The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-17
THE DUKE OF PORTLAND
GRAVE TO BE OPENED
The Alleged Daughter-in-Law Of the
Duke Fighting For His Title m
EstatS-Claims That the Comm
IL Filled With Lead.

From the Philadelphia Times.
A suit that rivals the famous Itch
borne case was brought before the
chancellor Of London. sitting in the
bishops court. the other day. The .
is brought by the daughter-in-law OF
Thomas Charles bruce. who alleges
hat he was the fifth duke of Port
land and that her son is entitled to
the estates and title. A decree for the
opening of Druce's grave mas been
granted.
When the due formalities are OBJ
served the grave will be solemnly dug
up and a 30-year-old coffin wrenched
open for the disclosure Of it's secrets.
The examination will be the crux Of
a highly dramatic story. The coffin
purports to contain the remains of
bruce. who vas a wealthy tradesman
and who founded the Baker Street ba-
zaar, one of the largest establishments
in London. 1t was his daughter-in-
law. Mrs. Anna Maria bruce. who APP
piled for the opening of the grave. she
says the coffin contains no body, bu
"a lump of lead. She declares that
Thomas Charles bruce was alive for
years after his reputed death and that
his will was falsely proved. And final
ly she alleges that Thomas Charles
bruce WAS no bruce at all, nor any
commoner, but the fifth Duke of PORT
land. leading a double life, a duke in
one of his personalities. a draper and
upholsterer in h other. So she says
her son Is the rightful sixth Duke of
Portland h desires the opening
Of the grave to prove that the burial
was fictitious n to assist her son In
his claim.
Many things a happened in 30
years and the drama has many char
acters. 1t begins with the ohabita-
ton of Thomas Charles bruce with
Annie May, whom he afterwards mar
ried. Six children were porn to them,
sons and daughters. The eldest son
was named Herbert. the youngest Wal
ter. The petitioner is Walter $ widow.
Herbert is alive. and in the natural
course he should be his fathers heir.
But the petitioner says that all the
children except her husband were of
illegitimate birth. The marriage of
bruce and Annie May took place OF
Oct. 30. 1851. Walter bruce was born
on Feb. 8. 1852, and he was the only
child of the marriage.
Thomas charles bruce, whose coffin
is TO be searched. was an eccentri
man. He lived In one OF the ashton
able squares of the West End and was
seldom seen except by persons who
sought him on business matters. He
never dined out and did not entertain.
Both his appearances and his disap-
pearances were mysterious. For
months his neighbofs would not see
him.. His bazaar was one of the most
fashionable shops in London. Lords
and aides wealthy persons were
constantly there. IL was the correct
thing to do. Royalty drove up in its
carriages. The Baker Street bazaar
was the society rage. But the shop
men noticed that Mr.. bruce ould sell
dom see his distinguished customers.
He sat in seclusion In his sanctum,
ruling the business from an inner room.
On no account would he see a member
of the royal family. This is stated on
oath by one of his former workmen,
who adds that bruce was a very pc
culiar man.
bruce was accustomed to masquer-
aiding. In 1855 he was i'll n went to
stay at Maidenhead. He TOOK one viii
la for himself n another for his boys.
There was plenty of money. The boys
had horses, ponies, a nurse. a tutor and
q groom. They ran i'm and out of their
father's house. and the dead Walter,
the husband of the petitioner. said his
Harmer. The groom was named
George New. Both names acquired q
significance In later years.
So things went until December. 1864.
MIR. bruce was then living at Hol-
combe House, a large mansion in Hen
don. where a Roman Catholic institu-
ton now stands. He became iii. On
the 2Sth day of the month his death
was reported to the registrar by Her
bert bruce, his eldest son. but born
before wedlock. and, therefore. not his
heir-at-law. Death was a to be due
IN AhGaa2Raa UAnDrana nnh Awno-
ton. but in the certificate no doctors
name appeared. as il required by En-
giish law. The chancellor attached
importance to this omission, which, ne
said, was q very serious matter. A
few days afterward h burial took
with religious rites. In the vault at
Highgate cemetery. Then the will
proved. II provided for the chill
dren in equal portions.
When a man In dead and buried II Is
usually the end OF him. But the petit
end OF t. G.. bruce. h declares that
he neither died nor was buried. but
was put In a lunatic asylum. while his
property was cut up. One day an old
workman. Vassar. went to her. h
was In the w~orkhouse at the time. Her
was dead. and she was with |
out resources. She made herself a
pauper i'm order to force the trustees |
to do something for herself n her
children. The old builder said that pm
the 2sth Of December. 1854, the day of
the supposed death. he received a
curious order He had to go to Hol-
House. cut a large piece OF lead.
five feet by four. from h roof. n
IL at the house door. The les |
was X into the house. That night |
he and the dead man. walked around
the strawberries together. Vassar vas
a confidential servant. Mr.. n had
a mania for building. and vassar was
at his call.
After the death" and the burial
and .he administration of the estate.
strange things happened. Baker Street
bazaar had been undermined with Sc
cret passages. Suddenly. and at ir-
regular intervals. Mr.. bruce used to
appear in the bazaar and glance around
the premises. greatly 10 the alarm of
The WINK neAnla rho.. mara LAZY L