OSCAR WILDE'S LIBEL CASE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9073, 8 April 1895, Page 5

OSCAR WILDE'S LIBEL CASE.

VERDICT FOR THE DEFENDANT. OSCAR WILDE ARRESTED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Loxdox, April 5. The charge of libel against the Marquis of Queensberry fiuishcl today, a verdict of " Not Guilty " returned. The jury considered that the charges made by tho Marquis of Queensberry were for the public benefit. Wilde's counsel withdrew from the case. Wilde himself loft the Court while his counsel was explaining that the plaintiff's literature and letters justified the plea of the defence that Wilde posed as an immoral person. He explained that the reason ho withdrew from the case was so as to avoid the appalling evidence which would Le adduced. The verdict war* received with loud cheers. It is expected that Wilde will bo arrested. No warrant has yet been applied for, but counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry has sent the Public Prosecutor a r.tatcment of the witnesses and note:: on the evidence in order to prevent a miscarriage of justice. Oscar Wilde has been arrested. April 6. Oscar Wilde publishes a letter stating that he abandoned the case in order to avoid placing Lord Douglas in the witness box. After the warrant had been issued for Wilde's arrest the police detained three essential witnesses. Lord Alfred Douglas and two men remained in conference with Wilde at the Viaduct Hotel, Holborn, for several hours after the trial, and lunched together in a private room. Subsequently they drove to a Bank, where Wilde withdrew a large sum of money. Hβ was then lost sight of until arrested in the evening at an hotel in. Sloane street. Lord Alfred Douglas was much distressed when he found he was unable to bail him out. After tho trial the Marquis of Queensbury sent Wilde a message stating he would shoot him if he took his son abroad. Taylor also has been arrested, and will be charged in conjunction with Wilde. The latter's name has been withdrawn from the play-bills of the London and American theatres.