The St. James's Gazette - Wednesday, May 22, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
LORD QUEENSBERRY AND HIS SON.
AN ENCOUNTER IN PICCADILLY.
A violent encounter occurred in Piccadilly last evening between the Marquess of Queensberry and his son, Lord Douglas of Hawick, who was one of Oscar Wilde's bail. It is stated that the father and son met at the corner of Bond street and Piccadilly. Attention was first attracted by the son loudly asking Lord Queensberry if he intended to cease writing objectionable letters to his (Lord Douglas’s) wife. Lord Douglas also said that he thought he ought to chastise his father. The latter said that he would have little fear of fighting his son for £10.000 in any part of the country, but that he did not care about causing a scene in Piccadilly. Both gentlemen were carrying umbrellas, and Lord Douglas aimed an ineffectual blow at the Marquess of Queensberry, which, however, caused the latter's hat to fall off. A constable, in the course of his efforts to stop the encounter, received a blow on the mouth.
At this stage the disturbance appeared to have terminated, but when the Marquess crossed Bond-street on his way along Piccadilly, he was followed by Lord Douglas, and the fight was renewed. Before the encounter was checked Lord Douglas had received a black eye, and the Marquess looked as if he would have the best of the encounter. Several constables, however, arrived, and the combatants were taken to Vine street station, just outside of which the Marquess again expressed, in the same terms as before, his conviction that he could beat his assailant without difficulty. As far as could be learned, when in the station the Marquess of Queensberry refused to charge his son with assault, and Lord Douglas adopted the same attitude. They were subsequently released, each, it was stated, on his own recognizance in 40s.
On coming out of the station, to which they had been accompanied by several friends, who had tried to interfere during the two fights, Lord Douglas walked to Regent-street and jumped into a passing hansom, while the Marquess went away in another direction. A very large crowd, many of whom apparently knew the Marquess of Queensberry, and took his assailant for Lord Alfred Douglas, collected during the first disturbance, and followed their lordships to Vine-street, where they remained till the principals had driven away.
PROCEEDINGS AT THE POLICE COURT.
The Marquess of Queensberry and Lord Douglas of Hawick were brought up at Marlborough street Police Court this morning, charged with disorderly conduct and fighting in Piccadilly on the previous afternoon. The court was crowded to excess.
A police constable gave evidence in support of the charge. He said he saw the Marquess going towards Albemarle street, followed by Lord Doualas of Hawick. He saw Lord Douglas strike his father. He (Lord Douglas) stated that his father had been writing letters to his wifc of a very obscene nature.
Ultimately the Marquess of Queensberry and Lord Douglas of Hawick were bound over in their own recognizances, in the sum of £500 each, to keep the peace for six months.