A "CONFESSION."

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1908, Page 7

A " CONFESSION."

.> . "MISS" ROBINSON TELLS A i TALE. THE DIAEY. SERIOUS CHARGES MADE. By Telegraph.- Press Association.— Copyright, (Received February 26, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, 25tli February. The confession of "Miss Robinson," the witness in the Druce case, who is charged with perjury, alleges that in 1906 a. man calling himselt Druce, whom George Hollamby Druce (the claimant to tho Portland Estate) afterwards declared to be his brother William, visited her in Christchurch, New Zealand, and offered her £4000, in the first case, to write an attractive book about all she" knew about the Duke of Portland. Ho also tried to induce her to say that T. C. Druce, of the Bazaar, was identical with, the Duke. The object of the book was to raise money for legal expenses. Tho visitor, the confession continues, urged her to say that she canio from America. She had received pamphlets, which she- believed came from George Hollamby Druce, and concocted* her diaiy. She received £250, and came to England. Mr. Kiinber (solicitor for G. H. Druce) met her on landing, and enquired regarding her diary. Ho urged her to stick to her tale, to "stick to her guns." Mr. Kimber endeavoured to compel her to make statements based on the diary She never came to England to swear falsely, but only fb raise money on tha diary. Mr. Coburn, the Australian solicitor who acted as G. H. Druce's adviser, wanted her to .swear about a lead coffin, but she refused. Her story a* to ihe loss of the diary was true. She had no letters written by the Duke, but had had two from Charles Dickens, which she had lost. While she had 1 been in Holloway Gaol Mr. Kimber had tried to dissuade her from making a confession, saying she would get sever years', imprisonment. The further hearing" of tho case was adjourned for a week.