DRUCE PERJURY CASE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6371, 20 November 1907, Page 7

DRUCE PERJURY CASE.

TRIAL CONTINUED WITNESS FROM AMERICA CLOSELY QUESTIONED. MISS ROBINSON’S DIARY. i, TelegrauK-Prcss Association— Copyright (Received N~-v—her 19 10.22 p.m.) LONDON, November 18. ' At tho hearing of the charge of perjury against Herbert Druce, Robert Caldwell, of New York, who was called on behalf of George Hollamhy Druce, the claimant to the Dukedom of Portland, continued his evidence. He stoutly denied his identity with a brother, who had been accused of embezzlement. He said ho was positive that he had passed through a partlymade tunnel between Wolbcck Abbey and Druoo’s workshop. That was in 1864. He denied that he was ever defendant in a police court, and swore positively that he had never lived in Londonderry with his wife. Caldwell denies that he and his brother held a leasehold property at Londonderry in 1808. He denied assigning to Christy, in 1871, an insurance policy on Robert Caldwell's lift. His brother might have told him ho had made the assignment Mr Plowden, the Magistrate, put. a series of searching questions, and remarked that some people believed that Druce was tho real person who had died. Did any of these ask to see ihe corpse before tho burial? Caldwell: No; they were unaware that he was dead until the funeral was over. Mr Ple-wden did not permit the production of a copy of a diary, on the ground that it was made by a third party. Miss Robinson stated that she also copied it. Mr Plowden sa id that pcsnhly a copy would bo unnecessary. Miss Robinson testified that she know Dnioo in 1861. and again as Druce at Wclbcck in ISGB, when she was introduced by Charles Dickens, whom she had met at Boston, in America, and at ijjbose instance she became engaged. She received at Worksop letters for Dunne, in tho name of Madame TusSaud. Mr Avery’s remarks, when objecting to the production of a copy of the diary, showed that the date of manufacture of the paper whereon the original was. written wms questioned during its custody in London. POPULAR INTEREST AROUSED. LONDON, November 18. A , thousand people inspected the closely-guarded Druoo grave in Highgate cemetery. Many ladies of title have seats on the bench at Clerkenwell, to which Court the hearing of the Druce case has been transferred.