DRUCE PERJURY CASES

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 5

DRUCE PERJURY CASES

; , MRS. HAMILTON'S SENTENCE. CRIME DEEMED WORSE THAN MRS. ■ ROBINSON'S. - '' v Vt TKI.EGRAPn —ritesa ASSOCIATION —COPTP.IODT (Rec.- May 29, ,10.45 p.m.) , London, May 29. At, the Old Bailey Margaret Hamilton (whose appeal against, her conviction had failed) came up for sentence for having committed perjury in the Druco case. For the prosecution, Mr. H.' Avory, K.C., .stated* that'lie considered Mrs. Hamilton worse than Mr 3. Robinson.' Tho latter (who was sentenced to four years' imprisonment) committed perjury;, once and pleaded guilty, whereas Mrs., Hamilton persisted in pleading not guilty, though hor perjury began a decado since. Mr. Justice Grantham, in the absence of Mr.'Justice. Walton, passed sentence. His Lordship commented on the serious and cruel character, of Mrs. Hamilton's crime, which it. was ncccssary to punish severely, becauso tho wrong and injury done Were absolutely .incalculable, and in her case the crime was continued for a loriger period than in tho case of Mrs. Robinson.. But for this evidence, tho bubble of the claim put forward would have been pricked long ago. Mrs. Hamilton deserved at least" seveu years' peiial servitude', but, owing to her age and infirmity, tho sentenco would be very lenient. Prisoner would • be sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment. Mrs. Hamilton reiterated licr innocence, and said she had only spoken the truth. Tho £400 slio received had nothing to do with the Druce ease, but .was a business transaction between 1 herself and Mr. Coburg (tho solicitor who went Home from Victoria to help tho claimant, G. H. Druce, to propare his case). Mrs. Hamilton has been.a witness from tho earlier stages of tho Druce litigation, while llrs./lvobinson came in only in G. H. Druce's case (which succeeded tho original claim of Anna Maria Druco). Mrs. Robinson declared that I. C.. Druce told her ho was tho lato fifth Duko of Portland; while Mrs. Hamilton told the wholo story of the alleged dual personality with a wealth of detail. Airs. Ijtobinson was sentenced to four years' imprisonmorit.