The herald., 1895-04-26
Queer Franks of Lord Douglas
In Bakersfield i-r
ELECTED BY AN EDITOR
The Foolish Son of Nobility Goes on
the Wsrpath
Escapsde of Young Lard Dougiss In the Kern
County City Gets Him Into M
Trouble -.

BAKERSFIELD, April 25.-Lord Sholto
Douglas appeared today in the superior
court to answer to the charge OF insanity.
Few people knew the examination was 10
be held, so few were present. OF these
attorneys and reporters made up the
greater portion. Only five Englishmen
were in the room, and one OF these wa;
Burmeister, the complaining witness.
Lord Douglas was brought into court by
a deputy sheriff. He wore light gray
suit. with trousers turned up, tooth-pick
shoes and wide white hat with ham
mered leather band. These. together with
his negligee shirt made up the typica |
English costume as worn by the numer-
Gus Britishers in the colony here. He
took his seat. still wearing his wide hat,
which he did not remove at all while In
court.
The young lord sat alone at the sttor-
news desk in company with physicians
called in as an examining board.
Promptly at 10 O'Clock. Judge Conslin
stepped upon The platform and took his
seat All was expectation No sooner
had he reached his chair than he said:
There being no complaint against this
party. he will be discharged"
No other word was spoken. and those
present opened their mouths in wonder.
while his lordship meekly left the room
to breathe the air of freedom
. Burn.eister had refused 10 swear TO the
second complaint necessary for hearing
of an insanity case. so there was no
foundation for the action. and the young
prisoner dismissal followed as a matter
of course. He hurried to his hotel. then
TO the bank. where he drew some money
and began series of hurried visits TO diff
ferent stores. He stopped Constable Sc
roy and asked: How much would II cost
me 10 assault man2
Seroy answered.: Now look here.
young man, Won behave yourself like
gentleman. II you have a case against
apy one bring suit, but do no fighting.
The lord hurried on, his thin light
trousers happing from the force OF his en-
ergetic movements. Common morIals
stood on the corner watching and Won
dering IL he was preparing for the afere-
said assault. for a hurried departure 10
other parts to consummate the marriage,
according 10 the VOW he made his ladr.
love of yesterday afierDoDu.
A bout o. clock this afternoon the mys-
terry was solved. His lordship was on his
muscle. He went to the Californian
editor, if tbe Chronicle correspondent
was employed there. The reply was that
that was . professional secret, He left.
but soon returned. He WAS seen TO enter
the office. and in remarkably brief
space of time he emerged like shot.
After him came Mr.. Weeks and the Office
force, apparently bent on The destruction
OF the young lord a few minutes LATER
his lordship.. somewhat ruffied in appear
ance, entered the Office of Justice Fox
and informed his honor that he had as
saulted the Chronicle correspondent. Il
hit. him three times in the face. when
four or i've set on me from behind and
put me out. ! desire 10 plead guilty..
Constable Seroy swore 10 the complaint
and Douglas was fined $3.50, the exact
costs The Justice then read the law
which says he could fine him for battery
in any sum not exceeding $1,000 or i'm
prisonment not exceeding six months or
both. Douglas said: All, is that se9
And | thought s. was the limit l was
informed that that was the case.
Nj. Weeks gives a different version OF
the encounter. He says that Lord Doug
lass, after saying he had been publishing
damned lies. about him. struck al him The
lord missed his aim, and before he could
try again was thrown into the street
Douglas left, saving be would return with
his crowd and square things. Weeks told
him he would shoot the first OF his crowd
that entered the building. His lordship
is at present engaged in hunting for other
correspOpdeDts