DRUCE PHANTASY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 71, 17 December 1907, Page 5

DRUCE PHANTASY.

CALDWELL WANTED.

WARRANT FOR I'ERJURY FAILS TO FIND HIM. DEPARTURE FOR AMERICA. DY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. London, December 15. In connection with the chargc of perjury against Herbert Druce—who swore that in 1864 ho saw T. C. Druce, his father, dead in a collin—tho evidence for the prosecution has closed. The Central News Agency now states that a warrant has been issued for tho arrest of Robert Caldwell, accountant, of New York, who gave evidence for the prosecution. Tho charges which are being preferred against Caldwell aro conspiracy and perjury. When an effort was made to serve the warrant, it was discovered that Caldwell had started for America on Thursday last, unknown to tho police, despite the fact that his London residence had been watched. FORMER RELIANCE ON CALDWELL. Claimant's counsel had previously notified that they would no longer rely on Caldwell's evidence. How important they deemed it in tho first instance is shown by the speech in which claimant's counsel opened the proceedings. Mr. Atherle.v Jonps, K.C., appeared for claimant, and Mr. Avory, K.C., for tho accused Herbert Druce. Mr. Jones, addressing the Magistrate (Mr. Plowden), said: THREE WITNESSES. "I shall, sir, call before you the evids.ise of a considerable number of persons, but there aro three witnesses of very singular importance, whose testimony, if true, will conclusively prove that T. C. Druco had another identity than that of the owner of tho bazaar, and that of T. C. Druce. These witnesses will either bo committing' perjury or suffering under, an extraordinary hallucination. " One of the mosl important witnesses that I shall call will be Mr. Robert Caldwell, who is seventy-one "years of age, and who has just arrived in this country from New York for the purpose of giving evidence. Many years ago, us far bock as 1855, while in India, he was suffering from an unpleasant complaint, and there consulted a medical man. On getting better, he came over to this country, and was introduced to Sir Morell MacKenzie, who in turn introduced him to' tho Duke of Portland, who was suffering from the same complaint. He accompanied the Duke to Welbeck Abboy, and from time to time he went with him to the Baker Street Bazaar. "A confidence sprang up between the Duke and Mr. Caldwell, and the former disclosed tho fact that ho enjoyed n dual personality. He manifested himself to Mr. Caldwell as the proprietor of tho bazaar, and ho also manifested himself as the duke. "About the year 180-t the duke determined to destroy this dual personality, and he commuuicated his intention to Mr. Caldwell that he was about to do so. Mr. Caldwell will toil you that in 1864 he carried out in conjunction with the dnko this simulated death andjthis mock funeral, that lie assisted in providing the lead which was placed in tho coffin., that he saw the lead placed there, and that ho saw the funeral." "AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY." Continuing, Mr. Atherley Jones said there was also the evidence of a Miss Robinson. This lady was tho daughter of tho owner of a plantation in one of the Southern States of America, but owing to the war sho came, to this country with some members of her family. Her father was on intimate terms with Charles Dickens, who introduced her to Mr. T.i C. Druce, who subsequently employed her at the bazaar and at Welbeck Abbey. Sho did liot reside at the family house at Welbeck, but in other lodgings, and sho will fell a story of a most dramatic character which would be almost incredible wero it not supported by a diary'she kept. Not only of her first visit in 1801, but of her second visit in 1868 sho 'tells an extraordinary story. "Sho lived at AVorksop, which is in the Dukeries, and she will tell how she used to meet the Duke of Portland in the grounds of Welbeck Abbey, and how slit; performed duties for him as an amanuensis and as a sort of private secretary. Sho largely benefited from gifts from Mr. Thomas Charles Druce. She will toll you that sho saw a gentleman whom she knew as Mr. T. C. Druce up to the year before lie died; she then saw him as the. Duke of Portland. "Of course, if her evidence is. correct, it disposes of the story that T. C, Druce died in 18&1. ]t is curious that, whilo she resided near Welbeck, at tho duke's request she passed as Mine. Tussaud. That is my second witness She will establish that the person • who was known d.s Thomas Charles Druco in 18(ii was the person whom sho knew in 18GS as both ,T. C. Druco and the Duke of Portland.'' MRS. HAMILTON. ■ "Theie is a third,witness whom I shall call, a Mrs. Margaret Jane Louiso Hamilton, seventy-seven years of age, who was known as a Miss Sjteward. Sho, will toll you how she resided with hor father.in Gowor Street, and that she often saw Mr. Thomas' Charles Druce. She was also invited to go to Welbeck, and there jlie sometimes called him Druce, but on thoso occasions lie rebuked her and told her to call him 'Scott.'" Mr. Avory: "I do not know whether 'Scott' is a family name,-of tho licntincks." Mr. Atherley Jones: "She will tell us that she remembers conversations between her father and Mr. Druce, or tho Duke of Portland, in which the latter said that it was his intention to do away with his personality as Druce. - " Those are > the three witnesses whom 1 shall call before you, sir, in support of this summons." The case was then adjourned for a fortnight. . ,