THE PORTLAND ESTATES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4319, 30 March 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE PORTLAND ESTATES.

At Highgate Police-court Mrs Draco asked for a magisterial order for the opening of the Druoe vault in Highgare Cemetery. In reply to Sir John Glo.-er she said that her name was Anna Maria Druce, of 31, Manchester-street, Pot-man-square. She.added that Mr-Justice Jeune in the course of a trial to remove her husband's father’s will on the ground that he was not dead at the time _ the will was proved 1 ,, expressed the opinion that the grave niust’be opened, and advised her to make an application to two justices of the phace to grant an ordor against the London Cemetery Company to open the grave.' Mrs Druce explained that this was 1 a proceeding which slioiud be taken under an Act, of William W ~ and this the magistrate’s clerk said he could not find. Mrs Druce retorted that, she could bring the Act to .the court, hir John Glover said he thought it was a mistake to coiue to that court, because J by a recent Order in Council the district in which the cemetery was situated was to-be transferred, from - the Highgate Po - lice court district to the Clerkenweil Police court district. Mrs Druce thought the case could be heard and settled before the end of the year.- Sir John. Glover said he was afraid she was too sanguine. Mrs Druce; I don’t want to mane a groat scandal, and bring the Duke of Portland —he calls himself the Duke of Portland, tut he, is not; I know who ho is—up here and fill the cemetery wuli people. I want to do it quietly, if a lot of people came it would not be one grave only that, would be' opened. They would open them all- I will renew my application after 1 have .furnished the clerk with a copy of the'Act to winch 1 have referred. ' , ■ ~