DRUCE CASE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2240, 18 November 1907, Page 2

DRUCE CASE

CALDWELL’S FANTASTIC •STATEMENT. United Press Association —Copyright LONDON, Nov. 16. Caldwell, under severe - cross-ex-amination, continually contradicted his previous evidence. .He deposed that fifty coaches, filled with servants from Welbeck, to .whom the Duke paid five shillings apiece, attended Druce’s funeral. He made other fantastic statements.

DETAILS OF THE “BOGUS” BURIAL. CALDWELL’S PAST CAREER REVIEWED. EVIDENCE SOMEWHAT SHAKEN. (Received Nov. 17, 4.42 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 16. Caldwell deposed that Italian and German patients, not Indian Rajahs, paid him £SOOO each in India in Bank of England notes for curing them of bulbous noses. He declared that he treated the Duke of Portland with ointment. When ed that lie had sworn he used medi-~ cine tlio witness .corrected himself hv saying lie had put certain, medicine on the subject's nose. He added that ho had refused the Duke’s cheque, and was always paid in bank notes. ‘He kept no bank .account, but pinned the bank notes inside liis shirt.

Caldwell said that liveried menservants waited on the table at Baker-street Bazaar. If it was correot that- there were no bedrooms, dining-room, and kitchen at Bakerstreet Bazaar, then his story would be untrue.

.He stated, also, that no plate nor inscription was placed oil the coffin •to indicate death, when the Magistrate remarked that tlio finishing touch of the deception was wanting, Caldwell replied that ho had merely executed the Duke’s orders.

He adhered to the statement that he saw underground apartments at Welbeck in 1864, when counsel said that they were not constructed until 1872.

Witness further stated that the Duke superintended arrangements at the Bazaar on the day of the mock funeral. Caldwell was positive that no funeral of Druce occurred on December 31st, 1864.

. He denied that he had ever been in .the service of Mr. Gilliland, owner of tlio Rock Mills, Londonderry, in 1861. He knew the man Inch in New York. If Inch swore he and Caldwell had been in service with Mr. Christie, of Londonderry, the statement was. untrue.

He admitted that- he knew Matthew Ballautyne, 'of New York, but denied telling him in 1889 that he had been in the emnloy of Mr. Christie.

It was with "inis brother William wiih whom he changed names as a boyish prank. His brother had been accused of embezzling Christie’s •money.

When shown documents signed “Robert Caldwell,” assigning all property to Mr. Christie, Caldwell declared it was his brother’s signature. The latter was now dead. They wrote, looked, and spoke exactly alike. .