The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife and the Missing Corpse

by Piu Marie Eatwell

  p. 135 30 shillings to £2 a week. See statements of Amanda Malvina Gibson, NA Mepol. 3/175, op. cit.

  p. 135 had recently visited George Hollamby and Thomas Coburn. See statements of Amanda Malvina Gibson, NA Mepol. 3/175, op. cit.

  p. 135 the New Thought movement. See Beryl Satter, Each Mind a Kingdom: American Women, Sexual Purity, and the New Thought Movement 1875–1920, Oakland: University of California Press, 2001.

  p. 136 Amanda’s book. Amanda Gibson referred in her statement to Walter Dew (NA Mepol. 3/175) to bringing a novel with her to England in 1906, in the hope of finding a publisher. The completion date of A Marriage of Souls in 1906 (see Prologue) would suggest it was this novel that she brought with her. It was not in fact published until 1914, in Australia.

  p. 136 a central tenet of her own beliefs. See Veni Cooper-Mathieson, Australia! Land of the Dawning, Sydney: Universal Truth Publishing Company, c.1904; also A Marriage of Souls: A Metaphysical Novel, Perth: Truth-Seeker Publishing, 1914.

  p. 137 Letters poured in daily. See statements of Amanda Malvina Gibson, NA Mepol. 3/175, op. cit.

  p. 141 a ‘short time between their births’. See the statement of Mrs Fanny Hughes at NU Pl L1/11/4/33/2.

  p. 141 Agreement between George Hollamby and Charles Edgar: see NU P1/L1/2/4/13.

  p. 143 Case that Druce and the duke were one and the same person. The correspondences between T. C. Druce and the 5th Duke of Portland that convinced Amanda Gibson are taken from The Idler pamphlet of 1905 entitled Claim to the Portland Millions. Was Druce the Duke? Facts shortly stated, which was privately circulated (see NU Pl L1/2/4/15–20).

  p. 146 Caldwell’s story. Caldwell’s story as told to Amanda Gibson, along with those of Mary Robinson and Mrs Hamilton, are based on the witness evidence given by the three in the subsequent court hearing.

  SCENE ELEVEN

  p. 154 sawdust, turpentine and cheese. See the description of Great Grubby Street Police Court in George Augustus Sala, London Up to Date, 1895: Ten AM at Great Grubby Street Police Court (Pt. I & II).

  p. 154 ‘blue or black eyes of some goddess’. See Alfred Chichele Plowden, Grain or Chaff? The Autobiography of a Police Magistrate, London: T. F. Unwin, 1903, p. 46.

  p. 155 sickly blue tiles. See Plowden, Grain or Chaff? op. cit., p. 176.

  p. 155 so is the wig to a Judge. See Plowden, Grain or Chaff? op. cit., p. 223.

  p. 156 leniency towards homosexuals. See Matt Houlbrook, Queer London: Perils and Pleasures in the Sexual Metropolis 1918–1957, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005, p. 252.

  p. 156 ‘Illegitimate?’ etc. The dialogue in this chapter, although necessarily abridged, is accurately reported from the court transcript of the perjury proceedings (NU PI L1/4/3).

  p. 157 attenuated hands… mask-like face. See A Judge of Distinction – The Life and Work of Horace Avory, in the Law Society Gazette, 29 May 1991.

  p. 158 notices had been posted in the newspapers. See NA Mepol. 3/174.

  p. 166 Georgina Hogarth. See letters and memorandum of interview with Miss Georgina Hogarth at NU Pl L1/11/6/568 and NU Pl L1/2/7/33/1.

  p. 167 Thomas Edward Crispe, KC. For an account of Crispe’s informal cross-examination of Mrs Hamilton and his conviction that she was telling the truth, see his memoir, Reminiscences of a KC, London: Methuen & Co., 1909, p. 179.

  p. 173 6th Duke of Portland’s pressure on Herbert Druce to consent to open the grave. See NU Pl L1/11/1/67/1.

