Quebec Morning Chronicle - Tuesday, April 2, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
The Marquis of Queensbery will be tried as an ordinary citizen, before a judge and jury, for his offence in connection with his alleged libel of Oscar Wilde. This is due to the fact that criminal libel is not a felony, but a misdemeanor, and the only privilege which the Marquis will enjoy, if he chooses to exercise, it, will be the right to wear his hat in court, a favor denied to all other persons under the penalty of being imprisoned for contempt. The last occasion on which it was exercised was when the Earl of Abingdon was tried for libel and sentenced to imprisonment and fine. Were the charge against Lord Queensbery that of felony instead of mere misdemeanor, the ordinary courts would have no jurisdiction over him, and his trial would take place in the House of Lords, where his fellow-peers would be his judges, their President for the time being the Lord Chancellor, or the Lord Steward of the Queen's household, who at the present is the Marquis of Breadalbane. During a trial of this kind the President is invariably addressed by counsel as "Your Grace." The peers, taking part in the proceedings are not sworn, but pronounce the verdict of guilty or not guilty "upon their honor," the peer of most recent creation and of lowest rank, being the first to give bis vote. The verdict of the majority prevails.
The last occasion on which it was exercised was when the Earl of Abingdon was tried for libel and sentenced to imprisonment and fine. Were the charge against Lord Queensberry that of felony instead of mere misdemeanor, the ordinary courts would have no jurisdiction over him, and his trial would take place in the House of Lords, where his fellow-peers would be his judges, their president for the time being the lord chancellor, or the lord steward of the Queen’s household, who at the present is the Marquis of Breadalbane. During a trial of this kind the president is invariably addressed by the counsel as "Your Grace." The peers taking part in the proceedings are not sworn, but pronounce the verdict of guilty or not guilty "upon their honor," the peer of most recent creation and of lowest rank being the first to give his vote. The verdict of the majority prevails.