THE DRUCE CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8987, 23 November 1907, Page 5

THE DRUCE CASE.

MISS ROBINSON CLOSELY CROSS-EXAMINED.

"NOT LIKE A LITTLE CHICKEN."

Received November 21, 10.10 p m. LONDON, November 22. Miss Robinson was closely crossexamined regarding the dates she was associated with the late Charles Dickens. She stated that she was much deceived if Mr Avory was correct and did not think that the Lion Hotel in Worksop, where she stayed for a few days with her mother, was kept by a man named Pearce. She went to lodgings kept by a Mrs Pearce, a lone woman. Her mother took lodgings and gave wituess' name as Madame Tussaud. Mr Avory asked: "Were you a girl of 17." Miss Robinson replied: "I am not like a little chicken." She was further questioned in this direction to test her local knowledge of Welbeck Abbey. Answering a final question she admitted that £2s(f had been cabled to her at Christchurch, New Zealand, last January, to come to England. The hearing of the case was adjourned till Wednesday if possible, otherwise Friday.

ANOTHER POSSIBLE CLAIMANT,

RELATIVES IN NEW ZEALAND

CHRISTCHURCH, November 21

There is another possible claimant to the Portland estates. Recent cables stated that a Mr Calkin claims to be a descendant of th 3 first Duke's eldest snn, who settled in America at the beginning of the last century. Residing in Christchurch is Mr Percy C. Caltnn, who when shown the newspaper report by a friend, said that the man was his uncle. Mr Calkin does not know in what position he stands, but he is taking steps to ascertain if his family has arsy right to rank with the other claimants. He has written to his father, Mr Samuel Richard Calkin, of Cameron street, Whangarei, asking what steps should be taken to have the family represented in the investigations. ' Mr Samuel Calkin, the oldest livingmember of the family is 64 years old, and came to New Zealand many years ago. whaling. He settled in the Auckland district, going to Whangarei, where he resided for some years. He has a family of five sons and three daughters. Pie took part in the last Amevican war, for which he has a pension. Mr Calkin was a teacher in New Zealand for 14 years. All the members of the family are musical. Mr Samuel Calkin has been a teacher of the violin, and is now proprietor of a coffee palace in Whangarei. He is older than Mr Melville Calkin (merchant) and Mr William Calkin. Mr Percy Calkin has no knowledge of his father's father, and cannot say whether it is through him that William Calkin claims the estates, but one of his father's brothers was the late John Baptist Calkin, the well-known composer of sacred music.