  SCENE TWELVE

  p. 174 a small group of men. The description and circumstantial details of the exhumation are taken from the report in The Times, 31 December 1907.

  p. 175 a morbid obssession. See Nicholas Connell, Walter Dew: The Man Who Caught Crippen, The History Press, 2013, ebook edition, Chapter 2 (citing Dew’s memoir I Caught Crippen, London: Blackie & Son Ltd, 1938).

  p. 175 Born in humble circumstances. See Connell, op.cit., Prologue.

  p. 175 nickname ‘Blue Serge’. See Connell, op.cit., Prologue.

  p. 176 ‘“swell” mobman… Dew.’ Saturday Post, 29 January 1916.

  p. 177 plot afoot surreptitiously to open the Druce grave. See letter from Edmund Kimber to Superintendent Froest of Scotland Yard, 26 November 1907, NA Mepol. 3/174.

  p. 177 Dew had advised against it. See internal CID report of Walter Dew dated 28 November 1907, NA Mepol. 3/174.

  p. 178 was it not a coincidence. See internal CID report of Walter Dew into the incident of the stolen diary dated 9 November 1907, NA HO. 45/10541 File/157177.

  p. 179 Russell and Whistler. See account in Black and White, 19 August 1899, p. 230.

  p. 180 offered in excess of £1000. See NU Pl L1/11/1/153.

  p. 180 different coloured handkerchiefs. See memorandum from Edwin Freshfield to the Home Office dated 4 January 1908, NA Mepol. 3/174.

  p. 181 a tarpaulin was spread over a portion of the floor. For this and the subsequent details of the procedure for opening the vault, see The Times, 31 December 1907.

  p. 182 approximately six feet five and a quarter inches in length. See internal CID report of Walter Dew dated 31 December 1907, NA Mepol. 3/174.

  SCENE THIRTEEN

  p. 184 fourteenth and last court hearing. See documents relating to the proceedings of R. v. Herbert Druce at NU Pl L1/4.

  SCENE FOURTEEN

  p. 194 warrant for Caldwell’s arrest. For this and the subsequent events at Albert Square, see the reports of Walter Dew at NA DPP 1/11.

  p. 195 a coded message. See NA DPP 1/11.

  p. 196 hanging around his master’s London residence. See NU Pl L1/11/6/882–3.

  p. 197 Subterfuge by which the duke’s coat was obtained from Harrington’s daughter. See the statement of Bertha Lambourn, daughter of John Harrington, at NU Pl L1/2/7/102.

  p. 198 ‘I have been on the track all day’. See letter dated 8 December 1907 from T. W. Turner to Horseman Bailey, NU Pl L1/11/6/633/1.

  p. 200 Burning of Welbeck paintings. See letter from Richard Goulding to Baileys, Shaw & Gillett dated 12 December 1907, NU Pl L1/11/3/102.

  p. 201 dismissed three workmen… caricature. See the evidence of the mechanical engineer James Rudd for the prosecution in the Druce perjury case, NU PI L1/4/2/7; also the proof of John William Tinker at NU Pl L1/2/6/13.

  SCENE FIFTEEN

  p. 203 Battle for Caldwell’s extradition. The account of the battle for Caldwell’s extradition for trial in Britain on charges of perjury is taken from the Department of Public Prosecutions file on the subject at the National Archives, NA DPP 1. 11.

  p. 204 fellow passenger… daughter of the late Captain Joyce. See statement of Robert Caldwell’s fellow passenger Roulston at NU PI L1/4/2/17; also Dew’s investigations into Captain Joyce at NA Mepol 3/174 and NA DPP 1.11.

  p. 205 ‘Woman just arrested.’ See telegram from J. G. Littlechild to Bailey dated 17 January 1908, NU Pl L1/11/6/960.

  p. 206 Account of Robinson’s arrest. The account of Mary Robinson’s arrest is taken from the report submitted to Scotland Yard by Walter Dew dated 21 January 1908 at NA Mepol 3/176.

  p. 207 Kimber accused of perjury. See Leeds Times, 7 November 1891.

