BREACH OF PROMISE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 1, 1 July 1935, Page 14

BREACH OF PROMISE

SOME BIG DAMAGES

Out of fifteen breach of promise cases heard in the English Courts this year twelve have been decided in favour of the woman, and on an average damages'have been awarded at the rale of approximately £350 per case, .says the "Daily Mail." At the opening of the Easter Law sittings it was announced that no fewer 1 than nine breach of promise actions : were set down for hearing in the King's Bench Division—the largest ; number in a single law term's list for several years. I Among cases heard this year are those of: Sir Anthony St. John-Milmay, baronet, against whom an action was brought by Miss Emily Fender, a nurse. A special jury on April 12 assessed ! damages at £2000. On April 15 argu- j ments on a point of law raised on behalf of Sir Anthony were continued before Mr. Justice Hawkc. and judgment was reserved. Arthur Lethbridgc, professionally known as Ivor Morton, a London dance band pianist and crooner. He was ordered to pay £500 damages to Miss Florence AddieoU, a dressmaker. Probably the largest award on record jn. a breach of promise case was thai of £90,000 made at Detroit in 1929 against a wealthy real estate operator. The record for England was set up in the case brought in July, 1918 by Mrs. Daisy Annie Moss, an actress, profesionally known as Daisy Markham, against the Marquis of Northampton. The sum, of £50,000 was agreed to by the Marquis. The case came before the King's Bench Division, and a special jury was sworn, although no verdict was required from them. Sir Edward Carson, K.C. (now Lord Carson), the plaintiff's leading counsel, caused a sensation in the crowded court by reading the following statement:— "The Marquis of Northampton has consented to make an adequate provision for this lady who would have been entitled to the position of Marchioness if she had been married to him. ... He has consented to settle upon her the sum of £50,000, and give her an indemnity for all costs." The costs were estimated at the time at £10,000. The proceedings only lasted half an hour. Previous big awards arc: 1934.—£2500 damages awarded to Miss M. B. Wheeler, aged 44, of Narbeth, against Charles Arthur Stanley Rowe, a chemist, of Narbeth. 1930.—£5000 damages awarded to Mrs. Annie Elizabeth Bird, a widow, of Hampstead, for breach of promise by Thomas Brooks, of Detroit, U.S.A. .£2OOO damages awarded Miss Doris Lawn, a nurse, against Mr. R. T. Bowyer, of Kenya Colony. 1925—£2000 damages awarded to Mrs. Lucia Jacob against Mr. David Alexander Wills, in. the first breach of promise case to come before the Privy Council. 1903—£10,000 to Mrs. Helen Turner against Mr. R. Gladstone, a Liverpool wine merchant. 1893.—Miss Burdie Sutherland's action against the Hon. Dudley Marjoribanks (who afterwards became Lord Tweedmouth) was settled for £5000 1890.—£10,000 to Miss Gladys Knowlbs against Mr..Leslie Duncan, of the "Matrimonial News." 1889.—£2500 to Miss Phyllis Broughton, actress, against Viscount Dangan, afterwards Earl Cowley. 1844.—£10,000 to Miss Fortescue, actress, against Viscount Garmoyle, afterwards Earl Cairns. 1824.— £3000 damages awarded" to Maria Foote, the actress, afterwards Countess of Harrington, \ against Mr. Haynes.