The Washington herald., 1907-06-23
NO CORPSE IN COFFIN
Alleged Duke of Portland
Not Buried in New York.
G. H. DRUCE CLAIMS TITLE
Robert Caldwell Declares His Grace
Conducted Bazaar Under Name Of
Thomas Charles Druce-Tiring Of
Dual Life, British NObIeman Pre-
tended Death and Slipped Away.

New York. June 22-Surprislng state
ments upholding the claim Of George Fl.
Druce 10 the title and estates Of the Duke
Of Portland are made by Robert Caldwell.
Of this city.
Druco.s claim is based on the aIIega-
tion that Thomas Charles Druce. his
grandfather who. up TO 1854 conducted
the Baker street bazaar. was the fifth
Duke Of Portland H has long main
tained that the duke lived a double life
spending part of his time in his own name
at Weibeck Abbey. and the rest at the
bazaar as Drucs. under which name he
married and reared a family.
Mr.. Caldwell says he knows that
Thomas Charles Druce and the dCth Duke
OF Portland were the same lie knew the
duke personally. and associated with him
both at Weibeck Abbey. his dugal home.
and az the Baker street bazaar. whore he
figured as Mr. Druce.
Mr. Caldwell also saws that nc the 70
quest Of the duke. who had tired Of living
a double life. Do arranged q mock death
and funeral for Druce. bought the coffin.
loaded 1t with lead and sent lt Off -e the
cemetery with an imposing show Of car
riages and hired moarnerz
No Corpse in Comn.
II has been maintained for years that
no body was placed in the coffin. which it
was given ont. contained the corpse Of
Thomas Charles Druce. and it is part IF
the claimants case that if the coffin is
now exhumej it VIII be found TO contain
nothing but lead. Caldwell says he put
the lead in with Lis own hands.
In am affidavit made before Fred X.
Seward, a notary, aIr. Caldwell says:
''Thn duke being determined 20 rid
himself and the world of Mr. Druce. ar-
ranged the plans and procured me to
carry them cut in part.
THE duke arranged that it he given out
that DruCe had died and that q funeral
be held next day from the bazaar
There were a hparSe and q great many
carriages. which appeared TO he occupied
by employees Of the house in Baker street
and some from Welbeck Abbey
Under instructions from the duke
bought the contents of the coffin. which
consisted OF several sheets of lead The
lend was placed in the coffin by myself
and a very old man in the dukes employ.
Colin Specially Prepared.
This coffin had been prepared specially
for me by a carpenter. and 1 had ordered
him from the room while We placed the
body in the coffin
This body consisted Of the lead and
brass fixtures above referred 10. and after
placing it in the coffin and putting the lid
on top We called the carpenter back ana
he screw ed it on, without being able 20
say that he knew what was in the caslet
The funeral was held the day after Mr.
Druce's supposed death. and the coffin
was taken 20 Highgate Cemetery. I my
self gave Instructions to the hearse driver
20 take it 10 that place
THE same night Of the funeral the duke
went back to Welbeck Abbey. leaving me
az the house IN Baker street. and The next
day 1 went up to Welbeck Abbey and saw
him there
Il st.H continued to so to Welbecl,
Abbey nearly every day, probably for
month or more afterward"
Mr.. Caldwell is about seventv-one years
old, and was born in Ireland. He became
acquainted with the duke through treat
ing the latter for disease of the nose.
Claim to Portland Estate.
George Fl. Dsuee's claim 20 the Portland
estates dates back to 1893. when the
claimant arrived from Australia Since
that time eyery. effort has been made TO
have the grave in Highgate Cemetery
opened and the coffin taken out. but mt
every step the case has been vigorously /
contested by the present duke
George Druca says he was born i'm 1SH
He went TO Australia in 1866. and returned |
TO England four years later. He has
brought suit against Lord Howard de
Walden to eject him from the London /
property. which his father Inherited from
the fifth Duke OF Portland through the /
supposed failure Of the direct line.
The income from the Duke of Portland's /
estates is estimated at not less than /
81 10000 year.