The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-03
WILL VIEW THE COFFIN
MRS. ANNA MARIA DRUCE FINALLY
GAINS HER POINT.
Her Son Said to BE the Duke of Port
lands Heir-AIIeged Deception in
Death and Burial.

LONDON, Nov. Mrs. Anna Maria
Druce daughter-in-law of the late Thomas
G. bruce, who, she asserts, was in fact and
in law the fifth duke of Portland, obtained
final order in the High Court of Appeal
to-day directing the chancellor and faculty
of the diocese Of London to issue her a per-
nit to open and inspect the coffin, now in
the vaults of High Gate Cemetery, alleged
to contain the remains of her father-in-law,
or of a man buried as Thomas Charles
bruce. The Appeal Court dismissed the APP
peal of Mr.. Young, the executor of bruce,
against a decision allowing the elimination
of the body granted in August last by Sir
Francis Henry Jeune, president of the pro-
bate, divorce and admiralty division of the
High Court of Justice
Mrs. Anna Maria bruce claims that her
father-in-law's alleged death and burial un-
der the name of bruce We're receptions, and
that he lived and finally died, after having
been under the care of DR.. Forbes Winslow
IL lunatic asylum as DIR. Harner. Her
son, vino, she asserts, is the rightful Duke
of Portland and for whom her present pro-
Ceedings are taken, is or has been until re-
Gently a domestic servant. He was last
heard Of in Australia.
According to Burke's peerage, William
John Cavendish Scott Bentinck fifth Duke
of Portland. died unmarried, Dec. 6, 1879,
and the dukedom passed to his cousin,
William John Arthur Charles James. the
de facto duke, who was born Dec. %, 1857,
and married Miss Winifred Dallas Yorke.
Both he and his wife are popular in Lon
don society and entertain lavishly at their
numerous estates. A recently published
estate of the dukes rent roll placed it at
something like 100000 a year.
Mrs. bruce, in her affidavit, declares that
Thomas C. bruce did not die in December
1864, as would appear from the official rec
ord, and that the coffin in Highgate Gene
terry which she seeks to examine does not
contain and has never contained human re-
mains Her contention is that Druce
whether from eccentricity or from fear, led
double life, taking various courses for his
protection. She says that the marriage be-
tween her late husbands father and mother
on Oct 80, 1851, at New Windsor, Berkshire,
in which the names were recorded as
Thomas Charles bruce and Annie Mary
was in reality between the Marquis of
Ltchfield. afterward the Lfth Duke of Port
land, and the illegitmate daughter of the
NTH Earl of Berkely. According to her
story the marquis (her Extraordinarily and
his brother, Lord George Bentinck were
both in love with the same woman, but
while the younger's suit received the ap-
probation of the girls father, the latter lot
only discouraged the desire of the eldest
son, but treated him with insult. The CHI
max of the quarrel between the brothers
was reached in Sept. 81, 1913, when Lord
George was found dead near Welbeck Abby,
1t was stated from d SpaSm of the heart
Mrs. bruce says that her father-in-laW
suffered the keenest remorse and abject
fear, and that in adopting the name of
Thomas Charles bruce he transferred to
himself as bruce an immense property
from himself as Duke of Portland Realizing
the risk of exposure from his double exist
ence, he determined to end his life as bruce,
and caused Il coffin to be buried with his
not allayed, and he determined to assume
madness, that, should he ever be accused of
a crime, he might have the plea of insanity
to fall back upon. Taking the name of
Harner Tor Harmor) and conducting himself
in a most eXtraVagant manner, he caused
himself to be placed under the care of DR..
Winslow, whom he convinced of his mad
ness, though after year of incarceration he
was permitted to leave.
By the terms of Druce's will his estate
was left in equal shares to his six children,
of whom Walter bruce, the husband of the
present applicant, was the youngest. In her
affidavit she says five of the children were
born before their parents were married. If
she can establish her contention that her
father-in-law did not ole in 1864 the will
can be invalidated and her son, the oldest
Charles bruce, becomes entitled to the
tire estate. IL she can also establish the
contention regarding the dual life of bruce,
her son will become entitled to the title
and estate now held by William, the Duke
of Portland.