The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-01
n 41DOIlS DRUCE CHM
LONDON'S LENDING TOPIC
Preliminary Su for Tile aid Estates Of Duke of Portland it
Exritcs Widespread and ABSORBING Interes.

sister. the aunt of the claimant. was also
I sent for. and lived for many years with
1 her father. who nowNappears as the own
| err of a residence at Brighton. hunting
box in Worcestershire, and country seat
at Hendon.
The question that the courts are now
asked to decide is: Was this man bruce,
the owner Of the bazaar, grandfather of
George Holamby bruce, really the fifth
duke OF Portland?
Lord Howard dc Walden comes into the
case by reason of the will left by the
fourth duke. who provided that III the
event of the fifth duke and his brother
dying without heirs the life interest IL,
the estate should go to the survivor of
four sisters and then TO the descendants
of that survivor. Lord Henry Bentinck
dying without an heir, the life interest
went to Lady Howard de Walden, and so
to her son.
Immense Property Involved.
The present charge is regarded by
George Holamby bruce and those acting
nshis behalf as a preliminary to strug-
gle for the London estate of the present
Lord Howard de Walden.
In his Will the fourth duke of Portland
directed that this property should de-
scend to his son, the fifth duke and 10
his sons heir.
Failing the fifth duke having an heir.
the property was to descend in the female
line. On the assumption thatcthe fifth
duke did not marry, the estate went to
the Dowager Lady Howard de Walden.
But now George Iollamby bruce Is
seeking to establish that the fifth duke
did marry in the name of T. c. BRUCE.
who was this George Hollamby's grand
father. On these grounds he will seek
to establish his title to this London estate
This property alone is worth an almost
| fabulous fortune. 1t lies in the region of
oxford street. Portland place. Caveniish
square. Wimpole street, Harley street,
| Wigmore street and other thoroughfares
| When 1t came into the possession of the
Dowager Lady dc Walden it is recorded
that ii furnished her with the splendid
income of 91S0000 a year. 1t is in:pos-
sible to say exactly what 1t yields TODAY.
but It's value has risen considerably since
that time, and it is probable that tho
estimates. which place the annual rental
at between .e250,o00 and 100000, are fairly
correct. If we take $500. GOO a year as the
total rental, this capitalized would mean
an immense fortune in itself.
The Portland Estates.
at present the plaintiff is not making a
direct claim upon the estate of the duke
OF Portland. But If he should succeed in
establishing his right to the Dc Walden
property. he confidently expects that he
will obtain that of the duke. This would
mean the transference of such estates as
go with the dukedom, properties dazzling
in value so far as size and dignity go.
The Portland estates cover an area con-
sderably greater than that of the whole
of NliddleseN.
The annual value of these properties is
variously estimated at from Gl20.0cO to
e150,000 II we take the higher figure, that
represents at 5 per cent. q capital of G3-,
0oO.UO or at per cent, .s3.16O.000 But
even this does not fully represent the
wealth of the duke. Welbeck Abbey Is
crammed with precious pictures. statuary,
tapestry and furniture which alone are
worth fortune. Some idea of the value
of these treasures may be gathered from
the fact that single table there is said
to be worth sl5.0O0.