THE DRUCE CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9030, 21 February 1908, Page 5

THE DRUCE CASE.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association-By Electric Telegraph copyright.

CHARGE OF PERJURY AGAINST

MRS ROtiINSON

Received February 20, 10.45 p.m. LONDON, February 20. The hearing of the charge of perjurv against Mrs Robinson was commenced,yesterday, before Sir Charles Matthews, at.Bow Street. The prosecution submitted further evidence confirming Mrs Robinson's antecedents, and documents showing that she had received £SOO from two insurance companies in settlement of her claim in connection with the burning of her residence at New Brighton, New Zealand. Correspondence and cablegrams produced showed that the Druce Company accepted her overtures as a witness, and paid her passage money to London. They promised her remuneration in the event of the success of the claim. A mass of publications was seized at Mrs Robinson's lodging, relating to the late Duke of Portland, Welbeck Abbey, the late Charles Dickens, and a history of the Druce case, with passages marked, and also copies of letters purporting to be from the Duke of Portland to Mrs Robinson indicating that she was his much beloved mistress.

Inspector Drew stated that lie found a draft at Mrs Robinson's residence stating that the Duke of Portland gave her £5,000 in notes in 1876, and also other moneys. She had since confessed that the Portland htters were her own concoctions, and Ihe evidence given by her in the box was false. She claimed to have received another letter purporting to be from the late Charles Dickens, written to warn her to be tight-fisted and as hard as a grindstone in order to save further trouble. The case was adjourned till Monday.