The record-union., 1898-11-03

LONDON, Nov. 2.-Mrs. Anna Maria
Druce, daughter-in-laW of the late
Thomas c. Druce, who she asserts was
in fact and in law the fifth Duke of
Portland obtained a final order in the
High Court of Appeals to-day, directing
the Chancellor and faculty of the Dio-
cese of London to issue her a permit
to open and inspect the coffin. now in
the vaults of Highgate Cemetery, al
legged to contain the remains of her
father-in-law, or of a man buried as
Thomas Charles Druce. The appeal
court dismissed the appeal of Mr..
Young, the executor of Druce, against
decision allowing the exhumation of
the body, granted in August by Sir
Francis Henry Jeune, President of the
Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Divis-
ion of the High Court of Justice.
Mrs. Anna Maria Druce claims that
her father-in-law's alleged death and
burial under the name of Druce were
deceptions, and that he lived and
finally died, after having been under
the care of DR.. Foges, at a lunatic asy-
lum of DR.. Harnum. Her son, who she
asserts is the rightful Duke of Port
land, and for whom her present pro-
ceedings are taken, is, or has been un-
til recently, a domestic servant, He
was last heard of in Australia
According to Burke's peerage, Will
lam John Cavendish Scott Bentinoke.
Fifth Duke of Portland, died unmar-
ried, December 6, 1879, and the Duke
dom passed to his cousin, William
John Arthur Charles James, the de
facto Duke, who was born December
Dallas Yorke. Both he and his wife
are very popular in London. society, and
entertain lavishly at their numerous es-
tates. A recently published estimate of
the Dukes rent roll placed it at some
thing like 100000 year.
Mrs. Druce, in her affidavits, declares
that Thomas c. Druce did not die in
December, 1864, as would appear from
the official record, and that the coffin
in Highgate Cemetery which she seeks
to examine does not contain and never
contained human remains Her
contention is that Druce, whether
from eccentricity or from fear,
led a double life, taking various
courses for his protection. She says
that the marriage between her late
husbands father and mother on Octo-
shire, in which the names were recorded
as Thomas Charles Druce and Annie
Mary was in reality between the Mar
quis of Litchfield, afterward the Fifth
Duke of Portland, and the illegitimate
daughter Of the Fifth Earl of Berkshire.
According to her story, the Marquis
and his brother, Lord George Bentinck,
were both in love with the same wo-
ho
ceived the appreciation of the girls
father, the latter not only discouraged
the desire of the eldest son. but treated
him with insult. The climax of the
quarrel between the brothers was
reached on September u, 1S4S when
Lord George was found dead near Wei
beck Abbey, it was stated, from a
spasm of the heart.
Mrs. Druce says that her father-in-
law suffered the keenest remorse and
abject fear, and that in adopting the
name of Thomas Charles Druce he
transferred to himself as Druce an i'm
mense property from himself as Duke
of Portland. Realizing the risk Of ex-
posure from his double existence, he de-
termined to end his life as Druce, and
caused coffin to be buried with his
supposed remains. Even then his fears
were 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
Iak1ng the name of Harner (or Har-
mer), and conducting himself in most
extraVagant manner, he caused himself
to be placed under the care of DR..
Wlnslow, whom he convinced of his
madness, though after a year of in
generation he was permitted to leave.
BY the terms of Druces will his es-
tate was left in equal shares to his six,
children, of whom Walter Druce, 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 die in
1864, the will can be invalidated, and
her son, the oldest son of the only le-
gitimate son of Thomas Charles Druee,
becomes entitled to the entire estate If
she can also establish the contention
regarding the dual life of Druce her
son will become entitled to the title and
estates now held by William Duke of
Portland.