The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-08-14
Contest for the Estate of the
PortIands Develops Strange
Things.
DRucE's IDENTITY G A
Link by Link the Chain Is Forging to
Prove That the Fifth Duke of Port
land and Thomas Charles
bruce Were the Same.

NentS winch go far TO prove ina the
fifth duke and Thomas Charles bruce
Were one and the same man. The story
which is gradually being pieced to-
gether by the claimant of the dukedom
is made even more strange and tragic
as new features develop.
h latest incidents brought for
ward to establish the claim center
around the affection displayed by the
fifth Duke Of Portland Cat the time
when he was the Marquis of Itch
1eld) and Lord George Ben1nck, his
brother, for one Annie May, a member
Of the Berksley family. Miss May had
no claim to any title owing to a de-
cision of the house Of lords, which
rendered a whole branch of the family
Of the fifth Earl of Berksley technically
Legitimate.
For generations the Portlands and
the Berksleys lac been or terms of the
most intimate relations, marrying and
internarrying. They were near neigh
tcrs.
The Marquis Of Tichfield's attach
ment for the same girl, Annie May.
aroused intense indignation on the
part of Lord George. The actual
cause of his is unknown. Assuming
the elder brother M Thomas Charles
bruce to be the same person, the rea-
son would be obvious. 1t is probable
1hi IoIu HCoIEC liz W liS "a
marriage, and objected to his brother
acting in such a manner with a girl
he could not hope to wed.
Death of Lord George.
The feeling OF indignation culnin-
ated one day in 1S4S, When the BROTH
ers seem to have been together at We'll
beck. Lord George was going to stay
with one Of the members of the Duke
Of Rutland's family, and, after being
az, orc cad with nn1itirS1 raSnnDGa
all day, he set out to walk to his hosts
place, about 4 in the afternoon. His
valet preceded him, driving by road
with his luggage. Lord George, who
was apparently in the best Of health,
walked across the fields.
When some little way from Welbeck he
met his brother, the then Marquis of
Titchfield, accompanied by two friends.
A terrible quarrel ensued, in which Lord
George struck the maquir again and
again with his hands and with a stick.
He called him the most opprobrious
names. and, among other things, taunted
him with being a leper.
In self-defense, it is urged, the marquis
at last struck Lord George back, hitting
him in the chest. Lord George immedi-
ately staggered and fell, expiring in a
few minutes This was in a meadow on
the Welbeck estate. His body was not
found till search was made, about seven
hours afterward.
Such Is the outline of a story which is
vehemently affirmed and as vehemently
denied.
It's significance in the bruce case can be
seen from the fact that this Annie May
was the woman with whom Thomas
Charles bruce lived for years, and whom
he ultimately married, on the death of
Elizabeth Crickmer. grandmother Of the
present claimant, In 1851.
Amazing Parallels Found.
How comes it, the present claimant and
his supporters ask, that the same mar
Vicious condolences again enter this arnaz-
ing story Of links and parallels, unless
the fifth duke and Thomas Charles bruce
were the same man? On what other
grounds, they ask, could the woman who
became Thomas Charles Druce's wife be
the subject Of such a terrible affair be-
tween the two Portland brothers?
The story from the opposition side is
Mat the marquis was in London at the
time of his brothers death; that Lord
Georges valet was at once sent to town
to inform him Of the tragic occurrence,
and that at the inquest held on the body
1T was found that death had resulted from
heart disease.
To combat his version there are several
remarkable facts. First, there is the alb
eelice of the valet from the inquest. He
would have been the most important wit
ASoS, as ne WIS one OIL the 1aSC people TO
see his master alive, and it was on his
report that search for Lord George was
made.
Though called for by the coroner, who
attached great Importance to his evil
dei-ce, he was not produced.
A laborer at the inquest named Richard
Evans. in giving evidence, said that he
saw q person standing near the spot
where Lord Georges body was found.
This person. he thought at the time, was
the marquis of Titchfield.
his son, a Woodman, corroborated this
evidence, and that he also thought the
person he saw was the marquis.
Another woodmans named John Nee,
said that he saw a man standing near a
gate in the meadow in which the BODY
was found. This man he also believed to
De the marquis of Titchfield.
Evidence of a Quarrel.
The medical evidence pointed strongly
70 the theory of the quarrel which has
oeen so persistently denied by the family.
one OF the doctors who gave evidence de-
,clared that there was -extravasated blood
under the skin on the chest and right side.
This is taken to point strongly to a blow
on the chest.
The verdict of the jury was that Lord
George expired of spasms of the heart,
During the whole of the proceedings the
greatest possible secrecy was maintained.
and although Lord George was the leader
OF one OF the great political parties in
the house Of commons, 40 information
was afforded, when sought, Of the date or
place of burial.
1t Is significant to note that in the strug-
gle OF the brothers for the possession of
the woman, the old fourth duke, their
Father. was far from taking a neutral
tttude. The whole circumstances seem
to have been well known to him, and he
is said to have strongly favored Lord
Georges suit, and to a opposed with
equal strength that Of the Marquis of
Titchfeld
There is other evidence to connect the
marquis and Thomas Charles bruce as
one man, and that man the wooer of An
ME May. 1t Is known that when Thomas
Charles bruce was at the bazaar a wom-
an giving the name of Berkeley was q
frequent visitor, and that she had long
and stormy interviews with old Mr.. bruce.
After 1854, when bruce married Annie
MAY, supposed to be the same person.
these interviews almost entirely ceased.