THE DRUCE CLAIMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 28 October 1907, Page 3

THE DRUCE CLAIMS.

THE CHARGE OF PERJURY. London, October 25. Heftert Drucc appeared at Marylcbone to answer a charge of perjury. Druce's counsel intimated that he would call a New York accountant, who would depose that Portland many years ago confesed to him that he was maintaining a dual personality. SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE.' OUTLINED BY THE CLAIMANT'S , COUNSEL. THE LATE DUKE'S DUAL LIFE.«-». Received Oct. 27, 4.43 p.m. London, October 2<i. The Drucc perjury ease was adjourned for a fortnight. George Druce's counsel proposes to call Robert Caldwell, of New York, to prove that about ISti-l, at the Ihike of Portland'* request, hi- assisted him to organise Druce's slian death and burial, in order to destroy evidence of his dual personality, lead being placed in the coffin.

Counsel also calls Miss Robinson, who acted as secretary both at Baker Street Bazaar and Welbeck Abbey, knowing Dmce and the Duke to be the sam<* person. Mrs. Hamilton, who will depose 'o hearing the Duke declare he wished to do away with the Druec personality, will be e{illjd.

[The Drnce claims have been before the public for some years. At present there is a joint stock company in existence to conduct the case on behalf of G. H. Drucc, who hails from Australia. Speaking at a recent meeting of the shareholders, Mr T. K. Cobnrn, barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, said he had been occupied five years in getting evidence together, with the result that he was now able to say thait he honestly believed Mr G. H. Brace was the grandson of the fifth Duke of Portland, and, what was more important, he believed Mr Druee would be able to establish the point. Dealing with the evidence, he said that they had the statement by the fifth duke that he Was T. C. Drnce, given to his own private seeretarv. and written down in her diary at the time. Could they imagine more positive evidence than that! The lady, who had come from New Zealand to give evidence, had been promised nothing by them; all she hafl been paid was a sufficient gum to keep her in this country and the lady companion who had come from New Zealand with her. As to the exhumation of the ooflin supposed to contain the remains of T. C.Druce, he said if they were successful in getting the grave opened, and showing that the coffin contained nobody, it could not fail to have an enormouß effect on the jury in considering the question of the fifth Duke of Portland and T. C. Drnce. But it would only be corroborative evidence after all, and their case was sufficiently strong' without it. If they did not go on with the exhumation proceedings, the result would be that the action in the ordinary course would come on for trial in this year. They had their evidence in Buch a form that it could be presented to the Court the next day if necessary. Everything possible had been done to husband their resources in order to be well prepared for the trial itself, bmt to pay the court fees and leading counsel, as well as to maintain properly 150 to 200 witnesses in London for three or four weeks, would necessitate the provision of further funds. The shareholders were therefore asked to take up the unissued shares referred to in the director's report, and if they did «o there would then be in hand ample rands to meet all requirements until the completion of the first trial. Mr a Kinjber, solicitor, expressed his confidence in the justice of Mr Druce's Jplaim, and referred to the important evidence of a New York witness with "gaiy to putting lead in the coffin supposed to contain the. body of T. C. Druce He agreed with Mr Cobnrn that the opening of the coffin was not absolute- 1 ly necessary in their case; but it remained to be seen, if the evidence of the witness referred to was true, whether, as a matter of public righteousness. the coffin ought not to be opened. He believed that the time was not far distant when public opinion on the point would he so Btrong that the Home Secretary on his own initiative would come forward and say that this controversy should be nut an end to by the opening of the grave.]