New-York tribune., 1907-11-28
DUKE WAS DRUCE
Hrs. Margaret Hamilton Testtfes
TO Dual TdentitY.

London. Nov. 21.-The hearing of the pruoe case
was resumed to-day and the examination OF Miss
Mary Robinson, who was amanuensis for the
late T. g. Druce. who is said to have been the nth
Duke OF Portland finished. Miss Robinson
Iaed TO recognize the handwriting IN letters signed
= = Druce to the defendant. Herbert Druce. as
the handwriting of her employer
As corroboration OF Miss Robinsons statement
that she met Charles Dickens in Kensngton Gar
dens shortly before his death, and her allegation
that at that time the novelist her that Druca
and the Duke of Portland were one and the same
person. l.. AtherleyJones counsel for the proseou-
ton, read extract from the "reminiscences of
SIR Wemyss Reid that he had seen Mr.. Dickens
walking in Kensington Gardens with young girl
a week before he died
Mrs. Margaret Hamilton swore that Druce and
the Duke of Portland were the same person She
identified portraits of the duke Druce. The wit
ness, who Is seventy years old. said that the duke
whom she described as an old friend OF her father
always carried a false beard in his pocket The
duke, the witness continued, had at time in
tended to marry her. but her father refused his
consent Mrs. Hamilton said that one occasion
she had asked the duke why he wore false
beard. lie explained to her that IT necessary
70 have a beard when he appeared Druce. In
1854 the witness testified the Duke Portland said
to her: ''Madge. am going to die To this thu
witness replied; You don't look like 1T
Mrs Hamilton declared that her father had ex-
planned to her that tho Duke of Portland 60
ing to cease to be r. c. Druce, and she said she
vas informed there going TO be funeral. In
1866 she again her father and the Duke OF
Portland together in London, and this occasion
she said chaffingy to rho duke: II thought you
were dead and buried" Sho called him Druce,
and this annoyed him
Continuing, Mrs. Hamilton testified that she last
saw the Duke of Portland In 1876. The duke then
said that he felt very Ill and thought he going
to die. Mrs Hamilton said to him. Il hope you will
repent of all your sins" and to this the duke
answered, Thank you, Madge''
The witness testified that the man she saw IN
1876 I. c. Druce. Of the Baker Street Bazaar.
lection OF the skin and at time had Jumps on
Hamilton said that the fourth Duke Of Portland
was her godfather. She had been at Welbeck Alb
hey with her father the guest of the fifth duke
whom she knew well in his dual character.
Mrs Hamilton said among other things. that
when the duke. in 1854 spoke of dying, she asked
her father If she could get the body from the hos
ptal but her father replied that that would never
do. bricks must be put IN tho coffin The dukes
comment on this remark that anything would
do to put in the coffin.
The witness said that IN 1856 the duke showed her
a bundle of handkerchiefs with coronets worked in
the corners which he said his wife had embroid-
cred. in spite of tho fact that no had mado her
promise that she never would use the coronets.
and threw them into the fire. Ono Of tho pieces OF
linen. however, did not ignite, and this Mrs. Ham
iIton kept for years. until she told by her
solicitor that there will be more DruCe case"
Mrs. Hamilton was cross-examined in regard TO
the discrepancies between the evidence she gave
to-day and that given by her before another court
Tho was adjourned to November q.