THE DRUCE MYSTERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6290, 22 September 1898, Page 1

THE DRUCE MYSTERY.

AN ORDER FOR EXHUMATION. [From Oub Correspondent. I LONDON, August. 13

'Mrs Druce has gained her point, and the •mystery of the Highgate vault will soon be cleared up. Tour readers will rememiber that when the Druce case was last be- - fore Dr Tristram, the Chancellor, in order to prevent any unncesßary laceration of the tender feelings of Thomas Charles Druce's kith and kin, prevailed upon the contending parties to refer the matter to Sir Francis Jexine, who, as Judge in the suit entered in the Probate Court, would say whether the opening of .the coffin alleged to contain Mr F. C. Druce's remains was necessary for the purposes of justice. • . Sir Francis heard the arguments of the opposing counsel on Wednesday last, in The principal issues raised by Mrs Druce's opponents — who are Mr .Alexander Young, Mr Herbert 'Druce, or Hay, and other representatives of the dead -man's children — were that such a course as suggested had never been adopted before, -and also that the effect of the" application" would be to cause a desecration of the most sacred feelings of the deceased's descendants. Further, they .affidavits of medical^ men , who. attended ■"■T. C. -Drnce" in • his last illness.' Sir Francis, however. ' stated that he "could not quite' acquiesce in ... the " feelings of horror " snggested; that, .'.'.in any lease, justice would have to be done $ , that it was clear that the most important ■ evidence as to whether the will was pro.perly executed was to be ascertained from f the fact whether the coffin contained the r.body of the testator or not ; and, finally, :that it would be sufficient for him, at this stage, if the petitioner made out a prima faciecase. . . ... The affidavits of an old salesman at the , Baker Street Bazaar, and others, were j put in on behalf of the applicant, for the i purpose of making out such a case, but Sir Francis held that they were not sufficient, : and that the evidence of the lady who had . been so often referred to must be given. Mr Stathain (Mrs Druce's counsel) -protested that he could not have a -"rehearsal" of his whole case at -.that period : but, on the understanding that only the' immediately important part of her testimony should be disclosed and cross-examined upon, agreed to call her, and at the adjourned hearing, yesterday, the lady appeared. Her name is Mrs Hamilton, and she is the witness on whose ' evidence the main part of Mrs Druce's *jase stands. Her affidavit sets forth that she knew " T. C. Druce "well, that she saw Mm in 1866, two years after his alleged .death ; that she then spoke to and joked with him on the subject of his burial ; that he only replied to the effect that he wished to hear no more about the matter, and that she saw him again in 1876, when he looked much older and complained of not being well. On all these points Mrs Hamilton was severely cross-examined by Mr Bar.grave Deane, but she stuck to her assertions throughout, and when told that if she made misstatements she might be prosecuted for perjury, replied with dignity, "I am fully aware of that, Sir." Mr Deane then desired to offer evidence on the other side, and put in several affidavits, but the President took the view .that he had before him a case involving a substantial issue, that he had heard substantial evidence, and had therefore decided tc address a letter to the Chancellor .of the Consistory Court, requesting the latter to assist the Probate Court by . directing the grave to be opened. This is j» great triumph for Mrs Druce, for although Mr Deane intimated he . might possibly appeal, the petitioner would, .sjb.oujd that course be taken, pro- . dace, fcfte shorthand notes of the proceed- - ings „at ,^ie Court, wherein counsel jihat if Sir Francis Jeune , thought i kh.6 <#jiftve should -be opened, he would pfferjp^fjrther opposition. Mr Ssa£ham, <by the way, promises to -" astonigh the- osier side" when he fully unfolds his case ;in the Probate Court, and hints darkly at revelations concerning one . of the alleged witnesses to the will of "T. *C. Druce." . Provided no appeal is made against Sir ; Francis Jeune'o decision, a further sitting of the Consistory Court will- be held and the Chancellor will then grant Mrs Druce .the faculty ordering the exhumation. Meanwhile, the petitioner is jubilating over her victory. She has been working in the matter for five long years, and now — well, she said to an interviewer the other day that by Christmas her son would be the Duke of Portland. There is, one would think, enough in the case already, but Mrs Druce has imported a little more by averring that for some months past her footsteps have been fogged by two men, "tall, dark, and looking like Spaniards." (Oh for the villains of the penny novelette !), and has recently received a mysterious warning from Borne unknown, person that efforts .were beipg made to-kidnap her. Mrs Druce has published her intention of being present at the exhumation, and after the coffin has been opened she means to go out to Sydney to bring back her son, "the lawful heir to the Portland estates and titles." In the interval, that young man should shun all tall, dark, Spanishlooking men, lest evil befall him. The Portland estates are worth a little caution, ,-to say nothing of the titles.