THE DRUCE CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9116, 23 December 1907, Page 1

THE DRUCE CASE.

-♦ FURTHER EVIDENCE. !THE HIGHGATE GRAVE TO. BE OPENED. : "United Press Association— By Electrio Telegraph— Copyright. LONDON, December 21'. •Catherine Bailey, in cross-examina-tion, said that Druce, by whom she was jßmployed for many years, always fehaved his beard in his earlier years He had no moustache after having shaved. Witness, when &hown a largt photograph, No. 7 of the alleged DrucaPortland photographs, with eide-whis-kers^ recognised it as Druoe's. She said she had one similar to it, taken later. She also had another, taken three years before he died, showing him with full beard and moustache. She had heard fcilly gossiping people £alk about a biock funeral. Asked when wie first 'heard the story, witness replied: "I (suppose when Druce was supposed to idie or did die." Witness further stated that between 1848 and 1864, Druce in^ver, slept at his residence unless Ids family accompanied! him. Sh<* and Or Shaw were present when, the body was placed in the coffin. '■• In answer to Mr Plowden, witness said that she attributed the mock funeral story to Anna Maria Druce, the 'original claimant.' Further evidence was adjourned till January 6. . All the preliminaries irt connection with, the opening of Druoe's grave <at Highgate Cemetery have been settled, but the exhumation of the remains - 11 jpot take place until after Christmas.