THE DRUCE CASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11656, 12 August 1898, Page 5

THE DRUCE CASE.

A FAMILY MYSTERY. ORDER FOR EXHUMATION. United Press A ssooiation—By Electric TelegraphCopyright. LONDON, August 10, The Druce ease, involving the succession to the Dukedom of Portland, came before Mr Justice Jeune in the Probate Court. The case is one in which it is alleged that Thomas Charles Druce, a wealthy upholsterer, who was supposed to have been buried in the Highgate Cemetery in 1864, did not die at that time; that the burial was a sham one, the coffin having been filled with lead. The widow of his son declares that Druce was in reality the Marquis of Tifcchfield, fifth Duke of Portland, Mr Justice Jeune made an order for opening the vault. The following statement was made by the petitioner in the case (the widow of Druce s son) to the representative of a London newspaper early in March: — The marriage, which took place on Oct. 30, 1851, at New Windsor, Berkshire, between my late husband’s father and mother, and in which their names are recorded as Thomas Charles Druce and Annie May, spinster, was in reality between the Marquis of Titchfield, afterwards the fifth Duke of Portland, and the illegitimate daughter of the fifth Earl of Berkeley. These two had lived together for many years, and the circumstances which led to their intimacy, and to the subsequent double life of my husband’s father, are of a most remarkable character, and also serve to throw a very strong light upon what have always been regarded as the extraordinary eccentricities of the fifth Duke. The latter and his brother—Lord George Bentinck were both in love.with the same woman, but, while the younger’s suit received the approbation of their father, the latter not only discouraged the desire of his eldest son, but treated him with insult, and referred, in very gross terms, to the skin disease from which he suffered. On Sept. 21, 1848, Lord George was found dead near Welbeck Abbey, it was stated from a spasm of the heart. From that time my husband’s father suffered the keenest remorse, and the most abject fear. Nearly always in a state of terror, he took various courses for his protection, and, adopting the name of Thomas Charles Druce, transferred to himself, as Druce, immense property from himself as Duke of Portland. You know quite well the manner in which he undermined Welbeck Abbey with apartments ; he did precisely the same thing with the Baker Street Bazaar, his desire in each case being that he might have always ready a place of refuge. But, realising the risk of exposure to which he was subjecting himself by his double existence, he determined to end his life as Druce, and for that purpose caused a coffin to be buried, with his supposed remains. I had long had my suspicions, but when, on my husband’s death, a. man named Vassar came to me, and mentioned that he had been engaged in removing some lead froffi a roof about the time of the supposed burial, they were converted into certainty. If any -further proof were needed that no body was interred, it is supplied by the fact that it was sub-

sequently discovered on the burial of my husband’s mother, that the coffin supposed to contain his father’s remains had entirely collapsed, for the simple reason that the weight of the coffin containing my husband’s body had caused it to do so, through there being nothing inside .to sustain it.

Even after this, however, the fifth Duke’s fears were not quieted, and fit last he determined to assume madness. ■ Taking the name of Harmer, and conducting- himself ,in the most extravagant manner,' -he caused himself to be placed under tlle'-'care of Dr Forbes Winslow, and succeeded ip'entirely Convincing that gentleman of his madness, but after about a year of incarceration he was then permitted to leave. As to why my husband’s father and mother did not marry fur so long it is impossible-to say accurately ; but probably the desire to conceal the facts surrounding the lady’s birth had a great deal to do with it; the circumstances in her base being also- of an extraordinary character. The fifth Earl of Berkeley married bis wife—a Miss Ccle—in 1785 ; and then, many years later, had to go through the same ceremony again, for the House of Lords in 1811 declared the first union illegal, my husband’s mother being born before that date. I myself was a Miss Butler, and my father being agent for Lord Pembroke, the latter acted for a time as my guardian. It was through going to the same school as my husband’s sister that I first met him. As to the opening of the grave, I have to-day received a letter from the ceriietery company saying that they will not open it without my son’s written authority. As he is in Australia farming—he was at one time a sailor—there must be a delay, but I do not despair in the least. It is on his behalf that I meah to win. If you could see him you would see at once the extraordinary likeness he bears to several members of the Bentinck family, and also to the portrait produced in Court of “ Thomas Charles Druce.” I may add—though it is nob a pleasant thing to say—that my youngest daughter suffers, though in of course a lesser degree, from the same skin disease which affected her grandfather. I have been offered £60,000 for my claim, but have refused it. Every obstacle has been put in my way, and only the other day, at Highgate Police Court, two men, perfect strangers to me, attempted to give me in charge; the inspector, however, declined to listen to them. But I am absolutely confident of success, and, now the case has at last come before the public, have no doubt as to its ultimate result.