DRUCE CASE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 28, 28 October 1907, Page 5

DRUCE CASE.

'ALLEGED DOUBLE PEIiSONAIITY. PERJURY CILVRGE. ": " COUNSEL OUTLINES CASE FOR THE . ' ■- CLAIMANT; • PV TELEGBAPn—PRESS ASSOCIATIPN^COrVRIOHT. London, Octobor 25.. : Another stago. of the caso ;in whiclrGeorgo Hollamby Dnico claims tho dukedom of Portland took place to-day, when Herbert Dnicu appaared nt the Marleybono Police Court to anowor a charge of committed perjury in swearing that ho saw Thomas : Charles Druco, his father, dead in a coffin in December, 1864. ; .:.,., .... Counsel for claimant (Mr. Georgo Hollaaiby Druco, intimatod that ho would call a Ne'V. York accountant who would doppso that tho late fifth Duke of Portland, many years ago confessed to him tha.ho >was'mainaining,,ii dualaporsenality. ;. ...... ■ . ■"■ .WiTffESS'OFSHAM-BURIAL • ..V," LEAD IN TEE COFFIN. , : ' ' ■ 0ct. : 27, 4.43 p.m.) '• ■ . '.., .<.["' ~' 'London, October 26..' '. The. charge of perjury . against Herba.-t pruce:hasjbeen:adjourned. for a, fortnight,! _ Claimant George H. Druco's counsel .said he proposed.to call, Robert Caklwcjl, of Ne.v York, to, prove.,that about. 1864, ; at tjie request of. tho, iate fifth Duke of Portland, lie assisted hiin l ,to iprganise Thpmasi Charlas Drupe's sham .death and / burial,..jn , order io destroy, evidence of the Duke's dual perspnajity;,,. Lead was placed in, 'tho. c0ffin......... . Counspl. said lip .would.also call.Miss Robia-: ,3011, who acted as secretary, to the, late Duko, both at., the, , Street bazaar and at Wolbeck Ab'l>c^' r (a',seat ..of, th'e duk'edpm.' if .Portland^,'.and.,'who., knew Thpjnas Charles Druceand thoiEulto to ,b'6 heisaine porsoii. Ho }vould also call Mrs. Hamilton,!, whp.wpuid. doppSe,'that-oho had heard tho.lats Diike de-. ,claro that ho wished to dp away ivith|h;s, iJruce personality..... ..:, .This American witness' is apparently the ; person who was 1 referred to nt a recent, meetmg of tlio Company "which in Tprocecutinß G. ■K. Druec's claim to the dukedom of Portland. The ; cl|iim;is based on ithe alleged -idontitj:; of the.Jate .fifth, Duke of..Portland,with.Thomas. Charles pru'ee,' of Baker' Strc'eet Basa'ar, , wrh'b' was alleged'to , have died »ahd been buried in 1864. ■■ Iti.was-statcil.nti.thoj.meotiiiß that, thoro : was; an American witness,wlio. | ,woulfl bo able to prove conclusively' that" the , alleged : burial' of Thomas , Charles Drucewas, in fact;;a . buriali !and, ;that •' the_.coffin i deecrib.ed, ; ae. con-, taining his remains did hot 'contain human remaino/at all, but'sniall strip's'of screwed' down.and hqld,in position with brass clamps. The porson'whV'furnishbd'-'tliis bviilenco '.would .lie 'further , ablo toodoposej and-.was-willing so to/deppse, tli.it ,tho .'lato fifth .iJJuke ,of Ppj-t----land was pbrsonally', woll kirowii ! 'to hini'ljoth' as Duke of "Portland' arid as'Dnice,"and-that it'.was at: the : instance.:.pf : .tjbe. lateififth;Duke of Portland that he assisted in conducting tho mock burial of Druce. With regard to the : female . private... secretary referred. to, this is no.doubt tlib lady.'.who was brought fronl New Zealand.' :-' : v.■:'>;:■ '■ ■■',rj-'- - ■ »■ '* rrr. ■.■..;-•'