THE DEUCE CASE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6494, 14 April 1908, Page 3

THE DEUCE CASE.

"HISS” ROBINSON'S CONFESSION. WHY SHE LEFT NEW ZEALAND. ORIGIN OF THE FAMOUS DAIRY. AN ASTONISHING CONCOCTION. (From Oar Special Correspondent.) LONDON. February 28. Mrs Mary Robinson, the Druce witness from New Zealand who has been arrested on a charge of perjury, appeared again at Bow street last Monday, when Inspector Dew produced the prisoner's confession. This occupied about forty closely typewritten pages, and wag taken down at Holloway Prison on live different days, owing to "Miss” Robinson's fatigue. Sir Charles Mathews tfor the prosecution) said h© only proposed to read certain parages, because ocheiVs contained reflections of the gravest character upon persons not before the Court, and he did not think it would be fair to them that these statements should in their absence be mad© public. He then read long passages from th© confession as follow©:

Holloway Prison. Mar.v Anne Robinson, prisoner on remand at the above prison.

I desire to make a voluntary statement to you as to how I came to this country, and no promise lias been held out to me to indue© mo to make any statement. I \want you to say that no promise hag been held out to me by th© police, and you can make what use you like of this statement. I want to show you how it was I came to leave New Zealand. In May or about that time. 1806, I was living in Fallsgrov© street, Christchurch (New Zealand), with my daughter Maude. I saw an Australian newspaper by chance, and in this paper I saw an account. but not what I would call a prosper account, of the Drue© case. In this paper it said that the fifth Duke of Portland was a Wizard; and I knew this was not correct, because I knew him. When I saw this I felt interested, and I thought I would write to the person at an address at Melbourne. Th© name was Druce. lu my letter 1 ©aid that the Duke was not a wizard, that he was a gentleman, that they were labouring under a mistake, and told them I knew the Duke, and had seen him many times, and if I could help them I would do so. Mind you, I never meant anything bad. About three weeks after, two men called.' One drew back, but the other remained and spoke to me. He said his name was Druce, and showed, me the letter I had written. He said, "May I come in; I want to talk to you. 1 have an offer to make.” He said the Druce case was in want of funds. He had made inquiries about me. and X was just the person he required. FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS. He said he had heard that I was clever at writing, and if I wrote what he wished and did a© I was told I would receive .£4OOO. I considered it, and thought it was for something very important. I asked him what X was to do, and he said he wanted a book written in my own handwriting of the history of all I knew about th© Duke and his surroundings. I was to make it as attractive as I could, so as they could raise money bj meet their expenses. Their expenses •were to enable the firm who were in favour of Druce to claim the dukedom of Portland. I think the man Druce who called was the brother of the Mr Druce in London, who was a son of the eldest son of the fifth Duke of Portland, who had come to Australia at the time of the "digging?.” I was told that he had .£IOOO given him by the duke in the year 1865 to enable him to live out there. I asked him what Druoe's. father was. He said he was a perfect gentleman and a well-educated man, but a gold dicker. He then asked me what I knew about the Duke, and I told him how I had lived at Worksop and knew all about the state, and had lived with a Mrs Pierce, but I did not tell him who she was. I told him X had seen the fifth Duke of Portland.

He wanted me to put down in pamphlet form all. I could say about the fifth duke. I said: "I am not doing to expose myself to everybody." He said, "Say you come fxom America. We have another person coming from America. He ia writing, too, so yon won't be alone.” He also said there was a third person writing, or had written, a book about the duke, and he hail received .£6OO fop it. I don't remember whether he told me this person’s name.' I thought if other persons were doing this I might have a shot as well as them. At any rate the temptation was too great for me, so I promised I would write.

. . . Before this occurrence I hpd seen little scratches in the newspapers concerning the Druce case,. BAKER STREET BAZAAR.

