THE PORTLAND ESTATES

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 27

THE PORTLAND ESTATES

THE DHUdE CASE.

• MORE REMARKABLE EVIDENCE.

LONDON, November 12.

A new Druce-Portland Company is being formed, with a capital of £25,000, of which £20,000 is being issued. Tho company acquires the rights of John ♦Sheridan Sheridan, under agreements with George Hollamby Druce and T. K. V. Coburn. Sheridan claims 10 per cent, of any proceeds accruing to George Hollamby Druce from the Portland and Howard de Walden estates.

George Hollamby Druce warns the public that he has disposed of the whole of his rights to G. H. Druce (Ltd.). The Druce-Portland Company warns the newspapers circulating Druce's warning that the statements are libellous.

The prospectus suggests that Sheridan's interest is worth £1,600,000.

November 13.

The Daily News' New York correspondent states that Nathaniel Inch, a bank clerk, has declared that he is going to London to testify in connection with the Druce case. He says he is aware that Caldwell, whogave evidence at the Marylebone Police Court, was employed atChristy's mill, Londonderry (North Ireland),, during the entire month in which the alleged bogus funeral occurred.

November 15.

Caldwell, the New York witness on behalf of G. H. Druce, during a severe crossexamination continually contradicted his previous evidence.

He deposed that 50 coaches, filled with old servants from Welbeck (the Duke of Portland' 6 seat), to whom the Duke paid 5s apiece, attended Druce's funeral. He also made other fantastic statements.

November 16.

Caldwell deposed that; an Italian and a German, not two Indian rajahs, had paid him £5000 each in India in Bank of England notes for curing bulbous noses. He declared that <he had treated the Duke of Portland with ointment, and when reminded that he had sworn that he had used medicine he said he put the medicine on the Duke's nose. He said he refused tho Duke's and that he was

T always paid in bask notes. He kept no bank account, and he pinned the bank notes inside his shirt. He also said that liveried manservants waited at the table at the Baker street bazaar. He admitted that if it was correct that there were no bedrooms, dining room, or kitchen at the bazaar liis story would be untrue. Caldwell stated that no plate or inscription ■ was placed on Druce's coffin I When the magistrate remarked that the finishing touch of deception was wanting Caldwell said that he Had merely executed i the Duke's orders. He adhered to his statement that he saw the underground 1 apartments at Welbeck Abbey in 1864 Avhen counsel said they were not constructed until 1872. Caldwell further stated that the Duke of Portland superintended the arrange* ments at the bazaar on the day of the mock funeral. Caldwell said he was positive that no funeral of Druce occurred on th© 31st December, 1864. He denied that he was ever in the service of Gilliland, the owner of Rock Mille, Londonderry, in 1861. He said he knew Mt Inch in J*ew. York. If Mr Inch swore that he and Caldwell had been in the service of Mr Christie, of Londonderry, the statement wooild be untrue. The witness admitted j that he knew Matthew Ballantyne, of New J York, bufc he denied telling him in 1889 j that he had been in the employ of Christie. It was his brother William, with whom he changed.names as a boyish prank, who was in Christie's employ. His brother had been accused of embezzling Christie's money. When shown a document signed by Robert Caldwell, and assigning al^ his property to Christie, Caldwell declared that it was the signature of his brother, who was now dead. They wrote, looked, and spoke exactly alike.