A GUARDED GRAVE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 48, 20 November 1907, Page 7

A GUARDED GRAVE.

DRUCE CUISI.

FURTHER EVIDENCE BY CALDWELL.

SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGE, BT 181/EGBArn—PEKJS ASSOCIATION—COFTMGnT. London, November 13. Kcon intoresfc is being takon in the claim of George Hollamby Druco to tho Dukedom of Portland, and in tho collateral proceedings for perjury that claimant has instituted against Ilorbert Druco (who sworo that he saw his father, Thomas Charles Druco—tho alleged Dul:o —dead in a coffin in December, 1864). Many ladies of titlo havo seats on the bonch at Glerko'nwcll, to where the hearing of tho Druco case has been transferred. A thousand' pcoplo inspected tho closelyguarded Druco gravo in Highgato cemetery— in which, according to claimant and his witness Caldwoll, a coffin filled with load waß buried. At tho further hearing of tho chargo of perjury against Horbert Druco, Robert Caldwell, of New York, who was called on behalf of tho claimant, Georgo Hollaraby Diuco, continued his ovideDco. He stoutly denied his identity with a brother who had been accused of ombozzlcment. Ho said ho was positivo that ho had passed through a partly-made tunnel between Wolbeck Abbey and Druco's workshop. That was in 1864. Caldwoll donicd that he was over defendant in a police-court, and swore positively that he had never lived in Londonderry with his wifo. ....... MISS ROBINSON CALLED. HER, STOLEN DIARY. DATE OF MANUFACTURE OF THE PAPER. CHARLES DICKENS AND THE DUAL PERSONALITY. t$S (Ree. Nov. 19, 10.22 p.m.) Siffffir London, November 19.

Caldwoll denied that he arid hia brother held a leasehold property at Londonderry in 1863. Ho denied assigning to Christy in 1871 an insurance policy on Robert Caldwell's lifo. His brother might havo told him ho made tho assignment. Mr. Plowdcn, tho Magistrate, put a series of- searching quoations. Mr. Plowdon remarked that somo people bolieved that Druco was tho real person who died. Did any of theso sco or ask to see the corpso before burial? Caldwell: "No. They wore unaware ho was dead until the funeral was ovor."

Miss Robinson, tho witness from Now Zealand, was called in order to givo evidence, that, as private secretary to tho Duko at Baker Street Bazaar and at Welbeck Abbey, she- knew his dual personality; also, that she had inscribed his admission of it in hor diary. It was previously announced that a thief in London had snatched from hor hand a bag containing the diary, but that authonticated copies of its contonts had first been mado. Extracts from tho copies have lately boon' published copiously in tho London papers, and references therein to the novelist Charles Dickons havo aroused the resentment of tho Dickens family, Mr. Plowdon did not permit tho production of tho copy of tho diary, on tho ground that it was made by a third party. Mies Robinson stated that sho also copiod it. ■ Mr. Plov.'don said that possibly the production of tho copy would be unnecessary. Miss Robinson testified that sho know Druce in tho namo of Madamo Tassaud. beck Abbey in 186S, when she was introduced by Chnrlcs Dickens, whom she met at Boston, in America, and at whoso instance sho became, engaged by Druce. Sho rccoivod at tho workshop in Bakor Street letters for Druco in the namo of Madame Tussnnd. Mr. Avory's remarks, in objecting to tho production of tbo copy, showed that the dato of tho manufacture of tho paper on which the original wns written was questioned during tho time that the original wns in custody in London. At on earlier stapre of his cross-examination, Caklwell admitted that tho "New York Herald" had referred to his revelntions in the Stewart will scandal,' describing as n romantic humourist, and that tin " Kcrald " also ridiculed liis intervention in the Druce mystery. The statement which claimant called Caldwell to prove was that about 18G+, at tho request of tap lato fifth Duko of Portland, he assisted him to organic the sham death and burial of Thomaß Charles Druce (the Bakor Street tradesman) in order to destroy evidence of tho Duke's dual personality. The evidence of Caldwell has now turned out to bo garnished with much detail about tho oure of bulbous nosos, consultation of Sir Moroll Mackenzie when tho late omiuoiit physician was DKod 17 years, and about coach-loads of liveried servants from Welbcck Abbey attending the sham funeral.