THE DRUCE CLAIM.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 224, 21 September 1907, Page 3

THE DRUCE CLAIM.

An informal meeting of the shareholders of G. H. Druce (Limited), the company formed to finance and support Mr George Hollamby Druce s, claim to the dukedom of Portland, has been held in London to receive a statement as to the developments of the claim up to date. The chair was taken by Mr Druce, and there was a large attendance of shareholders.

The Secretary stated that Mr G. H. Druce had taken proceedings for the purpose of establishing as a fact that he was the grandson of the fifth Duke of Portland, and the sole question of fact in such proceedings would, be determined by the truth, or otherwise, of the allegation made that Thomas Charles Druce, of the Baker Street Bazaar, was the same person as the late fifth Duke of Portland. The solicitor and counsel at present advising Mr G. H. Druce were satisfied that, upon the evidence which he had now available for presentation to the Court, he could establish a sufficiently strong prima facie ease on the question of fact before referred to, and throw the onus of disproof upon his opponents. Only recently the directors had been put into possession of evidence from America of a person who would !be able to prove conclusively that the alleged burial of Thomas Charles Drue was in fact a mock burial, and that the coffin described as containing his remains did not contain human remains at all, but small strips of lead screwed down and held in position with brass clamps. The person who furnished this evidence was further able ot depose that the late fifth Duke of Portland was personally well known to him both as duke and as Druce, and that it was at the instance of the late fifth Duke of Portland that he assisted in conducting the mock burial of Druce. The approaching trial bade fair to eclipse all previous records. Mr Thomas K. V. Coburn (barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court oi Victoria), made a long statement as to the present position of affairs. He said he had been occupied five years in getting evidence together, with the rseult that he was now able to say that he honestly believed Mr G. H. Druce was the grandson of the fifth Duke of Portland, and, what was more important, he believed that Mr Druce would be able to establish the point. Dealing with the evidence, he said that they had the statement by the fifth duke that he was the T. C. Druce, given to his own private secretary and written down in her diary at the time. Could they imagine more positive evidence than that? The lady, who had come from New Zealand to give evidence, had been promised nothing by them whatever; all she had been paid Avas a sufficient sum to keep her in this country and the lady companion who came from New Zealand with her. As to the exhumation of the coffin supposed to contain the remains of T. C. Druce, he said that if they were successful in getting the grave opened, and showing that the coffin contained nobody, it could not fail to have an enormous effect on the jury in considering the question of the identity of the fifth Duke of Portland and T. C. Druce. But it would only bo corroborative evidence after all, and their i case was sufficiently strong without it. Jlf they did not go on with the exI humation proceedings the result would be that the action in the ordinary : course would come on for trial this ! year. They had their evidence in such , a form that it could be presented to the Court the next day if necessary,