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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.

London, May 21.—The Marquis of Queensberry will to-morrow morning, for the second time in the last three months, appear in the police court. This time, however, he will be attended by his eldest son, Lord Douglas, of Lowick. Both father and son are charged with disorderly conduct.

As to the events which led to this unpleasant conclusion, rumors of the most erratic character have been floating around the London clubs to-night, no two stories agreeing in detail.

It is possible, however, from the testimony of a disinterested eye-witness to give the exact facts as they will be revealed.

About a quarter past 5 this evening Lord Queensberry crossed over Piccadilly in the direction of Albemarle street, where his hotel is situated. As he reached the corner of the latter street and the Piccadilly 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 requested 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.

Blacked the Young Man’s Eye.

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 Lowick was the possessor of a scientifically discolored eye. Both representatives of the noble house of Douglas were then incontinently 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 recognizance in the sum of £2 to appear in court to-morrow morning.

These are the facts of the actual encounter. As to the preliminary matters which led thereto, Lord Queensberry, who was seen this evening and whose account of the occurrence by the way, tallies perfectly with the above, makes a candid statement.

The Son Was the Aggressor.

"I should like, first of all," said he, "to impress upon you, as I shall have an opportunity of putting upon record to-morrow morning, that I was not the aggressor. I had just returned from the Old Bailey, where I had heard the jury find Taylor guilty, and had sent away my cab opposite St. James Palace. I then walked up St. James street, and was crossing over to Albemarle street, when, by a coincidence, which seems almost fateful, I saw my son some hundred yards away.

"He caught sight of me at the same time, and at once charged down upon me; and after a few angry words, attempted to assault me. Even after we were first separated by the police, my son was for a second time the aggressor."However, this is a matter which I suppose I shall have to explain to the satisfaction of the magistrate to-morrow morning."As to the reason of this attack by my son I can only imagine that he was annoyed by the events of the day, and felt foolishly exasperated against me."As to the letter which he accused me of sending to his wife, that was on my part in the nature of a joke. I was struck with a certain resemblance lurking in this picture."

The Marquis’ Funny Picture.

And the marquis held this up to view a drawing from one of the weekly illustrated papers, depicting a huge iguanodon as it is supposed to have appeared to its pre-historic contemporaries. There was a touch of the humorous about the pleiocene beast’s attitude, and the marquis could not refrain from chuckling as he drew my attention to it.

"I sent a copy of the picture," he continued, "to my son’s wife, indorsing it, as well as I remember, as a possible ancestor of Oscar Wilde, and intending it more as a good-natured joke than anything else."Of course, I regard this evening’s affair as very painful from on point of view, but from another I am rather glad of it. There has been bad blood between my son and myself for some time and I think this encounter may have probably let some of it out. At all events I feel more kindly disposed toward him than I have been for some years past, and I think very possibly he may think all the better of me."

And the marquis chuckled anew over his comic picture of the iguanodon.