This same mem asked me if' I knew the Baker street Bazaar, as he said the Duke of Portland went to it. 1 told him I had heard some floating news about it when I wg£ at Worksop. He told me I Was to be sure to say I came from America. This man who called on me was aged about fifty years or more. He had grey hair, Sft 7in in height—about the height of G. H. Druce. and. very liko him. j He \ was clean-shaven, except a mousi tache. which was fair, fie was a fair j man with bine eyes, medium build. When I saw Mr Druce in this country I said to myself, "That man who called on me must have been his brother.” When I saw Mr G. H. lijuce he told mo that he had a brother in Australia. After the man had left, my daughter Maude asked me what he wanted. I did not tell her much, but I told her about the .£4OOO. She could not help me much. She knew nothing about Worksop. She_said. "Please yourself, but it is worth trying." I got some sheets of paper, and thought I would try to do something. About the beginning of November, 1906, I heard from England, but I had finished the history about September, and not hearing from Australia, X thought they had made a fool of me. PAMPHLETS. Before I had finished my diary I received by post from England six pamphlets which came all at once—" The Portland Millions” and "The Druce Case.” Some of these X used for waste-pauper, and some I saved. I did not read them. I was disgusted when I saw the "Portland Millions’’ outside. Miss O’Neill read them. I got a piece of paper on which I had written the history and fixed it up in my own way. and transferred it to an old diary, which I came across among a lot of old letters in a safe, which I bought some time before. The diary had a grey linen cover, with yellowish plain paper, without lines, and there was a date inside, but I forget the date. When I say I transferred it. I copied from all the sheets I had written. The contents of this diary I compiled at the request of the man from Australia, as I thought I was going to have XtOOO. It was at the end of November that I heard from England, and received more pamphlets from the London office ef the Druce Company. I received another letter from London signed Coburn, in which he told ms to take the letter to a solicitor at Christchurch, and make

a statement to him of what I knew and what 1 could say. Mr Coburn said that he would pay the lawyer when the statement was received, and would also pay me for any trouble.

I went to Mr Harper and told him what I knew about it, but I did not teii him the whole story. T also told him I hod a diary, but did not tell him what th© man from Australia asked me to do. I received letters by every mail from Coburn and Druce. They wanted me to come to England and bring the diary with me and any letters I had. There was nothing in those letters which would implicate them in anything—they were too artful. They cabled over asking me if I would come over, and I told them I would. They cabled me <£2so. The loiters and cables were addressed "Mrs Robinson,” but they never asked me whether I was Mrs or MifvS, Before this I had two letters asking me how much I should want to come to England, and shortly afterwards I had a cablegram. I told them I was going to bring a companion with me. I have never told them eh© was my daughter, and they have never asked me. MR KIMBER AND THE CAPTAIN. Arriving at Monte Video, I received a cable from Druce or Coburn, and at , Tvneriffe I got some letters. 1 know they promised to meet me at Plymouth. Un my arrival at Plymouth Mr Kimber and Mr Coburn met me. The first thing Mr Kimber asked for was my diary. I said th© captain had got it. f Mr Limber asked the captain for it, but he would not give It to him. Mr Kimber kicked up a regular row. I did not go into the captain's cabin. Mr Kimber went in and demanded what belonged to me in the safe. Mr Kimber had four or five men with Him, but Mr Coburn did not stir off the launch. .

I went then to th© captain, and the captain gave me the diary and a few other little things. I told Mr Kimuer and Mr Coburn that I had lost on the voyage some letters. Mr Kimber said, ''Stick to your tale.” Mr Kimber said. "We want to make a sensation. There is nothing done without it.”

Kimber and Coburn had a lot of talk in the train coming to London about the Druce case. 1 cannot remember all they said. They said that Mr Druce would be duke very soon, and referred to him as his Grace. In the train Cobum said "You will get your .£4OOO without a murmur; perhaps .£SOOO, if you will ©tick to it.” As scon as the captain handed me the diary. Mr Kimber took possession of it. He asked me if I had any objection, and I said "No.” I never had my diary again from Mr Kimber except for three days when I paid Messrs Oswald Smith and Hanson £2 to get it. I asked Mr Kimber twice for my 4 diary, but he declined to give it, saying it was at his bankers, , In conversation with Mr G. H, Druce, X don't think that he mentioned anything about ray diary. Ho kept away for over a week. Then he called again, told me they were doing well with the diary, and were raising plenty of money by it. Mr Kimber had charge of it, and at anv time largo shareholders came in they had to be taken to Mr Kimber's office and see the diary. I told Mr G, H. Druce when he visited me that I had seen a man named Druce in New Zealand.

