. He did not give him the money for the letters which Wood gave him. He had those letters. The evidence of the masseur and the chambermaid at the Savoy Hotel was wholly untrue.

This concluded the cross-examination and the court adjourned for lunch.

On resuming, the prisoner was re-examined by Sir Edward Clarke—He said until these trials he had no reason to believe Taylor was disreputable or immoral. With regard to the letters he obtained from Wood, he read the letters and found them of no importance.

There was nothing in them he objected to being published. There was no pretence for saying he gave Wood fifteen pounds for them.

Sir Edward then addressed the jury for the defence.

The Court adjourned.