The National Police Gazette - Saturday, June 8, 1895

For the second time in the past three months the Marquis of Queensberry has appeared in a police court. This last time he was with his eldest son, Lord Douglas, of Hawick, whom he had punched vigorously on the street the evening before, and who had a reminder of the family quarrel in the shape of a beautiful black eye. If ever young Lord Douglas got it into his head that he could successfully cope with his sportive parent, he has had now a good opportunity to change his mind.

The Marquis was crossing over Piccadilly, in the direction of Albemarle street, where his hotel be situated, on the evening of the fracas, when he was met by his son, who appeared to be in an excited condition, and apparently without any preliminary beyond asking his father how he dared send insulting letters to Lady Douglas, pushed, rather than struck, the elder man. The latter was staggered somewhat, and his hat fell off, but recovering himself, he struck out at his son.

At this juncture a policeman appeared on the scene, and putting his arm between the two, request them both to refrain from making a scene.

Lord Douglas, however, in returning his father’s blow, struck the policeman violently in the mouth, though, of course, only accidentally.

After a short discussion the gentleman in blue somewhat wisely retired from the scene, but the combatants a few yards further along Piccadilly, resumed their verbal altercation, and eventually came again to actual blows.

In short, in the sharp encounter which followed, the author of the Queensberry rules put his pugilistic theories into practice, and, when the police, who had by this time reappeared, separated them, Lord Douglas of Hawick was the possessor of a scientifically discolored eye. Both representatives of the noble house of Douglas were then incumbently marched off to the Vine street police station, where a charge of disorderly conduct was preferred against them. As they were perfectly well known they were allowed to depart when they had entered into their own recognizances to the sum of £2 to appear in court in the morning.

When they were arraigned in the Marlborough Police Court both men were placed in the dock together to respond to a charge of disorderly conduct and fighting on the street.

The Marquis said that his son was the aggressor having first assaulted him, and that he only struck back in self-defense.

Lord Douglas of Hawick, said he merely desired his father’s assurance that he would cease writing obscene letters to his (Hawick’s) wife reviling her husband. His aim in meeting his father was to stop these foul and obscene communications.

Lord Queensberry objected to the letters in question being called obscene. Hearing that Oscar Wilde was residing with Lord Douglas he went to the latter’s house and obtained the assurance of his daughter-in-law that his younger son, Lord Alfred Douglas, was not there also. He thereupon ceased writing letters to Lord Douglas’ wife.

Lord Douglas’ lawyer wished to read the letters in question, but the magistrate would not allow it. The lawyer said that at the conclusion of Taylor’s trial the Marquis of Queesnberry had sent a telegram to Lord Douglas and his wife which was as follows:

"I must congratulate you on the result of the trial. I cannot on Percy’s appearance. He looks like a dug up corpse. I fear he has had too much madness of kissing. Taylor guilty. Wilde’s turn tomorrow.

"QUEENSBERRY".

Both the Marquis and his son were bound in sureties of £500 each to keep the peace for six months. The marquis, who wore a fresh boutonniere and prosecuted a very jaunty appearance, admitted that he had offered to fight his son, Lord Douglas of Hawick, anywhere or at any time for £1,000. Lord Douglas showed a very black eye as the result of his encounter with his father, but the latter did not show a mark. The crowd cheered the Marquis as he drove away in a cab, and as earnestly hissed and hooted Lord Douglas as he took his departure.

The Marquis went directly from the Marlborough Street Police Station to the Old Bailey Court, where he was an attentive listener at the trial of Oscar Wilde.

San Francisco Chronicle - Thursday, May 23, 1895

LONDON, May 22. - Yesterday's report that the Marquis of Queensberry and his son, Lord Douglas, were engaged in a fight in Piccadilly is erroneous in respect to the younger party. It was the elder son, Lord Douglas of Hawick, who was the antagonist. Both were arraigned in the Marlborough-street Police Court this morning and placed in the dock together to answer the charge of disorderly conduct and fighting in the street.

