The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-06
DRUCE' s CASE
HAS ENDED
COMPLETELY

London, Jan. c--The perjury charge
brought against Herbert Drucc by his
nephew. George Hollamby Druce. has
collapsed and the famous case is now
conclusively lost. This became known this
afternoon when MIR. Atherly-Jones. coun-
sci for George Hollamby Druce, an
nounced that In view OF the discoveries
made when tho coffin OF Thomas Charles
Druce was opened and examined Dec 30.
il will be impossible 10 proceed with the
prosecution. The statement was made af-
ter the presentation OF evidence by Prof
Augustus j. Pepper OF the University or
London and others who were present at
the exhumation.
The resumption OF the case today before
a crowded court room testified to the re-
Vival OF interest brought about by the re-
cent exhumation and the hints given out
by the attorneys for George, Hollamby
Druce that the body found In the coin
was not that OF T. G. Druce.
The first witnesses called testified to the
condition of the vault and the coffin: they
said there was absolutely no lead in the
vault, and declared they were satisfied
that neither the vault nor the coffin had
been tampered with since the latter had
been deposited therein.
Then Prof. Pepper took the stand and
gave detailed description Of the cof-
he said. was the body or "A male. aged be-
tween SO and 20 years. 1t was extreme
~ we'll preserved, the skin being broken
In only one place The face was covered
with a handkerchief bearing the initials
1T. G.. d."
The removal of this handkerchief re-
vealed the features OF bearded man,
quite easily recognizable by anyone who
had known him in life. lie had reddish
tmlrA md "A
beard OF reddish brown and white.
On this evidence Mr.. Aeherley Jones
announced the withdrawal OF the perjury
charge, saying that 1t would be contrary
20 the best traditions OF the legal profes-
sion IL he persisted therein.
Magistrate Plowden. in dIscharging
Herbert Druce, who trmhfulness. he re-
marked, had been absolutely and conclu-
sively indicated, thanked him for hav-
ing consented TO the opening OF the
grave I'm the interests of justice.
George Hollamby Druce declared today
that the civil action would be continued,
but public interest In the affair vanishes
with the collapse OF the case against
Herbert Druce.
Robert Druce was charged with COM
mitting perjury by swearing that his
father, Thomas Charles Druee of the
Baker Street bazaar. died Dec. y 1854.
and that he saw the uedu Douy pldCeu III
q coffin and buried In Highgate cemetery.
George Hollamby Druce declared that
that must be untrue. because 4. c. Druce
was, in fact, the fifth Duke of Portland,
who lived until 1879. That being so,
George Hollamby Druce claimed that he
himself. being the senior descendant In
the male line. was the r-ghtful heir OF
the Portland dukedom and 10 certain rich
estates. the income of which is placed at
81. 500. 900 a year, now held by Lord How
ard Do Walden.
The grave OF T. c Drucc. upon being
opened was found to contain human re-
mains, which were declared TO be those
of T. G. Druce.
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 as 7. c. Druce
and the Duke of Portland, tired Of this
double existence. put his other self. I.
G.. Druce, TO death, and arranged
mock funeral, in which quantity OF
lead was buried in Highgate cemetery in
place OF a body.