Galignani Messenger - Thursday, May 23, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
LORD QUEENSBERRY AND HIS SON.
POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS.
MAGISTRATE'S DECISION.
London, May 22.
The little court at Markborough-street has never been so crowded as it was this morning since Oscar Wilde initiated the famous libel proceedings against the Marquis of Queensberry. As then, so now, the Marquis figures in the role of defendant, but on this occasion he has a companion in adversity in the person of his own son, Lord Douglas of Harwick. Both of the principals of the Piccadilly rumpus were early upon the scene, the Marquis being the first to arrive. For a few minutes he loitered outside the court, the central figure of a gathering crowd, but after he had been joined by his solicitor he proceeded to push his way through the group which barred the entrance to the court. In his buttonhole he wore three Marcebal Niel roses. Lord Douglas entered the building soon afterwards, and it was at once observed that both of his eyes were black. As soon as Mr. Hannay had taken his seat both were put into the dock and charged with disorderly conduct and fighting in Piccadilly.
The little court at Marlborough-st. has never been so crowded as it was this morning since Oscar Wilde initiated the famous libel proceedings against the Marquess of Queensberry. As then, so now the Marquess figures in the role of the defendant, but on this occasion he has a companion in adversity in the person of his own son, Lord Douglas of Hawick. Both the principals of the Piccadilly rumpus were early upon the scene, the Marquess being the first to arrive. For a few minutes he loitered outside the court, the central figure of a gathering crowd, but after he had been joined by his solicitor he proceeded to push his way through the group which barred the entrance to the court. In his buttonhole he wore three Marechal Niel roses. Lord Douglas entered the building soon afterwards, and it was at once observed that
The first witness was Constable C C 32, who found the Marquis and his son fighting. The constable separated them, after which they again closed, and witness parted them again. Both father and son then crossed Bond-street. They met again, and recommenced fighting. Witness thereupon arrested the Marquis, and his son was taken in charge by another constable. At Vine-street the Marquis, in reply to the charge, said, "It is quite correct."
The Marquis, who defended himself, only asked one question, which suggested that Lord Douglas began the attack, and continued it while the Marquis was walking to the hotel.
The Marquess, who defended himself, only asked one question, which suggested that Lord Douglas began the attack, and continued it while the Marquess was walking to his hotel. The constable, however, could not altogether agree with this version.
Mr. S.T. Stoneham (for Lord Douglas): At the station did you hear the Marquis say anything?
Witness: I heard the Marquis say he was
willing to fight his son for £10,000.
You did not hear Lord Queensberry call his son an opprobrious name? No.
Constable C R 6, who was also on the spot, was asked who struck the first blow, and the witness fancied that it was Lord Douglas.
Constable C. R. 6, who was also on the spot, was asked who struck the first blow, and the witness replied that he fancied it was Lord Douglas.
Mr. Stoneham: Didn't Lord Douglas say that he had spoken to his father, and asked him to discontinue those letters and that they were the
cause of the row?
Witness: Yes; similar words to those.
Mr. Stoneham: Didn't Lord Douglas say that he had spoken to his father, and asked him to discontinue those letters, and that they were
The inspector who received the distinguished defendant at Vine-street was the next witness. After the charge had been read over to them the Marquis exclaimed, "That is my son, who has bailed Oscar Wilde to-day. He has been following me about and struck me in Piccadilly." Lord Douglas added, "Yes; that occurred through my father writing letters to my wife of a most disgusting character."
The inspector who received the distinguished defendants at Vine-st. was the next witness. After the charge had been read over to them the Marquess exclaimed, "That is my son who has bailed Oscar Wilde to-day. H =e has been following me about, and struck me in Piccadilly." Lord Douglas added, "Yes, that occurred through my father writing letters to my wife of a most disgusting character."
