Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-09

| Lpf''oII' A<'N. W PERSONS
vainly fought for admttancr to the
Marybone police court today when the
hearing of the famous mystery case
was resumed. Herbert bruce, son of
the late Sir Thomas Charles bruce, is
charged with perjury by his nephew
&c Orge II. bruce. who alleges that the
defendant. "On March %, 1898. at the
'ecches. Circus road. St Johns. Wood.
| did commit Wilful and corrupt perjury
iii an affidavit" and that he also did
in the probate court on the third anc
fourth cay OF December, 1901! The
| charge is incidental 10 the bruce claim
to the estates of the Duke of Portland
and dates back to 1898. At every step
the case has been vigorously contested
by the present Duke of Portland. In
brief this remarkable case centors
about the old question whether Thomas
Charles bruce, at one time owner of
the famous Baker street bazaar, who
was said to have died 43 years ago, was
or was not the same person as the
eccentric fifth Duke of Portland, who
died in 1879
Interest in the proceedings today was
heightened by the alleged theft since
| the precious session of tho diary Of
Miss Robinson. The daughter of d
Southern tobacco planter. who YVES
| employed rs an amanuensis III
the Baker bazaar and who
says she frequently went to
Wclheck Abbey. tn" Portland
scat, where shc saw the late
r. g. Drucc. father of the late C;"oret.
| n:u"c. who in turn wa, tho father of
gI1yI
t" the estates. as the Duke of Portland.
whose identity with T. G. bruce, she
claimed to be able to establish
Many titled persons occupied seats or
| til" hench besides the magistrate at the
| MarElh"rc court. which was crowded
| by ticket holders
| Eminent counsel represented both
| sides and tho Duke of Portland ana
Lord Howard DcwaIeicn. tho occupant
| of the estates. who are 50 concerned
in tho outcome. are legally represented.
The proceedings opened with Il tilt
between Horace Avery. X. G.. counsel
| for the defense, and l.. AtherIy-Jo
| X. c.. counsel for the prosecutor. Mr..
| Avery repudiatcd a suggestion hat the
| q, PENDANTS were connected with tho
| theft of the diary which Miss Robinson
averrcd was stolen from her in the
street. Counsel for tn" plaintiff event
ually expressed regret tina; the suE-
Scstion had been mad.
Robert Caldwell, whose horne is on
Jay street. Richmond. station Island
New York, testified that he knew the
late Duke of Portland. both as tho
duke and as T.. c. bruce. AT Welbect
Abbey and at the Baker street bazaar
lddding that he treated the dul<, at boil
places fer a disease of the nose.
There was buzz of excitement wher
Mr.. ClaGWcll swore that in commune
ton with the duke he arranged tho
death and mock funeral Of "Drucr.'
so that his personality could finally 10
buried. Mr.. Caldwell added that 81
the dukes request he employed . car
IDenter to make a coffin. purchased 20f
pounds of lead and put it in the coftir
himself. The funeral occurred the mex
day.
| Mr. Caldwell further testified that ht
lsaw the duke on the morning of the
funeral ut tho Baker street bazaar
When shown tw" photographs. Mr.
Caldwell declared that thoy were two
photographs of the duke in the char
actcr Of Drucn.
| When asked to explain the bcarC
shown in one Of tho phctogra phs wit
ness replied that he had seen the duke
wear false heard and had even seei
him take it off.
| 4 day or two later he asked the Dui:'
of Portland if the so-called "Drucn'
had left q will. The duke Thanked Mr.
caldwell for reminding him of such al
important point and then said he mus
have one made.
Mr.. Caldwell then gave a detailed
Iaccuunt of his introduction to the duk'
of Portland in 1864 b. the famous pl,v
sician. Sir Morrell Mackenzie. wh'
died in London in 1892. Mr.. Caldwell
told of his numerous visits to the Duk'
both at Welback Abbey and the Bake
street bazaar and of his cura of TIN
Dukes real trouble. for which Mr.
Caldwell said he received S25 900.
| Mr. Caldwell also testified that r.
received presents from the duke ag
gregating q bout $4,000 besides the fe'
Of $4,000 He remained in England