CAUSE CELEBRE RECALLED.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1725, 16 April 1913, Page 7

CAUSE CELEBRE RECALLED.

DEATH 01' HERBERT DRUCE. By 'ielegrapb—°retis Association—Copyright . London, April 14. Herbert Druce, who was prominent in the celebrated Druce case, is dead. Tho Druce case was before the public for something like ten years. George Hollamby DrUco claimed against Lord Howard do walden that portion of the Portland heritage known as the Middlesex Estate, on tihe ground that ho was the grandson of the fifth Duke of Portland, who, ho said, lived a double life as T. C. Druco, of the Baker Street Bazaar, married, and hud children. As Diike of Portland he died a badhelor in 1879. Lord Howard do Walden contended that tho Duko and Druce wcto two distinct men. The opening of .the vault at Highgate was a prom : inent issue. The "New Druce-Portland Company, Ltd.," was incorporated in November, 1007, to raise money to prosecute the claim. Tho claim failed, tho company was wound up, and thero followed several prosecutions for perjury. Herbert Druco was a son of Thomas Druce, who was said by certain members of tho Druco family to bo identical with tho ccceiitric fifth Duke of Portland./ lie owned tho vault in which his father's coffin had beon placed, olid for a long time refused to consent to exhumation. Sworn statements made by him that ho saw his father, Mr. T. C. Druco, dead in his coffin, formed tho subject of a perjury prosecution. Tho claimant alleged that the coffin'really held rubbish; that tho actual interment of Thomas Draco, as Duke of Portland, took place at Wolbeck Abbey. When tho coflin was opened it was found to contain a body.