Daily Star and Herald - Saturday, June 15, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
LORD QUEENSBERRY AND HIS
SON
Considerable excitement was caused on May 22 by an extraordinary scene in Piccadilly, London, which ended in a personal encounter between the Marquess of Queensberry and his son Lord Alfred Douglas. It appears that the Marquess, who was walking up Piccadilly, met his son coming out of a confectioner's at the corner of Old Bond-street and Piccadilly. The latter at once placed himself in his father's way, and exclaimed, "You have threatened me; now carry out your threat. You are a liar and a slanderer." The Marquess of Queensberry at once retaliated, using, it is said, very strong language. A large crowd assembled, and listened to the heated language. Raising his voice to a loud pitch, the Marquess, turning to the people around him, exclaimed, "I tell all these strangers that you have been a bad son from your birth, and that I now publicly disown you." Lord Alfred Douglas' reply was lost in a loud cheer which was immediately raised by the crowd, which had grown to such proportions as to stop all the traffic. The Marquess continued for some minutes to address the crowd, gesticulating violently, and pointing scornfully at his son, until the latter made some remark that so enraged his father that he struck him a violent blow in the face. Lord Alfred Douglas immediately struck back, and a furious struggle at once ensued between the two. On the arrival of the police it was with the greatest difficulty that they were separated. They were followed to Vine-street Police station by a large crowd, cheering and hooting. At the station both the Marquess of Queensberry and Lord Alfred Douglas were desirous of charging each other with assault. The Inspector on duty declined to enter any charge but that of disorderly conduct preferred against both by the police. They were subsequently released on bail, the Marquess preferred no charge against his son, neither did the son make any charge against his parent, the prosecution being that of disorderly conduct preferred by the police. On leaving the station Lord Alfred Douglas who it was noticed, had suffered the discoloration of one eye proceeded through the court at the back of St. James's Hall into Regent-street, where a Hansom cab speedily separated him from an inquisitive crowd. His father, the Marquess of Queensberry, appeared to have suffered no facial disfigurement, but his silk hat showed signs of rather rough usage. As he left the main entrance of Vine-street Police station he walked through the crowd into Swallow-street, a bye way directly connecting Regent-street with Piccadilly. As he walked from Vine-street into Swallow-street the crowd clapped their hands and cheered the Marquess, who proceeding into Piccadilly, immediately took a cab and drove away.
Considerable excitement was caused yesterday afternoon in Piccadilly by an extraordinary scene, which ended in a personal encounter between tbe Marquess of Queen sberry and his son Lord Alfred Douglas. It appears that the Marquess, who was walking up Piccadilly, met his son coming out of a confectioner's at the corner of Old Bond-street and Piccadilly. The latter at once placed himself in his father's way, and exclaimed, "You have threatened me ; now carry out your threat. You are a liar and a slanderer." The Marquess of Oueensberry at once retaliated, using, it is said, very strong language. A large crowd assembled, and listened to the heated language. Raising his voice to a loud pitch, the Marquess, turning to the people around him, exclaimed, "I tell all these strangers that you have been a bad son from your birth, and that I now publicly disown you." Lord Alfred Douglas's reply was lost in a loud cheer which was immediately raised by the crowd, which had now grown to such proportions as to stop all the traffic. The Marquess continued for some minutes to address the crowd, gesticulating violently, and pointing scornfully at his son, until the latter made some remark that so enraged his father that he struck him a violent blow in the face. Lord Alfred Douglas immediately struck back, and a furious struggle at once ensued between tho two. On the arrival of the police it was with the greatest difficulty that they were separated. They were followed to Vine-street Police-station by a large crowd, cheering and hooting. At the station both the Marquess of Queensberry and Lord Alfred Douglas were desirous of charging each other with assault. The Inspector on duty declined to enter any charge but that of disorderly conduct preferred against both by the police. They were subsequently released on bail, and will come up at the Marlborough-street Police-court this morning.