Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-22
WITNESS IN
DRUCE CASE
IS ARRESTED
AMERICAN CHARGED WITH
PERJURY
CENTRAL FIGURE IN MYSTERY
is ACCUSED
Robert CALDWELL Who Testified He
Knew Late Duke Under Another
Name, Held In New York
British Officers Il
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press
NEW YORK, Dec. 2.--Robert G. Cald-
well, the American who has been one Oh
the central figures in the famous Druce
case in London, was arrested upon ms ms
arrival from England today on charge
of perjury. The warrant was sworn out
by the British general consul here.
When Caldwell was taken before a
United States court his counsel declared
he was a very sick man. lie oHereo 10
furnish bail in any amount.
Two physicians appointed by the com
mission reported MIN desperately Ill, ana
bail of $4,000 was furnished for the prls-
oner's appearance.
The wireless telegraph had carried the
report that Caldwell would be arrested
on the Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, and 1t
had been read in the daily newspapers
printed aboard by Caldwell and all the
other passengers.
When the steamer arrived at quaran-
tine Caldwell, who occupied second caplIi
accommodations was almost il 9 stare Oh
collapse. When told by newspaper
man of a second report denying the au-
thenticity of the statement published IN
the ship newspaper great load seeneu
to have been lifted from him.
i'Thank God" was his comment. Cald-
we'll however, appeared to be broken In
health and spirit. 1ne temporary relief
which came to Caldwell with the news
which met him at quarantine was snort
lived. Almost Immediately after he had
stenped ashore at Hoboken he was taken
into custody.
Testified at Trial
Caldwell ON November testified at the
Druce trial that he knew the late duke
of Portland both as the duke and as L.
G. Druce at Weldeck abbey and the
walker street bazaar. He added that ne
treated the duke at both places for as
order of the nose He further testified
that in conjunction with the duke ne
arranged the mock funeral or Druce.
He said that he, at the dukes request
employed a carpenter to make coirn,
purchased 200 pounds of lead and put II
in the coffin himself. The funeral oc-
Cured on the following day.
When shown the photographs Caldweh
swore that they were photographs OF the
fifth duke of Portland in the character OF
It. c. Druce, and declared he had seen
the duke wear a false beard. Caldweii
related in detail the London story of his
Introduction to the duke of Portland IN
1864. and testified that he received pres
ents from the duke aggregating ABOUT
50,OO0, besides the fee of $2OO0OO for medi-
cal services.
her 13 the prosecution announced that 1t
could not RELY on the evidence given by
Caldwell, in view of the suspicious
aroused during his cross-examination.
ON the following day 1t was discovered
that Caldwell had suddenly left Lon
don and a warrant for his extradition
was issued.
Had Similar Experience
Caldwell, who has a home on Staten
Island. at one time had an experience In
New York very similar to that in which
he has figured of late in London, with
the exception, however, that no arrest
was made in the previous case.
It appears that he had been abroad and
returned to the United States In lSiV.
Soon after his arrival here he entered
the employ of A. T. Stewart, the ory
goods merchant, as secretary.
after the death of Mr.. Stewart Cald-
we'll made an affidavit declaring that ne
was in possession of startling facts con-
cerning the Stewart estate. One OF these
was that the Stewart will had been de-
stroved by a lawyer after the merchants s
death and new document substituted. !.
In another affidavit Caldwell declared
that the stolen body of Stewart was car
ried from st. Marks churchyard back 10
tbe cellar. of the Stewart mansion on
Th1rty-fOurLn SIreel aln AAeiA S~'0-1,
where it was buried The body was not
found when the house was torn DOWN
several years ago.
LONDON, Dec. 21.-The charge against
Caldwell is conspiracy and willful cor
rupt perjury in his testimony. Details on
the subject are being prepared by the
home office and will be forwarded.
The opening of the vault supposed to
contain the body of Druce has been fixed
for December 27. One result of this will
be to prove the truth or falsity OF one OF
CaldwelFs statements and probably set
tie the question of his extradiuon.