OPENING DRUCE’S TOMB.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9076, 17 February 1908, Page 2

OPENING DRUCE’S TOMB.

A London paper gives tiie following account:— Preparations for the exhumation commenced on Sunday, when the three or. four tons of masoni’y above the slab-covered tomb of the Druces was removed. Before the cemetery workmen commenced their task every stone was carefully examined and measured by a group of architects and surveyors representing the litigants or other persons with a special interest in the case. The monument is of marble, and stands 10ft sin high, and rising from the base of the plinth it has a short square body, with ornamented capitol and a surmounted urn. Cherub faces, a wreath , and extinguished torches for the conventional ornamentation. The inscription reads: ‘ ‘ Sacred to the memory of Thomas Charles Druce, of Mill Hill, Hendon, who departed this life December 28, 1864, in his 71st year; also of Walter Thomas Druce, third . son of the above , who departed this life November 19, 1880, aged 28 years; also of Annie Druce, wife of Thomas Charles Druce, who departed this life April 24, 1893, aged 65 years.” All the stones of the structure rested in position on simple grouting by their own weight. Their displacement was a comparatively simple matter, and in the course of a couple of hours the slabs of the tombs proper were laid bare, ready for the more serious operations of the morrow. By the terms of the faculty granted by the Consistory Court the opening of the grave was to be carried out in the early morning, and eight o’clock was fixed for the commencement of the work of opening the vault and raising the coffin, in readiness for examination by the medical experts appointed by the Home Officer, who were expected to arrive about 10.30 a.m. A number of persons had assembled by eight o’clock at the main entrance, but no one was permitted to enter excepting by the official permissions. All those representing interests were there in good time, and were present at the opening of the vault. It had been understood that Mr George Hollamby Druce intended to present himself at eight o’clock to ask for admission to the disinterment, and he duly presented himself, and formally demanded to be allowed to witness the exhumation. He was told this could not be, as there was no authority under the order of Chancellor Tristram, Later he addressed a further request for admission to the responsible officials. But this was attended with no better success, and Mr Druce departed complaining of the treatment he had received.

When all authorised persons, save the medical experts, had gathered in the shed, which was brightly lit by electricity, the workmen at once got to business. With crowbars they eased up the huge flagstone which covered the tomb, and moved it away, disclosing the vault of whitepainted bricks as far down as the slabs which formed the second tier. Ch these rested at the left side the coffin of Mrs Druce. This was drawn carefully to the surface, and placed on one side. Then, having cut the cemented joints of the slabs, the men raised them, one by one, till the whole coffin they sought was in full view. But when the workmen sought to clear the name-plate of the dust ana lime they were at once forbidden. Of necessity morsels of stone and a good deal of mcrtar fell on the coffin, and rendered it impossible to decipher the inscription on the lid. The workmen ascended. Planks were laid across the tomb, and camera placed in position to take pictures of ■the casket as it lay, dust and grime included. Careful observation was made by the professional gentlemen .of all ther§ was to be seen. The Cdffiii was allowed to J l !® S 5 bottom of the tomb awaiting" the doctof’B BMiVal. Dr. Pepper and gif ShOlhas Stevenson, the appointed experts, appeared promptly at the appointed time. The casket was then raised to the surface with the utmost care. It was an'old-fashioned oak coffin, covered with cloth, and studded with brass nails. One of its six brass handles had come off, but otherwise all that was amiss was some fraying of the cloth and a little wasting of the edge of the lid. Careful measurements were made of the dimensions by the professional gentlemen, and both Dr. Pepper and Sir Thomas Stevenson made detailed note of all these particulars, as well as of the actual state of the casket. The name-plate having been washed, the inscription became visible— Died 28th December, 1864 In his 71st year. Above and also below the inscription was a brass cross. A photograph was taken. This ended, the workmen and two undertakers unscrewed the lid, and exposed the lead inner coffin, which bore on its surface the same inscription as that on the outer coffin. Further measurements were taken and noted, and then came the most gruesome part of the exhumation. The undertakers, with hammer and chisel, made an incision near the head. Sir Thomas Stevenson laid some slips of paper on the aperture, and then immersed them in chemical solutions, noting their change of colour. After this the undertakers swiftly cut through the leaden casket throughout its length and the top was lifted clear. With it came the lid of the shell, in which lay something shrouded in white. The assistants of Professor Pepper and Sir Thomas Stevenson, with their hands encased in iudiarubber gloves, removed the sheet. Exposed to view lay the body of an old man in such a state of remarkable preservation that death might have been recent. The upper lip and chin were clean shaven, but bushy whiskers protruded from each side of the face. In turn, every person there in a representative character, closely scrutinised the contents of the coffin, and, it is said, one of them, a gentleman of advanced years, who had known Thomas Charles Druce intimately during his last years, identified the corpse as that of his old friend. If this is true, it is of course the most valuable ! result of the exhumation, for it makes it possible to prove by sworn evidence that T. C. Druce, of Baker Street Bazaar, was buried in the coffin bearing his name. After the authorised people had seen the corpse they left the shed to Professor Pepper and Sir Thomas Stevenson and their assistants, who no donbt made a closer examination of the remains. What they discovered remains only to themselves, .and though it is possible that we

may learn something more at the next hearing of the perjury trial against Mr Herbert Druce on Monday, we have at present to he satisfied with the censored’"journalistic reports as to the contents of the grave and the terse official intimation that “the coffin was opened and contained the )iody of an aged and bearded man. The plate bore the name of Thomas Charles Druce. ’ ’