THE DRUCE CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 2 December 1907, Page 3

THE DRUCE CASE.

MRS. HAMILTON'S EVIDENCE. AN INTERESTING EXAMINATION. Received December 1, 3.47 p.m. London, November 30. On the resumption of the Druce case, Mr. Avory asked Mrs. Hamilton: " lias it not struck you as a curious coincidence that the gentleman whom you called father, and your foster father, both died in the same year?" Mrs. Hamilton (promptly): "No. it never occurred to me." Mr. Avory referred to certain omissions in her evidence before the Queen's Bench, where she stated that she lived at Gower Street up till 18(18, and did not inform Bargrave Deane th it she was living with her husband a! Liverpool from 1858 to 1871. Witness—l often visited T.ond<-:, and stayed with my father in Gower Street. I was never asked about Liverpool. Mr. Avory quoted evidence glVen liefore the Queen's Bench Division, showing that Mrs. Hamilton did not mention the lumps on the duke's face and suggested tint the present testimony was based on Caldwell's.

When, confronted with the discrepancies thus revealed, Mrs. Hamilton blamed the stenographer. She enn-'ess-od she had confused dates, or. she d>rlared. questions put her on the previous occasion had mi-led her.

Replying to further questions by Mr. Avory regarding the handwriting of tlie duke, witness stated he was nlde to write almost any hand lie liked. The rluke told her, in reply to a question isked him. that his inoek funeral rost CIOOO. Witness supposed the officials were bribed, or they won d never have taken the coffin without a certificate. Mrs. Hamilton, replying to the Maiistrate (Mr. Plowden), said between ISfifi and 1870 her father spoke to hnr about Caldwell going to do a good thing for the duke's nose. She supposed he meant Caldwell. She knew the duke's nose looked nice up to 1804, though if closely examined there might have been seen a little mark. Afterwards she saw the lump had disappeared. The duke used to refer to an outside correspondent, though her father was unaware why lie wanted a woman secretary. RIVAL CLAIMANT COMPANY. APPLICATION FOR IX.JCNCTTOX. Received December 1, 4.8 p.m. LONDON, November .10. The new Druee-Portland Companv, through Prichard, one of the directors. applied to Mr. Justice Joyce for an injunction restraining Blakiston and Captain Halls, co-directors, from parting with moneys in their possession. Prichard's counsel stated that Hollamhv Drnce's cliim must fail, because Chas. Edgar Dnice, grandson of an elder brother of claimant's father, was still alive in Australia. The claimant might come to terms with his cousin hn* that Srmild not affect the applicants who are fhareholders, and mostly artisans and domestics.

The application was adjourned.