The San Francisco Call - Thursday, May 23, 1895

LONDON, ENG., May 22. -- At Marlborough-street Police court to-day the Marquis of Queensberry and son, Lord Douglas of Harwick, were bound over, each in $500 to keep the peace.

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

The police evidence regarding the encounter between the father and the 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 walking in Piccadilly his son, Lord Douglas of Harwick, 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 Harwick 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 Harwick 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 tomorrow."

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 writing, he had not done so. Yesterday it was claimed that 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.

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.

The Winnipeg Daily Tribune - Wednesday, May 22, 1895

London, May 22 — The second trial of Oscar Wilde has begun at the Old Bailey court before Justice Wills, before a crowd of interest spectators. Wilde was restless and looked careworn. The Solicitor—General, Sir Frank Lockwood, in opening the case, said the indictment covered acts of gross indecency during a period from February to October, 1893, and recited the charges against Wilde in connection with Edward Shelly, Alfred Wood and others.

London, May 22 — As a result of a dispute with reference to the Wilde case and the action of Lord Douglas’ father, the Marquis of Queensberry, chastised his son, giving him a black eye, and the police arrested both. Neither the father nor the son preferred a charge against the other, so they were merely charged with disorderly conduct. Lord Douglas banged his father’s head with an umbrella during the fight, and loudly asked whether the Marquis of Queensberry intended to cease writing objectionable letters to Lord Douglas’ wife. The police arriving on the scene, Lord Douglas excitedly repeated this accusation of persecution, which he said had occurred since he had gone on the bail bond of Oscar Wilde. The Marquis of Queensberry retorted: "That’s my son. I’ll fight him anywhere in the three kingdoms for £10,000." It is rumored that Lord Alfred Douglas has gone abroad.

At the Marlborough street police court this morning the Marquis of Queensberry and his son, Lord Douglas, were bound over each in £500 to keep the peace.

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