Sydney Evening News - Thursday, May 23, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
NEWS BY CABLE.
(From Evening News Correspondents.)
The London Scandal.
Taylor's Conviction.
Lord
Douglas of Hawick.
Thrashed by His Father.
Wilde on Trial
London, May 21. -- The jury in the case of Alfred Taylor found him, guilty on two specific charges of indecency connected with Charles and William Parker, but disagreed on the charges of procuration, and also as to whether he had committed indecency with Wilde.
Sentence was postponed. Sir Edward Clarke, when the jury had retired in Taylor's case, asked that the trial of Oscar Wilde should be proceeded with immediately. Mr. Frank Lockwood, Q.C., who appeared for the prosecution, rose and angrily declared he expected some similar request, the defence availing themselves of the position arising from separate trials. Mr. Justice Wills said he would defer his decision until the case of Taylor had finished. It was ultimately decided that the trial of Wilde should proceed to morrow before a fresh jury. The result of the trial of Taylor caused much excitement. Early in the evening the Marquis met his son, Lord Douglas of Hawick, in Piccadilly, and severely thrashed him. They were both arrested and taken to the police station, being afterwards released on bail.
London, May 22. -- Further particulars of the scene in Piccadilly show that Lord Douglas of Hawick commenced the quarrel by accusing the Marquis of Queensberry of sending insulting letters to Lady Douglas of Hawick because her husband bailed out Oscar Wilde. Lord Douglas of Hawick called his father a 'liar and a slanderer.' The Marquis eventually knocked his son down, and a furious struggle ensued until the parties were separated by the police. Lord Douglas received a violent blow in the eye, which was blackened. A large crowd quickly assembled, and was addressed by the Marquis, who disowned his son. The crowd loudly cheered the Marquis. During the fracas the Marquis excitedly offered to fight his son in any part of the county for £10,000.
Further particulars of the scene in Piccadilly show that Lord Douglas of Hawick commenced the quarrel by accusing the Marquis of Queensberry of sending insulting letters to Lady Douglas of Hawick because her husband bailed out Oscar Wilde. Lord Douglas of Hawick called his father a "liar and a slanderer." The Marquis eventually knocked his son down, and a furious struggle ensued until the parties were separated by the police. A large crowd gathered round and cheered the Marquis.
Later. -- The Marquis of Queensberry and Lord Douglas of Hawick were brought up at the Marlborough street Police Court to-day charged with disorderly conduct. They were ordered to be bound over in their own recognisances of £500 each to keep the peace. The trial of Oscar Wilde commenced this morning. He is charged with indecency towards Alfred Taylor (the man convicted on the previous day), Charles Parker, Edward Shelley, and Alfred Wood. The evidence against the accused was unshaken in cross-examination. The Marquis of Queensberry was present in court.