This was the case for the police, and the Marquis then proceeded to make his statement. He had driven up, he said, from the Old Bailey at the bottom of St. James's-street. As he was crossing the road to go up to Albemarle-street he saw his son walking down Piccadilly. As soon as the latter recognized him Lord Douglas "came straight at me, almost at a run, and pushed me up against a shop window, at the same time speaking at the top of his voice. I struck him certainly," added the Marquis, "but it was done in self-defence."
This was the case for the police, and the Marquess then proceeded to make his statement. He had driven, he said, from the Old Bailey to the bottom of St. James's-st. As he was crossing the road to go up Albermarle-st., he saw his son walking down Piccadilly. As soon as the latter recognised him Lord Douglas "came straight at me, almost at a run, and pushed me up against a shop window, at the same time speaking at the top of his voice. "I struck him certainly," added the Marquess, "but it was done in self-defense."
Mr. Stoneham, in giving Lord Douglas's version of the affray, said he and a friend walking in Piccadilly saw Lord Queensberry crossing the street. The Marquis had evidently just come out of a post-office, where he had sent the following telegram to Lord Douglas's wife:-
Mr. Stoneham, in giving Lord Douglas's version of the affray, said he and a friend walking in Piccadilly saw Lord Queensberry crossing the street. The Marquess had evidently just come out of a post-office, where he had sent to following telegram to Lord Douglas's wife:--
"Must congratulate on verdict. Cannot on Percy's appearance; looked like a dug-up corpse. Fear too much madness of kissing. Taylor guilty. Wilde's turn tomorrow. -Queensberry.
To Lady Douglas. Must congratulate on verdict. Cannot on Percy's appearance; looked like a dug-up corpse. Fear too much madness of kissing. Taylor guilty. Wilde's turn to-morrow.-- QUEENSBERRY.
To Lady Douglas: Must congratulate on verdict. Cannot on Percy's appearance. Looked like dug-up corpse. Fear too much madness of kissing. Taylor guilty, Wilde's turn to-morrow. (Signed) - Queensberry.
"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 to-morrow. QUEENSBERRY.
"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 to-morrow. "QUEENSBERRY."
"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.
"I must congratulate you on the result of the trial. I cannot on Percy's appearance. He looks like a dried up corpse. I fear he has had too much madness of kissing. Taylor guilty. Wilde's turn to-morrow."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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 to-morrow."
"That," said Mr. Stoneham, "is a sample of the letters Lord Queensberry has been writing not only to Lord Douglas's wife, but other members of the family. He has been requested time after time to stop these letters, but he still persists in continuing the annoyance.''
Lord Queensberry here broke in with the remark that, as his son refused to receive any letters from himself, he was obliged to write to his wife.
Lord Queensberry here broke in with the remark that, as his son refused to receive any letters from himself, he was obliged to write to his wife.
Mr. Hannay thought these family affairs had nothing to do with the case, and suggested that the Marquis should call his witnesses.
Mr. Hannay thought these family affairs had nothing to do with the case, and suggested that the Marquess should call his witnesses.
Accordingly Mr. Charles T. Sheriff, who was an eye-witness of the occurrence, was called to say that Lord Douglas began the attack. Both defendants admitted fighting, the only question being the issue of who struck the first blow.
Accordingly Mr. Charles T. Sheriff, who was an eye witness of the occurrence, was called to say that Lord Douglas began the attack. Both defendants admit fighting, the only question at issue being who struck the first blow.
Lord Queensberry's second witness, Mr. Charles Taylor, swore that he saw the son begin the fight by knocking his father against the painters' trestles outside the shop.
Lord Queensberry's second witness, Mr. Charles Taylor swore that he saw the son begin the fight by knocking his father against the painters' trestles outside the shop.
The magistrate bound each over to his own recognisances in the sum of £500, to keep the peace for six months.
Both defendants were bound over in their own recognisances in £500 to keep the peace for six months.
Both defendants were bound over in their own recognisances in £500 to keep the peace for six months.
Both defendants were bound over in their own recognizances in £500 to keep the peace for six months.
Both the defendants were bound over in their own recognizances in £500 to keep the peace for six months.