Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-30
Succeeds to the Dukedom.

LONDON.
Succeeds to the Dukedom.
Among the theories offered as to the
motives of the fifth duke in adopting
an alias there is one to the effect that
when young he was an object Of aversion
to his father on account of the skin
disease from which he suffered, and
thu refore left home early in life with the
determination of mapping out a career for
himself under another name. At about
the, age Of sixteen he met Elizabeth
Crickmer. a girl little older than himself.
VINO attended d boarding school at Bury
St. Edmunds.
A boy and girl Irritation soon ended
in a marriage. which could only be
OF their extreme youth. In order to
secure the marriage license they both de-
clared themselves to be of age.
1t is urged that bruce must hpNn
realized the necessity of concealing his
real identity, otherwise 'the authorities
would have communicated with his
father. whose active opposition to the
wedding would have been assured. II
this was 50, bruce not only deceived
the authorities. but also his wife, who
knew him only as BRUCE.
In 1924 bruce abandoned his wife and
children, and the coincidence Is noted
that 1t was In the same year that Lord
John Bentinck. as the future duke was
as the Marquis of Titchfield. Until 1924
there is no record Of the movements of
Lord John. From 1924 to 1885 there is
no trace of bruce. but abundant record
of the doings of the new Marquis OF
Titchfeld q.
During these eleven years Druce's wife,
left destitute. had a. long and hard strug-
GLE with poverty. In 1885 she discovered
her husband carrying on a furnishing
business at the Baker street bazaar in
the name of Thomas C. bruce. He rec
ognized her as his wife. but refused to
live with her again. She compelled him
to allow her weekly sum for main:e-
nance, and he aided their children, one
Of whom he took under his own charge.
From 1895 until 1864. the date of his
burial" bruce was in almost daily at
tendance at the Baker street bazaar.
When bruce occupied the stage it is al
legged that the duke was mysteriously
absent, and when the duke was in evil
dence there was no Mr.. bruce about,
Those who maintain that the duke
and bruce were different individuals point
to one great contrast in their natures.
Tho duke was a bachelor and posed. It
is stated, as a woman hater. He is
described as man who could not en-
dure the opposite sex. who never formed
an attachment to any woman, and in
whose life no love episode found place.
Subterranean Passages.
On the other hand bruce was known
always to be partial to the society of
women, and all through his career he
seems never to have been free from
several attachments at the same time.
During the lifetime o. his first wife he
was living with Annie May, whom he
afterward married.
In order to reconcile these two con-
f1icting characteristics it has been sug
gested that the duke in his proper station
found it impossible to enjoy" the mode of
life he wished to lead. but secured the
opportunity when passing as an ordinary
citizen Of no great importance.
The evidence offered In support of the
claimants case. volunteered by many peo-
pie. If true, would seem to prove con-
clusively that the duke and bruce were
one. People in the employ of bruce tell
of his mysterious entrances and exits at
the Baker street bazaar, and how he
would suddenly appear among them,
emerging through trapdoors leading from
the many underground passages which
undermined the premises. Having trans
acted his business. he would depart by the
same means.
It is stated that one of these passages
connected the shop with Cavendish house,
the town residence of the Duke of Port
land. and servants in the employ OF the
duke tell similar stories Of their masters
appearances and diSappearanceS through
the various traDdoors.
The claimant attaches much Importance
to these burrowlng proclivities of the duke
and bruce, and points to the extensive
tunneling carried out by the duke at Wei
beck. his country seat All the tunneling
there Is believed to have been done after
1884 the year In which bruce is supposed
to have died
For years an immense army of masons
and other workers was employed at We'll
beck In altering the whole place and build
ing these tunnels. At one time more than
1, 500 were employed besides the usual estate
stan. The total length Of the subter-
ranean passage has been estimated at
fifteen miles, and their cost at more than
SO, 10000.
Death Of Lord George.
Many other points of similarity be-
tween the fifth Duke of Portland and
bruce are, put forward by the claim.
| ant, such as similarity of features
gathered from comparison of photo
graphs, peculiarities of dress. peculiari-
Ties Of diet. "A physical infrmity.' both
bruce and the duke being. known to