Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-21
WANTED BY BRITISH COURT
Taken Soon After He Had Left the
Steamer.
SECOND AFFIDAVIT EXPLOIT
He Gave the Most Sensational Evi-
dence Submitted at the Famous
London Trial.

NEW 1ORh, DecmD per S1.-RoDert CalG-
well. the American who gave startling tes-
timony in the Druce case. in London, was
arrested in Hoboken, Nj, today soon after
ne had landed from the steamer Kaiserin
Adguste Victoria. The arrest was made
upon cable request from the British au-
thorities. He is charged with perjury in
connection with the testimony given by
him at the Druce hearing. He will be ar
raigned before the United States commits
sloner, who will hold him for examination.
4. Reports that warrant had been issued
Tor Caldwelfs arrest in London. but that
he had succeeded In getting out of the
country before it was served were cabled
here several days ago, and the announce
ment was made that the authorities at
New York had been asked to take him into
custody Immediately upon the arrival of
the steamer upon which he had taken pa s.
sage. few days later, however. there
came denial of the story. and it was
said that the British authorities were still
considering the question as to whether a
warrant should be issued.
He Feared Arrest.
In the meantime the wireless telegraph
had carried the first report to the Kaiser:n
Auguste Victoria, and it had been read in
the daily newspaper published aboard by
Caldwell and. all the other passengers
When the steamer arrived at the quaran-
tine station today, Caldwell, who occupied
second cabin accommodations, was al
most In state of collapse. When he was
seen by newspaper man and told of the
second report denying the authenticity OF
the statement pub. .ished in the ship news
paper great load seemed to have been
lifted from him.
Thank Cod" was his comment when the
news was taken to him. Caldwell, how.
ever. appeared to be broken in health and
spirit. and told his interviewer that he
was far from well-that he believed him.
self to be in a serious physical condition
The temporary relief which came to
Caldwell with the news which met him
at quarantine was short-li Almost
immediately after he had stepped ashore
at Hoboken he was taken into custody.
Sensational Evidence.
Caldwell November 8 testified at the
police court that he knew the
late Duke of Portland both as the duke
and as T.. c. Druce, at welbeck Abbey
and at the Baker street bazaar He
added that he treated the duke at both
places for a disease of the nose Cald-
well further testified that in conjunction
Win the uukS ne arranged the mock
funeral of Druce. He said that at the
dukes request he employed a carpenter
to make a coffin. purchased 300 pounds of
lead and put it in the coffin himself. The
funeral occurred the following day.
When shown two photographs Caldwell
swore that they were photographs of the
fifth Duke of Portland in the character of
T. c. Druce. and declared he had seen the
duke wear false beard. Caldwell related
in detail his story of his Introduction to
the Duke of Portland in 1864, and testi-
fled that he received presents from the
duke aggregating about $50,O0o, besides
the fee of s2j,O00 for medical services.
At the hearing of the case December
13 counsel for the prosecution announced
that the prosecution decided not to rely
on the evidence given by Caldwell as sus-
picions had been aroused during the cross
examination of the tness. On the fol-
lowing day it was discovered that Cald-
we'll had suddenly left London. A war
rant for his extradition was issued at the
Bow street court December 16 on d
charge of perjury.
The Stewart Affair.
Caldwell, who has a home on Staten
Island. at one time lad an experience in
New York very similar to that in which
he has recently figured in London, with
the exception, however. that no arrest
appears that he had been abroad and
returned to the United States in 1870. Soon
after his arrival here he entered the en-
ploy of A. T. Stewart, the dry goods
m archant. as a Sacretary. After the death
of Mr.. Stewart, Caldwell made an affidavit
d. claring that he was in possession .
startling facts concerning the Stewart es-
tate. One of these was that the Stewart
will had been destroyed by a lawyer after
NLv Il ND Il
substituted. In another affidavit Caldwell
declared that the stolen body of a. 7.
Stewart was carried from St. Mark S
Church yard back to the cellar of the
Stewa-t mansion at 34th street and 5th
avenue where it was buried. The body
was not found when the house was torn
down several years ago.
Grave Reopening Story Denied.
Special Cablegram to The Star.
LONDON. December 21.-It was an
nounced yesterday that the home office.
with the consent of Herbert Druce, the
owner of the Druce family vault in High
gate cemetery. had agreed to the opening
of the grave soon after Christmas, to set
at rest the question whether a coffin there.
reputed to contain the remains of T. c.
Druce. really contains them or two hun
dred pounds of lead.
Today it is officially denied that any
arrangement for the opening of the grave
has been reached.
At the British embassy it is said the
charge upon which Caldwell is detained Is
one of perjury. 1t is expected that steps
will be taken promptly to secure the
mans extradition and his return to Brit
iSh- soil.
Because of the legal requirement to be
met, however, it will be some days be-
fore that can be arranged Preliminary
steps in that direction will be taken by
the British consul at New York and the
matter in turn will be followed UP by the
British ambassador in Washington, who
will apply to the State Department for
formal extradition papers.
1t was at the request of the British con-
sui at New York, acting on instructions
direct from London. that the initial steps
were taken to have Caldwell arrested,
and he will lay the facts in the case be-
fore the United States district court as
soon as he receives them. as a basis for
eXtraGition proceedings.