After an alleged homosexual relationship between Oscar Wilde and his son Alfred, the Marquess of Queensberry--John Douglas-- sent a letter to Wilde's club which stated "To Oscar Wilde posing Sodomite." Wilde intially read the letter as saying "To Oscar Wilde, ponce and Sodomite." Regardless, the accusation was damning and a potential threat to Wilde's reputation and livelihood and he immediately sought to refute it. Wilde sued Queensberry for libel, though he later dropped the charge after Queensberry sought to prove Wilde was in fact guilty of sodomy in order to clear his own name.