RREACH OF PROMISE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 107, 15 February 1935, Page 8

RREACH OF PROMISE

ENDi OF A ROMANCE. JURY AAV ARDS DAMAGES.. “Hello! / I’ve.called to get the ring back. I’ve got to give you. up!” This remark was stated to have ended a five years’ romance and led to a breach of promise action bejng brought before jury by Miss Doris Wakefield, aged 27, the Manchester under-sheriff and a against Mr Norman MacArtney, agdd 32.

MacArtney who was present in court did not contest any of Miss AAakefieid’s statements, and after a few minutes’ absence the jury awarded lie) £125, including £25 special damages and costs.

Counsel for Mi.ss AA T akefield stated that the couple first met five years ago, when they were both members of the Raddon Tennis Club, AVarrington. MacArtney, who had been educated at a public school in North Wales, and was employed in his father’s business, offered to take Miss AVakefield home on his motor-cycle one night and from then onwards they became friendly. In May, 1930, she was introduced to his parents, who raised no objection to the friendship, In June, 1932, MacArtney asked Miss AA r alcefield to become engaged, and she agreed. The ring was bought, but MacArtney said he wanted to buy a house, furnish it and have £SOO in the bank before they were married. About Christmas, 1933, MacArtney told Miss AVakefield that he was not getting on well with his parents and later he went to live at her mother’s home. He had all his meals there and regarded it as his real home. In the interval, continued counsel, a Miss Chrissie Dyson came to live with MacArtney’s parents and on February 12 last MacArtney took Miss AYakefield’s mother aside and said his parents wanted him to gi.ve Miss AVakefield up. He then asked Miss AVakeiield if she was still willing to marry him and she said she was. “MacArtney, in the meantime, had returned home,” proceeded counsel, “and on February 15 he sent word to say that he could not see Miss AAakefield that night as arranged, as he had to <teach Chrissie how to play cards. He made the same excuse on another occasion. ’ . , “Then, on February 16, MacArtney called on Miss AVakefield, put his head round the) door, and called out, 'Hello. I’ve called to get, the ring hack. 1 ve

got to give you up.”’ Counsel submitted that MacArtney could not have displayed a more callous or abrupt attitude towards a stranger, far less to the young woman who had given him five years of the best years of her life. “The culminating point came m June last,” concluded counsel, “when defendant married Miss Dyson, who has a private income of £2 a week. Miss AVakefield, in the witness box agreed that she was dumbfounded when MacArtney called for the ring. “I went upstairs,” v slie explained, “lay down on my bed and sobbed for a time.. Eventually I put the ring in the box and took it down to him, and I did not see him again.” _ Judgment as stated was entered for Miss A\ r akefield.