THE DRUCE CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8985, 21 November 1907, Page 5

THE DRUCE CASE.

•MISS ROBINSON'S TESTIMONY. Received November 20, 8.27 a.m. LONDON, November 19. Miss Robinson, the witness from- : New Zealand, continuing her evidence in the Druce case, deposed that -the late Dickens, in 1868. introduced her ±«fDruce at Welbeffi Abbey. She became, his outside co--respondent. Mr Flowden, the magistrate, remarked that he thought Druce disappeared in 1864, and refused to admit a partial copy of the diary made :by Miss Robinson when she was preparing her evidence. . I WITNES3 FAINTS IN COURT. ißecei/ed November 20, 10.25 p.m. LONDON, November 20. _ Miss Robinson, continuing her evi dence, testified that she heard from the late Charles Dickens in 1869 that Druce was the Duke of Portland. She told Druce of what she had heard, and the latter became angry and would not listen to her. In 1870, however, he admitted it, saying that he carried the name of Druce because he had a wife of thdt name below his rank. Miss Robinson went to various places after 1870 at the Duke's instructions, he visiting her at those places. Shi! had a misunderstanding with him in 1876. He then paid her her earnings, and she spent five years in the East. In 1897 she went to New Zealand. Witness was severely cross-ex-amined, and stated she knew this gentleman from 1868 onwards as Druce, whom she had seen at Tunbridge Wells and Richmond in 1862. He never told her that hs pretended to die in 1864. She was not aware before she arrived in England last February that Druce of the Baker Street Bazaar was supposed to have died in 1864. stayed at Worksop, and received letters under cover. Until she aware of the Duke's identity she called him Druce. She volunteered the evidence. She did not arrange to receive her expenses in connection with the case, but expected to be paid hereafter. She had re:eived some little money on account. She denied knowing Caldwell in Christchurch, New Zealand, or Grundy, in New Zealand. Miss Robinson shortly afterwards fainted. The hearing ot the :ase was adjourned till Thursday.

ANOTHER CLAIMANT. Received November 20, 8.27 a.m. - NEW YORK, November 19. New York papers report that a merchant at Millville, New Jersey, named Cakins, claims the Portland estates as a decendant of the first Duke's eldest son, who settled in America, at the beginning of last century.