He said. "That's all right. That is perfectly true.. I know all about it.” He had previously said he had a brother who lived out there. X asked him if he was the younger ot- elder. He said "Younger.” I think he said his name wae William, and that he was in a good position. The brother travelled about, and had been in New Zealand several times.Ho himself had been apprenticed to a safe maker. ...

ME KIMBEE AND ME COBTTRN. Coburn asked me to try and obtain my diary from Kimber, and to put it into Coburn’s looker, and also any papers I had given ma by Kimber, or any other papers which had anything to do with the case. 1 asked Mr Kimber for my diary. He refused to give it to me, saying it was at his bankers’. Then Coburn asked me for any other pajiers. I think I gave him some little jottings, which I had made as to information given me by other people winch I had gathered together. I think I gave him pieces of paper which I had written ip New Zealand after the man Druoe had called upon me, and reciuested me ip make up the diary. Coburn laughed heartily when I gave him these, and said they had made a lot of money in Australia over this, and all they wanted was good witnesses to succeed. He said they would depend upon their witnesses as they did not intend to say anything themselves. Next time I think Mr Balham came, and wanted to know if Kimber had taken my diary to New York to show this man (Caldwell), because, if I had got it, Cobnrn wanted it so as to copy it. He wanted to take three copies. I told him I had not seen it, but he said it was not at their office. He said they had a cable from Kimber in America. He would be back in a few days, but that the man was not coming with him, as Kimber bad not money to pay him.

Jenkins came next time, and told me Coburn was going to America to bring this man back.

CALDWELL AND (MRS HAMILTON. He told me it Vas Caldwell, and his solicitor’s name was Allen. The next I heard was that Coburn and his solicitors were arriving. There was a great dinner to entertain them. X think, at Liverpool. X never did see Caldwell in my life until I saw him in the Police Court at Marylebone. That was the first time I had seen Mrs Hamilton. . . . X think Druce introduced me to Caldwell, saying, "This is the lady who comes from New Zealand, and wrote this wonderful diary which has caused such sensation, and raised so much money." Caldwell said he hoped to do as much for them as I had done, and said he would bet hia life that he would have Herbert X>ruce in gaol. "CAN’T CATCH WORMS.”

Mr Allen took possession of me, and I most say I never enjoyed any company so much as his. He was a most interesting person. He said. “Don you know Scotland Yardl said. "If I don't, mv poor old father ought to have, for he went there often enough for his pension." Alien said, "My idea is that they can't catch worms,' and went on to praise the New York police. Subsequently I had a letter from Mr Kimber saying that Scotland Yard was after me. and I was a bad character, and that I was chased out of New Zealand by the police. I really thought that Kimber must have been drunk, and so my daughter called upon Mr Watts and showed him Mr Kimber's letter. After that Mr Cribkmer called upon me, and paid me. He colled a few times, and then he knocked off. After that Mr Druce and his son (Lord William) used to calk I received from Mr Kimber a typewritten document of the evidence X was to give. X did not like this, and sent it back. THE DIARY. Mr Allen called, and told me he woe a detective. He said if I could put my diary into his hands, he could make some money from the newspaper folk. Mr Kimber, Mr Coburn. Mr Watts, and Mr Druce were all trying to get the diary, and at last Mr Smith got it for mo from Mr Kimber, so that I could read it before I went into Court. The statement as to how I was robbed of my diary whilst returning to Mr Kimber was absolutely true. X never told them that I had manufactured the contents of my diary, but I felt that they knew it. They wero always telling me that I was going to be run in, or that I should be poisoned. All I care to eay about the Duke of Portland is that X knew him and that he knew me, and was very kind to mo and my husband when we lived at Work-

sop. I never had any letters from the Duke of Portland, but I had two from Charles Dickens. When I came to England it was to help them to raise money for my dials, and cause any other sensation, but I never came to swear falsely. I did not come to prove that T. C. Druce was the Duke, but only to say what I had heard. The men who called upon me in New Zealand gave me note u of things ho wished me to dwell upon. One of was that T. C. Druce was the same as the Duke of Portland. I could not do this at first; and so I had to work it round, because if i had put it in first that would have closed the seam, and there would have been no more to say.

