THE DRUCE CASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13625, 19 December 1907, Page 5

THE DRUCE CASE

WARRANT FOR CALDWELL. By Telegraph.— Association.— Copyright. London, December 17. The Scotland Yard authorities are applying for an extradition warrant for the arrest of the witness Caldwell, on charges of conspiracy and perjury, on his arrival at New York. Had Caldwell, who is an accountant, practising in New York, succeeded in convincing the jury- of his bona fid« he might have dispossessed the present Duke of Portland, sixth in succession. Caldwell's story was that, suffering in his youth from a bulbous affection of the nose, ho consulted Sir William Jenner and Sir Morell Mackenzie. They assured him thai the disease was incurable. Hearing of a cure for a similar case effected upon an English officer by an Indian rajah, he sought Out the specialist, committed himself to hie hands, and was not only cored, but purchased the secret of the remedy. Returning to England, he called upon Sir Morell Mackenzie, and proudly displayed his rehabilitated nose. It happened that Sir Morell had at the time the fifth Duke of Portland {alleged to have been identical with T. C. Druce) under Ids care for a similar complaint. He induced Mr. Caldwell to undertake the cure of_ tlie Duke, which he successfully accomplished, the process involving a prolonged intimacy. The Duke, who seems to .have been curiously communicative on so delicate a matter, confessed that ho led a dual life, adding that he was getting a little bored at the necessary pains for keeping it up. Mr. Caldwell not only visited and treated him as Duke of Portland at Welbeck,' but called upon him at the Bazaar, where lie was known as Mr. Druce. <In 1864 the Duke, finally deciding to bury off the bazaar man, Mr. Caldwell saw to the arrangements. He purchased a quantity of lead, nicely according in weight with that of the lamented Thomas Charles Druoe. This he placed in the coffin, saw the lid screwed down, and bent his x faltering footsteps to the graveside, accompanied by his son Herbert, who, in spite of these little arrangements, had, through the blinding mist of filial tears, beheld his loved pajfmt in the agonies of death. The intellij|aot reader, not unfamiliar with the processes of Sherlock Holmes, will at this s£age instantly inquire. " Why not open the grave, examine the coffin, and see whether its contents are human bones or merely-bars of lead?" There is the rub. When the drama opened in the Probate Court, the plaintiff sought permission to have the coffin opened. But the legal possessor of -the grave is sou Herbert, who positively declined to give the necessary permission, though it was stated by his counsel daring the week (as reported in the cables yesterday) that he was now willing to do so if the interests of justice demanded. This simple procedure—admitting the accuracy of Herbert Druce s statement sworn in the Probate Court, and now formally arraigned as —would straightway not only have disposed of Mr. Caldwell's weird story, but would make an end of the case for the plaintiff, and leave the present holder of hie ducal title in undisturbed enjoyment of his princely estates.