THE DRUGE CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2058, 9 December 1907, Page 2

THE DRUGE CASE.

LEADEN COFFIN SEEN IN 1864. DRUCE’S COAT IDENTICAL WITH DUKES. United Press Association —Copyright LONDON, December 6. . Henry Alarks testified that ho saw ■Henry Vasser, carpenter, making a coffin in 1864 with four rolls of lead beside it. The coffin was afterwards taken to Baker street bazaar. Charles Ball identified a coat produced by G, H. Drucc as .The one made by witness’s father for tlie fifth Duke of Portland. DRUCE’S ALLEGED DEATH. A DOCTOR’S REMARKABLE EDIDENCE. ASSISTED TO LAY OUT THE BODY. (Received Dec. 8, 4.16 p.m.) LONDON, December 7. Alarks testified that lie last saw Druce on the afternoon prior to •seeing the coffin, and heard he had died, suddenly. He never heard that there was any mystery connected with tlie- death. Ho saw Herbert Druce at the Bazaar constantly after the funeral.

He saw a hearse and two empty coaches leave the Bazaar with a coffin.

Charles Ball, a tailor, deposed that the lapels of a coat in Bruce’s portrait were like those on the Duke of Portland’s coat. The Duke’s coats were always made in sets of three, enabling him to wear one over another.

Edmund Shaw, a Southport doctor, informed the Daily News that he was a personal friend and neighbour of Druco at Milhill. He medically attended him throughout 1864 for dyspepsia, and the patient underwent a serious operation in September. Witness saw him thrice' daily until the night of December 27th., when he left the patient dying. Very early on the 28th lie was summoned to the bedside and found .Druce had just died. He gave a certificate of death and assisted the nurse to lay out the body. He attended the funeral at Highgatc, and there were ■a dozen mourning coaches. Witness never saw signs of a skin disease on Bruce’s face. The latter wore a natural dark heard and side whiskers. Ho (Dr. Shaw) went to New Zealand and Tasmania, settling in Southport in 1867.