THE DRUCE CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9012, 23 December 1907, Page 5

THE DRUCE CASE.

CATHERINE BAILEY'S EVIDENCE. SAW BODY PLACED IN COFFIN. DRUCE'S ORAVE TO BE OPENED. Received December 22, 4.58 p.m. LONDON, December 21. A witness named Catherine Bailey, in cross-examination, said Druce, by whom she was employed for many years, always shaved his beard. Witness when shown a large photograph among a number of alleged DrucePortland photographs with' sidewhiskers, recognised it as Druce's, and said she had in her possession one similar to it, which had been taken later. He also had another taken three years before he died, showing him with a full beard and moustache. She had heard silly gossiping people talk about a mock funeral. Asked when she first heard the story, witness replied, "I suppose it was when Druce was supposed to die or did die."

Witness further stated that between 184S and 1864 ( Druce never slept in his residence unless his fam ily accompanied him. She and Dr. Shaw were present when the body was placed in the coffin. In reply to MrPlowden (the Magistrate) witness said that she attributed the mock funeral story to Anna Maria Druce, the original claimant. The further hearing of the case was adjourned till January 6th. All preliminaries in connection with the opening of Druce's grave at Highgate Cemetery have been settled, but the exhumation of the remains will not take place until after Christmas.