Washington sentinel., 1898-04-02

Lord George Bentinck-were both 10
love with the same woman, but while
the Younger's suit received the
appreciation of their father, the latter
not only discouraged the desire Of his
eldest son, but treated him with insult,
and referred in very gross terms to the
skin disease from which he suffered. The
climax to the quarrel between the
brothers was reached on September al,
Is4s, when Lord George was found
dead near WeIbeck Abbey, it was stated
from spasm Of the heart. Whether
this was the true cause OF his decease
can now, Of course, never be known;
but 1t IS quite certain that from that
time my husbands father suffered the
keenest remorse and the most abject
fear. Nearly always in state of terror
he took various courses for his protec-
tlon' and adopting the name OF Thomas
Charles Druce, transferred to himself.as
Druce, immense property from himself
as Duke Of Portland You know quite
well the manner IN which he undermined
Welbeck Abbey with subterrsnean
apartments; he did precisely the same
thing with the Baker Street Bazaar, his
desire in each case being that he might
nave always ready a place of refuge.
But realizing the risk of exposure to
which he was subjecting himself by his
double existence, he determined to end
his life as Druce, and Tor that purpose
caused coffin to be buried with his
supposed remains. had long had my
suspicious, and when, on my husbands
death, a man named Vassar came To
me and mentioned that he had been
engaged in removing some lead from a
roof about the time of the supposed
burial, they were converted into Ger.
tainty.
II anV further proof were needed that
nobody was inferred, it is supplied by
the fact that it was subsequently dis.
covered on the burial of my husbands
mother, that the coffin supposed to
contain his tather's remains had entirely
collapsed, for the simple reason that the
weight Of the coffin containing nv
husbands body had caused it 10 do so.
through there being nothing inside to |
sustain it. Even after this, however,
the fifth dukes fears were not quieted, /
and at last he determined to assume
madness, in order that, should he be
ever accused OF any crime, he might
have the plea of insanity to fall back
upon. Taking the name OF Harner.
and conducting himself in the most ex.
traVagant manner, he caused himself 10 /
be placed under the care of DIR. Forbes
Winslow, and succeeded in entirely |
convincing that gentleman of his mad |
ness, but after about year of incarce-
ration he was then permitted TO leave.
AS to why my husbands father and |
mother did not marry for so long il is |
impossible to say accurately; but prob |
ably the desire to conceal the facts /
surrounding the lady's birth had a great
deal to do with it; the circumstances in
her case being also Of an extraordinary
character. The fifth Earl of Berkeley
married his wiie--a Miss Cole-in 1855:
and then, many years later. had to go
through the same ceremony again. for
the House of Lords, in 1871, declared
the first union illegal. my husbands
mother being born before that date, l
myself was Miss Butler, and my father
being agent for Lord Pembroke, the
latter acted for time as my guardian.
1t was through going to the same !
school as my husbands sister that first
met him.
have been offered S6o.ooo for my
claim, but have refused it. Every
obstacle has been put in my way, and
only the other day, at Highgate Police
Court, two men, perfect strangers to
me attempted to give me in charge; the
Inspector however, declined to listen to
them, But am absolutely confident of
and now the case has at last
come before the public, have no doubt
as to its ultimate result.
ENGLAND. FRANCE, AND TuN1s