THE DRUCE CASE.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 366, 12 November 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE DRUCE CASE.

THE Druce case coutinues to excite public interest in England, although there have been no very startling developments siuce tho story was first published in the newspapers. It will be remembered that certain claimants asserted that the late Mr T. C. Druce proprietor of a fancy bazaar in Bikerstreet, London, was in reality a Duke of Portland. This Mr Druce apparently died and was buried in Highgate cemetry, where a coffin bearing his name is said to be lying. The claimant's story runs to the effect that Mr Druce simply caused an empty coffin to be buried and assumed his position as Duke of Portland, thus obliterating Mr Druce, the fancy bazaar proprietor, but keeping the Duke of Portland amon»st the livina. Other reports are to tho effect that Mr Druce was a very eccentric person and that he had subterranean passages communicating with his p'.ace of business. It is said that after his reported death Mr Druce turned up at the bazaar several times, and that he was later on a patient of Dr. Forbes Winslow. The grave which contains the collio has not yet been opened, and meanwhile a lady who claims to be the mother of a direct descendant of Mr Druce is endeavouring to have the case cleared up, with a view to establishing a claim to the title and estates of the Duke of Portland. The young man in whose favour the effort is being made is reputed to be about 21 years of age, and it is said that he resides in Sydney. It is also stated that other descendants of the late Mr T. C. Druce reside in New South Wales, but there does not appear to be any likelihood of any of them endeavouring to prove descent from a Duke of Portland. It was recently cabled that debentures were being issued in London for the purpose of raising money to have the mystery unravelled. If this move proves successful, the case will probably create further excitement, and may develop into one of the grtat causes of the century.