  p. 207 Kimber representing the Tichborne claimant. See Manchester Evening News, 13 September 1880.

  p. 208 Background of Mrs Robinson. Dew’s research into Mary Ann Robinson’s background is contained in the National Archive police files on the case, in particular NA Mepol 3/176.

  p. 209 Royal Hotel. Inspector Dew stayed at the Royal Hotel on his visit to Worksop in August 1908 (NU Pl L1/11/6/1199). It is therefore likely that he stayed there during his earlier visit that year, in January. The hotel stood on the old market square at Worksop, and has since been demolished.

  p. 210 ‘loose character in Worksop.’ NA MEPO 3/175.

  p. 210 Researches into Mary Robinson. For these events during Inspector Dew’s visit to Welbeck, see the letter from Turner to Baileys dated 24 January 1908, at NU Pl/L1/11/6/985/1-3.

  p. 211 Letter fro
m Arthur Markham. Markham’s letter to Turner, along with Crowder’s statement, is at NU Pl L1/11/6/769/2–3.

  p. 211 trouble with the local press. See Manchester Evening News, 28 August 1902.

  p. 212 Joseph Burns. See proof of Joseph Burns in Druce v. Howard de Walden, NU Pl L1/2/6/12.

  p. 213 Bernard Boaler. See proof of Bernard Boaler in Druce v. Howard de Walden, NU Pl L1/2/7/14.

  p. 213 old teller of underwood cuttings. See proof of William Ashberry of Holbeck Woodhouse in Druce v. Howard de Walden, NU Pl L1/2/6/13.

  p. 214 Henry Powell’s evidence. See proof of Henry Powell in Druce v. Howard de Walden, NU Pl L1/2/6/13.

  p. 214 truss for rupture of the right side of the groin. See letter from William Higgs to Baileys dated 10 December 1907, at NU Pl L1/11/6/845.

  p. 215 Message from Mary Robinson at Holloway Prison. NA Mepol 3/176.

  SCENE SIXTEEN

  p. 217 Mrs Robinson’s confession. The details of Mary Ann Robinson’s confession are taken from the reports to Scotland Yard by Inspector Dew of a series of interviews with her in Holloway Prison during January and February 1908 (NA Mepol 3/176) and her official statement as submitted during her trial (NU Pl L1/6/1/10).

  p. 223 ‘Harry the valet’… Conrad Harms. Both cases were discussed by Dew in his autobiography, I Caught Crippen, op. cit.

  pp. 223–4 The 6th Duke also dismissed the idea… as ridiculous. See letter to Baileys dated 24 January 1908, NU PL L1/11/6/935/1-2.

  p. 224 Letter penned by Mary Ann Robinson as one to her from the 5th Duke. See NU Pl L1/6/2/1–11.

  p. 225 ‘Kimber and Coburn into our net’. NU Pl L1/3646.

  SCENE SEVENTEEN

  p. 227 the town of Kendal in Westmorland. The background story of Mrs Hamilton is taken from the private investigator reports of J. G. Littlechild at NU PI LI/9/1/3.

  p. 227 black ringlets. See letter from Moser & Son to Baileys at NU Pl L1/11/6/942.

  p. 229 Mussabini and Littlechild. See Jan Bondeson, The Great Pretenders: The True Stories behind Famous Historical Mysteries, London: W.W. Norton & Co., 2004, p. 251.

  p. 230 Mussabini’s report back to Littlechild. See letter from Mussabini to Littlechild dated 14 November 1901, at NU PI LI/9/2/1-16.

  p. 231 tissue of lies. See letter from Moser & Sons to Baileys dated 9 January 1908, at NU Pl L1/11/6/943/1.

  p. 231 wreath on the tomb. See NU Pl L1/11/1/12.

  p. 232 Thomas Wyatt. See letter from Freshfields to Baileys dated 22 November 1907, NU Pl L1/11/1/133.

