The herald., 1898-11-03
A TRULY TANGLED TALE
TOLD BY A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
OF A DUKE
TICHBORNE CASE IS ECLIPSED
By One Which Involves the Title and
Estate Of William, Duke of
Portland
Associated Press Special Wire


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 appeals to.
day directing the chancellor and faculty OF
the diocese of London to issue her permit
to open and inspect the coffin, now IN the
vaults of Highgate cemetery, alleged to con.
tain the remains of her father-in-law or OF
a man buried as Thomas Charles Druce. The
appeal court dismissed the appeal OF MIR.
Young, the executor of Druce, against a de-
cision allowing the exhumation OF the body,
granted in August by Sir Francis Henry
Jeune, president of the probate, divorce and
admiralty division 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 DIR. Forges
at a lunatic asylum. Her son, who she as
scrts is the rghtful Duke of Portland and
for whom her present proceedings are taken,
is, or has been until recently, domestic
servant. He was last heard OF in Aus
tralia.
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, Will
lam John Arthur Charles James, the de facto
duke, who was born Dec. %, 1857, and mar
ried Miss Winifred Dalas-York. Both he
and his wife are very popualr in London
numerous estates. A recently published es-
innate of the dukes rent roll placed it at
something like f400,000 year.
Mrs. Drllce in her affidavits declares that
Thomas G. Druce did not die in December,
1864, as would appear from the official rec
ord, and that the coffin in Highgate ceme-
terry, 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 double life
taking various courses for his protection. She
says that the marriage between her late hus
bands father and mother on Oct. 80, 1851
at New Windsor, Berkshire, in which the
names were recorded as Thomas Charlie:
Druee and Annie Mary, was in reality be
the fifth Duke of Portland, and the illegiti
mate daughter of the fifth Earl Of Berkeley
According to her story, the marquis (hel
father-in-law) and his brother, Lord Charle
Bentnck, were both in love with the SAM
woman, but while the younger brother
suit received the appreciation of the girl
father, the latter not only discouraged tn,
desire of the eldest son, but treated him will
insult The climax of the quarrel betweel
the brothers was reached on Sept. q, lS4s
when Lord George was found dead nea
: Welbeck abbey, it was stated, from spasn
of the heart.
Mrs. Druce says that her father-in-lay
, suffered the keenest remorse and abject feal
and that in adopting the name of Thoma
Charles Druce he transferred to himself a
Druce an immense property from himself a
Duke of Portland. Realizing the risk of e.
posure from his double existence, he dt
, termined to end his life as Druce, and cause
, coffin to be buried with his suppose
/ remains. Even then his fears were not a
/ lnat, should he ever be accused of a crime
, might have the plea of insanity to ia
g back upon. Taking the name of Harne
r and conducting himself in most extravi
CANT manner, he caused himself to be place
under the care of DR.. Winslow, whom
convinced of his madness, though after
year of Incarceration he was permitted t
leave.
BY the terms of Druce's will, his estat
was left in equal shares to his six children
: of whom Walter bruce, the husband of tn
present applicant, was the youngest. Il
her affidavit she says five of the children
: were born before their parents were mar
ried.
If she can establish her contention thu
her father-in-law did not die in 1854 the vii
can be invalidated, and her son, the eldes
son of the only legitimate son of Thoma
Charles Druce, becomes entitled to the en-
tire estate. If she can also establish tn
contention regarding the dual life of Druc
, her son will become entitled to the title AM
J, estates now held by William, Duke Of Port
; land