The Times - Saturday, April 6, 1895

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT:--Before Mr. Justice Collins, the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on a charge of having published a defamatory libel concerning Mr. Oscar Wilde was resumed. Mr. Carson, Q.C., continued his opening statement of the case for the defence, and was proceeding to discuss the prosecutor's relations with the young men whose names had been mentioned in his cross-examination, when Sir E. Clarke intervened and said the prosecution felt, in view of the facts already discussed in regard to the literature involved in the case and the admissions made by Mr. Wilde, that they could not expect to obtain a verdict: and they therefore asked that they might withdraw from the prosecution and submit of a verdict of "Not Guilty." Mr. Carson said he would be satisfied if the verdict established that Lord Queensberry had succeeded in his plea of justification. His Lordship assented. The jury, after a brief consultation, found that the plea of justification had been proved, and added that the alleged libel had been published for the public benefit. It was intimated that the defendant would have the costs. Lord Queensberry was then formally discharged amid applause in court. --Subsequently a warrant was granted against Mr. Wilde at Bow-street; and in the evening he was arrested at an hotel in the West-end and was taken to Bow-street, where he passed the night in the cells.