  p. 233 Botten’s statement. See NU PI L1/4/2/11, proof of Charles Louis Botten, Manager to Dickson & Rowe of 17 Walbrook (paper dealers) dated 19 November 1907.

  pp. 234–5 Statement of Edward Phillips. See statement of Edward Phillips to Walter Dew at NA Mepol 3/175.

  p. 236 tuberculosis of the lungs and throat. See notes of interview between Dew and Official Receiver’s Office dated 18 March 1908, NU Pl L1/11/6/1111.

  p. 236 Amateur detective… professional plain-clothes policeman. For the divergence in public perceptions, see the analysis by Lucy Worsley in A Very British Murder, BBC Digital, September 2013.

  p. 239 ‘all persons who should be brought to book’. See NU Pl L1/11/6/938.

  p. 239 ‘Coburn and the whole crew’. See NU Pl L1/11/6/1103/1.

  p. 239 Recorder at Newcastle. See letter from Turner to Baileys at NU Pl L1/11/6/990/1.

  p. 240 Letter from Home Office dismissing investigation. See NU Pl LI/11/6/1177.

  SCENE EIGHTEEN

  pp. 241–2 Letter from Baileys to Home Office. See NU Pl L1/11/6/1178.

  p. 242 joint legal opinion. See Opinion dated 4 June 1908, NU Pl L1/2/1/60.

  p. 245 Sir Tatton and Lady Sykes. The full eccentricities of Sir Tatton Sykes and the history of his spectacularly unhappy marriage to Jessie are set out in Christopher Simon Sykes’ biography of the Sykes family and Sledmere House, The Big House: The Story of a Country House and its family, London: HarperCollins, 2005.

  p. 246 A vicar of Sledmere. From the Sykes papers at the Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull, DDSY /104/168.

  pp. 247–8 Sir Tatton Sykes’ advertisement. This advertisement appeared in The Times, the Morning Post, the Standard, the Daily Telegraph and the Daily News on 7 December 1896.

  p. 249 ‘left the matter alone’. See NU Pl L1/11/6/217/1, NU Pl L1/11/6/2/2.

  p. 249 Mary Ann’s account of meeting with Lady Sykes. See statements of Mary Ann Robinson in Holloway Prison at NU Pl L1/6/1/10.

  p. 251 Oakland Tribune. See Oakland Tribune, 20 January 1913.

  p. 252 Final fate of George Hollamby. See Stratmann, Linda, Fraudsters and Charlatans, Stroud: The History Press, ebook, 2010.

  pp. 252–3 6th Duke’s thanks to Dew and other officers. See NU Pl L1/11/6/1204.

  pp. 253–4 Saturday Post. See Saturday Post, 29 January 1916.

  p. 255 Dew’s biographer Nicholas Connell. See Nicholas Connell, Walter Dew: The Man who Caught Crippen, Stroud: The History Press, 2013.

  SCENE NINETEEN

  p. 256 Thomas Mann citation. © 1960, 1974 S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main. All rights reserved.

  p. 257 Edwin Freshfield had referred to them in a letter to the Home Office. See NU Pl L1/11/1/191.

  p. 259 Fire at Harcourt House. See proof of Henry Powell at NU Pl L1/2/6/13.

  p. 259 The late Duke well knew the opinion of the outside world concerning him. See proof of Joseph Burns at NU Pl L1/2/6/12.

  p. 260 record books split into double columns. See, for example, NU Pl L1/2/9/5.

  p. 261 Action against the 6th Duke over census returns. See NU Pl L1/8 – documents relating to Haworth v. Portland and another.

  p. 262 Kerridge’s statement. See proof of William Kerridge at NU Pl L1/2/6/13.

  p. 263 trade circular. See NU Pl L1/11/3/108.

  p. 263 French Embassy in London… Albert, the Prince Consort. See memorandum of former Druce employee Richard Smith at NU Pl L1/2/7/150/1.

  p. 263 Proofs of Leslie Ward and Henry Hope-Pinker. See NU Pl L1/2/7/170 and NU Pl L1/2/6/13.

  p. 265 Lawledge statement. See NU Pl L1/2/6/9.

  p. 265 Edward Swift. See NA MEPOL 3/175.

  p. 266 Bernard O’Donnell. See O’Donnell, The Trials of Mr Justice Avory, London: Rich & Cowan, 1935, pp. 93–4.

  p. 267 Plans and specifications for ‘sub-way at Harcourt House’. See NU PL L1/11/3/34.

  pp. 268–9 Letters from Fanny Lawson to Horace Avory. See NU PL L1/11/6/1224/2, NU PL L1/11/6/1231.

