LONDON SUMMARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3154, 25 February 1911, Page 10

LONDON SUMMARY.

THE -DEUCE ROMANCE. (Per Latest Files.) The death has just taken place of Mrs Agnes Maria Druce, the original claimant in the famous case in connection with the Portland estates. What the public through a succession of years spoke of as tne Druce claim rested in its essence upon the allegation of identity betwen the late Thomas Charles Druce, of the Baker Street Bazaar, and the fifth Dkke of Portland. It was claimed that the duke had a dual existence, and that while he spenfc part of his life at Walbe-ck lie also devoted a certain amount of time to tlie business of the Baker Street Bazaar. The fifth Duke of Portland admittedly died in 1879. Thomas Charles Druce died on December 28, 1864. By Druce claimants it was asserted that this “supposed death” cf T. C. Druce was merely the means employed by the Duke of Portland to dispose of his “other self,” that the death was a mock death followed by a mock funeral, and that the coffin interred in the family vault' at Highgate Cemetery 46 years ago contained nothing but lead. Mrs Druce was one of the most consistent agitators for the opening of the vault, which, wlw;n unsealed on December 30, 1907, was found to contain the coffin of an “aged bearded man.” The theory of the mock funeral was thus effectively disposed of. A HEALTHY YEAR. The -Registrar-GeneraTs returns for 1910 show that the. year was the healthiest on record. There were 3500 fewer fewer deaths in London than in 1908, the previous healthiest year, and nearly 7000 fewer than in 1903, which was a notoriously wet year and yet held the record for the lowest death-rate. The healthy character of 1910 may at least be attributed to three apparently contributory causes : the comparatively small range of temperature; an excessive rainfall, washing the impurities from the air; and improved sanitation. LONDON OMNIBUS ACCIDENT. Twenty-one people wore injured in a remarkable omnibus accident in Goswell Road. The omnibus—horse drawn — was proceeding towards the City, carrying 27 passengers, including a number of women.'- : An electric Vramcar came up . rapidly from behind, and, before the omnibus could get -clear, struck-it. The wheels broke into splinters, and the ve-. hide overturned, pinning down the. outside passengers on to the pavement. Every pane of glass was shattered, some of the outside' seats were reduced to matchwood, and the conductor’s- platform was demolished. Twenty-one people received injuires—two being seiiously hurt. . . ,