The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-07-09
HEIR
TO THE
DUKE
Claims Duke of Port
land Was Thomas
Druce
II Contention Is Correct
Young Druee will Capture
The Wealth and Title
of Old Family

Z. London. July A.-GeOfEe houanoF
Z Druce. the new claimant 20 the title
5 and estates Of the dukedom Of Port
: land, Is rapidly bringing his plans to
. completion. Within a short time the
: whole Of the remarkable case known
as the Druce mystery viii be reopened
new evidence bearing on the story
will be submitted. and the legal bat
lie Of the vault fought from the begin
ning once more.
The general outline Of the story Is
familiar 70 every one. Il Is claimed
thz, william John. fifth Duke OF Port
land and Mr. Thomas Charles Druce
we're one and the same person.
Adopting for reasons Of his own the
name Of Druce. Il Is claimed that the
duke for reasons Of his own again
dropped the name. arranged for the
burial Of the supposed Mr. Druee. and |
resumed his life a. the duke.
When be ultimately died be was
buried as a bachelor. and the title
with the estates passed into the pos
session Of q cousin. the present duke
Of Portland.
The Druce claim is that the burial
vas a sham. that the coffin did not
contain a body. and that there is
direct descendant Of the duke living
who IL the present claimant and who
Is the rlghtful heirat.laW.
Basis for Claim Stated.
Mr.. Druce arrived In this country
from Australia about ave weeks ago.
In the course OF an interview he de-
tailed bis claim. his relation 10 the
former famous claimant. Mrs. Druee,
and his present plans
MY claim" said Mr. Druee. lis that :
am the rightfui claimant to the title n
md the estates Of the late fifth duke I
81 Portland. who. from 1885 to 1854. 2
under the name Of Tho 4
mas Charles Druce of the Baker street h
hNEaar.
Ny father vas George Druce who A
Eent 70 Australia about 1851. and vas v
here married 20 my mother. Mary n
ioiiamby. He vas the son Of Thomas a
'haries Druoe By bis hrst marriage In
sis With Elizabeih Crickmer. my /,
'randmoiher A
MY clAim arises from the allesa. n
ion that old Mr Druce was lu reality NJ
.ot Druce a. an. but the late NTH n
luke % Portland That Is the Whole n
ROAD o. the contention. n Duce
'as the duke q Portland. then I. as /.
u grandson, must be entitled 20 sue q
ED 70 his estates. :,
= admit that the duks Of Portland d,
led and vas buried In 1879. aud am 81
here fore deslrous OF obtaining an al
rder % eNhume the conn In Hlgh.
ate cemetery which Was buried on \
ecemher 2s 1854 and said 10 con.
ln the remains % my late grand.
lther. Thomas Charles Dnce That
'humation. when effected. vim com.
etely dispose q my claims one way
/ the other.
-u ! am satisfied that old Mr. m
ruees body Is 10 that conn. then he M
'doubiedly could not have been the N
Ike q Portland. Who died In 1875. =.
teen years afieF the alleged burial !,
MF. Druoe
Tells 81 Assumed Name. n,
"a on the contrary. the oofhn De Ia
'and emp9, a. | am confident Il will o.
ca thar tact, taken with the elrcum I'd
antial evidence have already ool- lel
ted. will establish beyond an doubt mi
a. ne name of Druee. under which vi
have known my grandfather. vas a an
're ineognito adopted By The hnh vi
se o. Portland 20 conceal his lden. Ba
ave oeii7eied q great amount Of Nv
'dsnee before arriving In ENGLAND NJ
q "iao sinee mo Arrival vhloh sas.
''s an abundance Of reasons why
? dake should have desired this
aceAlmeHt-
NJ pruee hen procceded 10 mar !
'e series o. extraordinary points ~,
similarity between the ann dukeIme
q Old Mr. Druce when IN Austn. er.
he Nas sivsn % understand th.tl -.
aenes On thls suhieet would b oe ~,
liable In EnglAnd whlch uouia az -,
esiAhlsaing TIE idsntity. me- -.
nts AmonE oshers. were: -.
Similarity q features. gahsrss Mn
p = eo~paFlson of photosraphs :
feeuiAFiues q dress- n,
fecuiiarlsies q diet =.
pecaiiar physioal lnarn,tr =
ornee and ne daks hslnr lnowp a.,
As.e n1pgsa from an hsrodliarv ms-
a'-ea,e aapArsal IA tie hce ~