  SCENE TWENTY

  p. 276 Citation from A Natural History of the Senses. Cited by kind permission of the author, Diane Ackerman.

  p. 277 Police photographs of the Druce grave. NA HO 45/10541/FILE/157177.

  p. 279 ‘a pompous-looking man with a moustache’. See Masters, op. cit., p. 169.

  p. 285 ‘upset the applecart’. See NU Pl L1/11/6/303.

  p. 286 Military service records of George and Bertram Lawson. Register No 203497, Portsmouth Division, and Register No 9894, Chatham Division.

  p. 288 handwritten note of meeting. See NU Pl L1/2/10/37.

  Acknowledgments

  This book could not have been written without reliance on the vast collection of documents housed at Nottingham University Manuscripts & Special Collections; in particular, the important Portland (London) Collection that is the primary source of unpublished material relating to the Druce–Portland case. To the patience and forbearance of the staff there, I owe much in the way of thanks. Other important collections are held by the National Archives at Kew and the London Metropolitan Archives, to whose staff I am likewise most grateful.

  The task of researching this book has been truly enormous, and many people have generously stepped in with advice and assistance on the way. I am grateful to Norma Bulman for her painstaking photographing of literally hundreds of documents to facilitate my task, and also to Sue Newman for invalu-able assistance on the genealogical research front. Gordon Ashbury generously pr
ovided vital clues to Fanny Lawson’s Scottish connections, and Geoff Wright gave helpful pointers to the ultimate fate of George Hollamby. Forces War Records were of great assistance in retrieving the service records of George and Bertram Lawson, and Michael Goldschmidt provided detailed insights into their interpretation, bringing the invaluable benefit of his expertise as a military historian. Dr Lionel Thevathasan MB BS FRCS spared some time from a busy schedule to give medical advice. Thanks are also due to Charles Dalglish and Melvyn Tan, both of whom put me in touch with the right people. I am grateful also to Shelley Thevathasan, for her careful review of the manuscript.

  To Derek Adlam, the curator at Welbeck Abbey, I owe an enormous debt. His generous allocation of time for a visit and guided tour, together with his passionate enthusiasm for the abbey and its occupants throughout time, made the story come alive in a way that would not have otherwise been possible. I also have him to thank for a careful scrutiny of certain passages relating to the incredibly complicated family history of the Cavendish-Bentinck family.

  I should thank my incredible agent Andrew Lownie, and my best and severest critic, my editor Richard Milbank. I am also very grateful to Anne Newman for her fabulously rigorous copyediting. Love and thanks also to my mother Sarah Das Gupta and, as ever, to my husband, Nikolaï Eatwell. To my sons Alek, Oscar and Noah, I am perhaps the most grateful of all: for allowing their mother to sneak off, at times, to her double life.

  Select Bibliography

  PRIMARY SOURCES

  The primary (unpublished) sources for this book come from two principal archives:

  The Portland (London) Collection at Nottingham University Manuscripts & Special Collections department. This important collection, consisting of several thousand documents, is the most comprehensive record of the Druce–Portland proceedings in existence. It includes all the court papers from the numerous hearings of the case, the correspondence of the 6th Duke’s solicitors Baileys, Shaw & Gillett that related to it and the private-investigator reports of J. G. Littlechild, along with numerous press clippings. Detailed references to the Nottingham University Portland (London) archive are contained in the endnotes, and are prefaced by the reference NU. Files reviewed were: