THE DRUCE CASE.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 284, 9 December 1907, Page 5

THE DRUCE CASE.

A DOCTOR'S STRIKING EVIDENCE.

WAS DRUCE A REiL

PERSONALITY?

Per Press Association.—Copyright.

London, December 6. Henry Marks testified that he saw Henry Yasser, a carpenter, making a coffin in 1864 with four rolls of lead beside it. The coffin was afterwards taken to Baker street bazaar.

Charles Ball, tailor, identified a coat produced by H. H. Druce as one made by witness , father for the Fifth Duke of Portland.

Received Dec. 8, 4.16 p.m

London, Dec. 7. Marks testified that he last saw Druce in the afternoon proir to seeing the coffin. He heard ijedied suddenly, and he never heard of any mystery connected with the death.

Witness saw Herbert Druce at the Bazaar constantly. After the funeral he saw the hearse and two empty coaches leave the Bazaar with the coffin. j Charles Ball deposed that lapels of the coat in Druce'e portrait were like those on the Duke of Portland's coat. The Duke's coats were always made in sets of three, enabling him to wear one over another.

Edmund Shaw, a Southport doctor, has informed the Daily News that he wt>s a personal friend and neighbor of Druce at Milhill. He medically attended him throughout 1864 for dyspepsia. Druce underwent a serious operation in September and he saw him thrice daily until the night of December 27th, when he left him dying* Very early on the 28th Dr. Shaw was summoned to the bedside and found that Druce hadjust died. Hβ gave a certificate of deaht, assisted the nurse to lay out the body, and attended the funeral at Highgate, at which there were a dozen mourning coaches. .

Dr. Shaw says lie never saw signs of skin disease on Druce , s face. LVnce wore a natural dark beard and side whiskers.

Dr. Shaw subsequently went to New Zealand and thence to Tasmania settling at Southport in 1867. {From the latter portion of this cablegram ic might be inferred that Dr. Shaw is still is Tasmania. There is a small Tasmanian settlement of that name 60 miles south of Hobart with a population of about 150, but the township is called Hythe. There is, however, a Lancashire borough called Southport with a population of between 40,000 and 50,000 which might be meant. Should Dr. Shaw's testimony be supportable it woul 1 apparently destroy the whole basis of the case, especially if the Druce grace in Highgate cemetery were opened and found to contain human remains.—Ed. "M.D.T."]

THE RIVAL COMPANIES,

Received Dec. 8, 5.13 p.m. London, Dec. 7.

Mr Justice Joye dealt with the application of the new Druce-Port-land Co., for an injunction to restrain Blakeston and Captain Hall, ex-directors, from parting with any monies. He made an order directing the company not to part, without the Court's permission, with any portion of the £3000 or £4000 subscribed. His Honor said he thought it would be found John Sheridan's commission notes gave no claim in the estate, or on George Hollamby Drnce's share of the estate, even if his right were proved, and prima facie the whole thing appeared illusory. Defendant's stated that they were unable to complete the put chase of the commission notes until they had investigated Charles Edgar Druce's alleged prior rights to those of George Hollajflby Druce, and that it perhaps would be necessary to take their subscribers' views.