THE DRUCE CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 18 November 1907, Page 2

THE DRUCE CASE.

FANTASTIC STATEMENTS, London, November 16. I Mr. Caldwell, the New York witness fulled by Ueorge H. Druce to prove his claim to the I'ortland estate, was »üb« jetted to severe cross-examination rejading hia evidence that the funeral of the late Mr. Druce was a "sham." Uia evidence was continually contradictory. He deposed that the fifty coaches at the funeral had been filled with all . the servants from Welbeck, to whom the Duke of Portland paid five shillings apiece. lie made other fantastic statements. CALDWELL'S REMARKABLE TESTIMONY. TOO CONTRADICTORY FOR CREDENCE. Received Not. 17, 4.9 p.m. London, November 16. Caldwell deposed that Italian and German, not Indian, rajahs paid him £SOOO 1 each in India in Bank of England notes 1 for curing their bulbous noses. He declared that he treated the Duke with ointment. When reminded that ' he had sworn that he used medicine, he said he put medicine on the nose. He said he refused the Duke's cheque, and 1 was always paid in bank notes. He kept j no bank account, and pinned the bank 1 notes inside his shirt. He said that liveried men-servant* waited at table at Baker-street Bwaar. If it was correct that there were no bedrooms, dining-room, or kitchen at the Bazaar, his story would be untrue. He stated that no plate or inscription was - placed on the coffin to indicate the ! death, When the _Magietrate remarked that the finishing touch of the deception waa wanting, Caldwell said he merely executed the Duke's orders. He adhered to his statement that he saw the underground apartments at Welbeck in 1804 when counsel said they were not constructed until 1872. He further stated that the Duke superintended the arrangement of the Bazaar on the day of the mock funeral. Caldwell said he was positive no fun* eral of Druce occurred on the 31st December, 1894. He denied that when in the service of Gilliland, the owner of the Rock milt, Londonderry, in 1801, he knew Inch in New York. If Inch swore he and Caldwell had been in the service of Christy, of Londonderry, the statement Was untrue.

He admitted he knew Mathew Ballantyne, of New York, and denied telling him in 1880 that he had been in the employ of Christie. It was his (Caldwell's) brother William, with whom he changed names as a boyish prank.

His" brother had been accused of embezzling Christie's money. When shown documents signed "Robert Caldwell," consigning all his property to Christie, Caldwell declared it to be his brother's signature, now dead. They wrote, looked and spoke very much alike.

Robert Caldwell, giving evidence last week, said the late Duke of Portland gave him £SOOO foY making arrangements for a mock funeral about the year 181)4. Nathaniel Inch, a New York bank clerk, is going to London to testify that Caldwell was employed in Christy's mill, Londonderry, during the entire months when he alleged the bogus funeral occurred.