Both the Marquis of Queensberry and Lord Douglas of Hawick were fashionably dressed. The Marquis wore a rose in his buttonhole and did not show any signs of yesterday's fight. On the other hand, his son had a black eye. The Marquis was not defended by counsel, but had a lawyer present to attend to his interests.

The police evidence regarding the encounter between the father and son in Piccadilly yesterday afternoon was first given. The disturbance was described as having taken place near the corner of Bond street. A few words were exchanged and a brief but very determined conflict followed. The combatants were soon separated by the police, who escorted them to the nearest police station, where they were charged with disorderly conduct. Neither the father nor the son would prefer a charge against the other.

In his defense, the Marquis of Queensberry said that while he was walking in Piccadilly his son, Lord Douglas of Hawick, came running at him and pushed him against a store window, speaking at the top of his voice. The Marquis added that he struck his son in self-defense.

Counsel for Lord Douglas of Hawick said that the latter and a friend were walking in Piccadilly, not thinking of the Marquis of Queensberry, when the encounter between Lord Douglas and his father took place. Counsel added that Lady Douglas of Hawick yesterday received the following telegram: "I must congratulate you on the result, but I cannot congratulate you on Percy's appearance. He looks like a dug-up corpse. I fear there is too much madness in kissing. Taylor is guilty; it will be Wilde’s turn to-morrow."

It was also asserted that the Marquis had written to Lady Douglas false charges against her husband and members of the family, and that, although he had promised to stop, he had not done so. Yesterday it was claimed Lord Douglas asked the Marquis to cease writing these obscene and filthy letters to his wife. The Marquis then hit him in the face and the fight between father and son followed.

Lord Douglas of Hawick said that he merely desired his father's assurance that he would cease writing letters to his (Hawick’s) wife reviling her husband. His aim in meeting his father was to stop these foul and obscene communications.

Lord Queensberry objected to the letters in question being called obscene. He said that hearing that Oscar Wilde was residing with Lord Douglas, he went to the latter's house, and, obtaining the assurance of his daughter-in-law that his younger son, Lord Alfred, was not there, he ceased writing letters to Lord Douglas’ wife. Lord Douglas’ lawyer wished to read the letters, but the magistrate would not allow it.

After further evidence showing that the Marquis was the aggressor the case was settled by the Marquis and his son being bound over each in £500 bail to keep the peace.

Queensberry admitted that he had offered to fight his son anywhere and at anytime for £10,000. The crowd cheered the Marquis as he drove away in a cab and as earnestly hissed and hooted Lord Douglas as he took his departure.

The Marquis went directly from the Police Court to the Old Bailey, where he was an attentive listener in the trial of Oscar Wilde.

TRIAL OF OSCAR WILDE. The Prosecution Presents Evidence Against the Prisoner.

LONDON, May 22. - The second trial of Wilde was begun to-day in the Old Bailey Court before Justice Wills. There was a dense crowd of interested spectators. The Marquis of Queensberry was among those present. Wilde, upon entering the court, looked haggard and seemed almost in a fainting condition as he entered the dock. He had evidently been greatly affected by the result of the trial of Taylor yesterday.

Solicitor-General Sir Frank Lockwood, in opening for the Treasury, said the indictment covered the most gross indecency, extending from February to October 1, 1893. He then recited the charges against Wilde in connection with Edward Shelly, Alfred Wood and others.

Edward Shelly, the first witness, repeated his previous testimony. He declared that he had resented the overtures made him by Wilde. Sir Edward Clarke cross-examined Shelly severely. Shelly admitted that he was mistaken in his testimony in the Bow-street Police Court when giving the time of breaking off his intimacy with Wilde. He also admitted that Wilde did not mention or suggest any acts of misconduct after the first interview.

Wilde became indisposed at this point and was obliged temporarily to leave the dock. The examination of Shelly was meanwhile suspended, but proceedings were resumed in a few minutes.

Shelly's cross-examination being resumed he admitted that he had a brother who was insane. He admitted having written a letter to Wilde in which he said, "I am not very sane but I am certain that I am sane now."

Alfred Wood and Charles Parker were called to the stand and repeated the testimony previously given. At the end of the session Wilde was taken back to jail, but was released overnight on bail.

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