Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-07
Famous bruce briberyTriaI
Is Officially Closed.
Prosecution Quits m View Of
Discoveries al Examination.
George n. Drues Intends to Con-
tlnue Civil Aetien.

brought against Herbert bruce by his
nephew. George Hollamby bruce, has
collapsed, and the famous case is now
conclusively lost. This became known
this afternoon when Atherley Jones,
counsel for George Hollamby bruce,
announced that in view Of the discov-
cries made when the coffin of Thomas
Charles bruce was opened and examin-
ed Dec. 80, it will be impossible to pro.
coed with the prosecution. The state
ment was made after the presentation
Of evidence by Professor Augustus J.
Pepper of the University Of London
and others who were present at the ex-
humation.
Herbert bruce was charged with
committing perjury by swearing that
his father, Thomas Charles bruce, Of
the Baker street Bazaar. died Dec. e,
1864, and that he saw the dead body
placed in a coffin and buried in High
gate cemetery. George Hollamby de-
clared that this must be untrue, be-
cause T. c. bruce was. in fact, the
fifth Duke of Portland, who lived until
1879. This being so, George Hollamby
bruce claimed that he himself. being
the senior descendant in the male line.
was the rightful heir of the Portland
dukedorn and to certain rich estates,
the income Of which is placed at ST.
100000 year. now held by Lord How
ard De Walden.
The grave of T. c. bruce. upon be-
ing opened was found to contain hui
man remains which were declared to
be those Of T. c. bruce.
Robert c. Caldwell of New York
gained considerable notoriety during
the hearing of this case by swearing
that the Duke of Portland, who had
lived both as T. c. bruce and the Duke
of Portland, tired of this double ex-
istance. put his other self, T. c. bruce,
to death. and arranged "mock" fun
eral in which a quantity Of lead was
buried in Highgate cemetery in place
Of a body.
The RESUMPTION of the case today ha-
fore a crowded court house testified
to the revival of interest brought about
by the recent exhumation and the hintn
given out by the attorneys for George
Holarnhy nruce that the body found
in the coffin was not that Of r =.
bruce The first witnesses called tea-
tieed to the CONDITION ~ the ~.
and tho coffin. they said there was sb-
solutelv no lead IN the vault an1 de-
clared thav wera satisfied that roi.,IAr
Tire vault nor coffin hrd been tar1ptrctf
witt, eincn the latter had bnen t'rpcc't-
Cd. Thor Professor pnprer tno,, :hs
stnod. md ravn n detailed dissertation
Of the coffin and its oocnine wrhlr
the coff'r he eeid WA tho body Of u
male aeed between e5 AMI q -eats
II was evtrnr,nlv VOL rrnservci, tho
skin being broken IN o-'v or r'acG-
The face wns covered wifi, l-r- 'kr,-
chief hearing the initials "T. c. n"
Tho r.nroval OF thia handkerchief re
vea,ed the features o. q bearded mar.
ru,to eoei'v rAcnr-'7aNle ~ c7-ora
who rad known hin, IN ne He Nnt1
reddish brown 0ouctnrhc and whtn,-rrj
nrd heard Of rndd'eh-hrcwr cal
white
on this evident Atherley Tore. m.
nounced the withhrawel Of the rertH-5'
charge. saving that u would ne ~o--
! trarv to the best traditions Of the f-Es'
profession II Re pefs'sted thnrain.. y
Magistrate Plowden. IN d'srharsinr
Herbert bruce. whnse truth'u,reas. h.
remarked, had heen absolutely ans
ronrlusivelv vindicated. thanked him
for having consented to the opening
Of the grave IN the interests Of Justice.
George Hollambv Druce declared to-
day that the civil action would Re
continued. but public interest IN the af-
case against Herbert Druce.