The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-30

The scene at Highgate cemetery today
when the vault was opened was remark
able. Constables seemed TO spring from
everywhere; every bush and every tree
apparently hid an officer OF the law. All
the entrances TO the cemetery were sur
rounded by cordons OF police. Only those
persons who had passes from the home
office were admitted TO the grounds.
@. II. DRUCE EXCLUDED.
George Hollambly Druce. who claims he
is the rightful heir to the Portland duke
dom, and to its vast estate. tried twice to
get into the cemetery. but was met with
a stern refusal.
The operations began at daybreak with
the removal OF the topmost coffins in the
vault containing the bodies OF the wife
and a son OF L. G. Druce. 1t was nearly
half past IL before the coffin, the con-
tents of which have aroused the curiosity
of the whole world, was brought up,
ready for opening and inspection. The
top was quickly unscrewed, and the inner
casing of lead cut open. There was no
need for the dictum of the eminent sur
geon, Augustus j. Pepper, who was APP
pointed by the home office to carry out
the exhumation, to assure all present that
human remains lay in the coffin.
TEN YEARS FIGHT ENDED.
The Druce vault has thus given up its
secret after ten years OF legal proceed
ings which have cost all told consider
able fortune. A large part OF this money
was obtained from servant girls and other
workers, who were induced TO buy shares
I'm company formed TO prosecute the
claims OF George Hollamby Druce against
the estate OF the Duke OF Portland
The charge of perjury against Herbert
Druce is effectively disposed OF.
Those persons who have sworn TO the
placing OF lead In the coffin, instead of a
human body are thus diScredlted, ana
they probably will have to take the con-
sequences OF their acts.
So far as the general public Is concern
ed, the entire long-drawn-out Druce-
Duke of Portland controversy, Is at an
end and the case OF the claimant, George
Hollamby Druce. has fallen TO the
ground.
WORK BEGUN SUNDAY.
The work of opening the grave In
Highgate cemetery 10 determine primar-
ily whether the coffin contains the body
OF "A man or. as has been asserted, roll
OF sheet lead weighing some go pounds.
was begun Sunday
The three-ton monument which marks
the resting place of the Druce family
was removed by n score OF workmen,
who were protected from public observa-
ton by a shed which had been erected
around the burial plot. Within the shed
electric lights were installed, so that opc-
rations might proceed without Interrupt
ton.
The work OF removing the monument
was preceded by careful examination
OF the ground by surveyors representing
the interested parties All OF those in
attendance at the opening Of the grave
and the coffin have been sworn To Sc
crecy. so that the result of the investl-
cations will not be known until the cx-
perts give evidence at the police court.
Herbert Druce the defendant In the
now famous case, is charged with COM
hitting perjury by swearing that his
father, Thomas Charles Druce, of the
Baker Street Bazaar. died Dec. %, 1851
and that he saw the dead body placed I'm
coffin and buried in Highgate cemetery.
His nephew, George Hollamby Druce,
declares that this must be untrue. be-
cause T. C. Druce was I'm fact the NTH
duke Of Portland, who lived until 1879
That being so. George IIolamby Druce
claims that he himself. being the senior
descendant in the male line, is now the
rightful hefr Of the Portland dukedom and
TO certain rich estates. the income OF
which r. placed at Si5o.0O0 n year. now
held by Lord Howard dc walder.
CALDWELL D1SCREDTTED.
The nfth duke OF Portland and man
known as Thomas G. Druce have been
declared 10 be one and the same person
by about ono dozen witnesses but par
tlcularly by Robert G.. Caldwell or New
York. who testified at great length and
I'm detail to this effect during the pres
ent trial. Caldwell said that the duke Of
Portland. firing OF his dual life. decided
TO end all by putting his other SELF
Druce. 90 death. This was followed by
a mock" funeral. when the iead-weight-
ed coffin was lowered 10 n last resting
place IN tho Drice family plot.
Caldwell left London for New York I'm
the middle Of December Upon his arriv-
al he was arrested at the request OF the
British authorities on a charge OF per-
jury. He Is now ill at his home on staten
Island. should he he brought 10 trial tho
" 49,. -Nt,f,..I fr..,. ,r..lr. a.