I remember my father told me that the magistrate’s name at Tunbridge Wells was Druce, and I used that, and I fixed the dates 1861 and 1868 out of my imagination, for I never thought that X should have to ©wear to anyiuuig. The letters purporting to be from the Duke of Portland were wntten by me for my amusement. CHARLES DICKENS.

The on© from Mr Dickens is practically a copy of a letter received oy me Horn Mr Quarles Dickens. 4 I first saw lum wnen 1 was at lire Home and Colonial Truuuug College at lungs cross, cue of tue gins knew him. and. look me Home, ami Dickmi© was theie. T'ney lived at Caiuuen Town. Then I saw lum at workobp, anu n© remembered me. X gave nun some mlormation auout tiiat neighbourhood. The piece or paper in Mr ivimbei 8 handwriting found m me cuina cupboard at bisters avenue was given me by Mr Kimuer himself wneu no caned. He told me not to let anyone see it. He ©aid that he would bring witnosse© to prove that what 1 said was correct. H© said I should have something to refresh my mind with regard to the case, and suggested that I should get a guide to Worksop. __ , When I wae in custody Mr Kimber came to me in Holloway. Th© last time I told him I should plead guilty, and ©how the lot of them up. He said. "You must not do that. If you do they will give you seven years. Then I made up my mind to tell the police all about it. I knew my father was a policeman, and I would rather tell the police than anyone else. And so ended this remarkable contesInspector Reed told the Court that at Wrapping police station, on March 30th last, defendant came with Mr Kimber and complained of the loss of three letters from the fifth Duke and seven from Charles Dickenswhich, ©ho said, were stolen from her trunk before the Rimutaka left Wellington, New Zealand. She named as the thief a man who had travelled on the boat. Witness declined to arrest him, as there was no evidence. - .. ... Mr Kimber. witness said, addressed the lady sometimes as Miss Robinson and sometimes as Mrs Robinson. The case was again adjourned.

A LETTEE FEOM KIMBEE. Among the effects found at Mrs Kobinson's flat after her arrest was a letter from Mr Kimber, the Druce claimant’s solicitor, referring to the Christchurch firm of solicitors, Messrs Harper and Co. It appears from Mrs Robinson's confession that Mr Harper was brought into the case through her calling on him iu Christchurch in order to make a statement regarding what she knew of the fifth Duke of Portland. She told him she had a diary—the now famous diary—but sho did not produce it, nor state how she came to concoct it, nor how she came to be summoned to England as a witness. In fact she appears to have told him very little. After Mrs Robinson’s arrest the following letter from Mr Kimber. dated September 27th, 1007, was found among her possessions; Dear Madam,—l have now seen the agents of Messrs Harper and Co. iu London. who, I find, are a highly respectable firm. They have toui me everything that has taken place. It appears the way in which young Harper became acquainted with the Duke of Portland was this: He was on a visit to this country as one of the Australian team of cricketers, and they all went down to Welbeck to see a famous Australian racehorse. The duke happened to be at home, and he invited them all to lunch. This appears to have been the extent of his acquaintance. He says he never saw the letters you had nor the diary; in fact, he did not know you had the letters. I got from the agents here _the substance of the report of the police in this country, which is of a scandalous and libellous nature, and the result, evidently, of communications from other persons, clearly animated . with a deliberate intention of injuring you and your character; but I have warned them about this, and they say they shall not think of acting upon the suggestion of Mr Harper, who is evidently very angry about what you have said about him. Chief-Inspector Scott, of Scotland Yard, has been here this morning, and says they cannot give me a copy of the report. The whole thing points to the machinations of some evil-disposed persons. who are quite independent of and Without the knowledge of either the police or Messrs Harper, and those persons have evidently ascertained your whereabouts here, and they are manifestly connected with the private inquiry agent of the duke; but I have no doubt I shall he able to catch them tripping before long; in fact, I think they have already seriously cemoroinii'- d the duke’s case and strengthened Mr Druce’s.—Yours faithfully, Edmund Kimber. A cable message published yesterday stated that Miss Kobinso.n had been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.