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 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.

Highlighted DifferencesNot significantly similar