INTERRUPTED COURTSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 293, 10 December 1910, Page 17

INTERRUPTED COURTSHIP.

DISPUTE ABOUT A MOTOR BUSINESS. Miss Alice Ellen- Gertrude Pearse, of Tunbrldge Wells, claimed, ln the London Courts against Mr Arthur Luck for the return of £180, money lent so that Mr Luck could buy a motor and cycle business at Crowborough Cross, Sussex. The defence was a plea that the money was used to buy the business for Miss Pearse, the plaintiff, and that it was her business. Counsel stated that the plaintiff was twenty-nine years of age and the defendant twenty-three, although, the defendant in his affidavit said that the young lady was thirty-five. When Mr Luck came of age he proposed marriage to Miss Pearse and was accepted. He -was unable to provide a home at that time, and he expressed

A DESIRE TO BUT A MOTOIt AND CYCLE BUSINESS. Miss Pearse offered to lend the money. Early this year the business was purchased for £180, plaintiff drawing a cheque for that amount. Subsequently the engagement was broken off. When the money -was lent the defendant represented that he would be ln a position to repay It in two months. Mies Pearse, good looking, -with dark wavy hair, stated she had known the defendant for about six years. They became engaged in August, 1909. The £180 was not a gift, nor did she claim the business as her own. The garage was carried on under the name of Arthur Luck. - -<~ Mr Luck wrote to Miss Pearse signing himsfelf "Your ever-loving husband, Monty." He also wrote:

"Just a line to let you know we got home safely, and I think yon are making rather a mistake when you are

TRYING TO BOSS OVER MB In the way you did yesterday, telling mc ■there -would soon be a row if I did not -write to you. I think you are following mother's footsteps very well "I have told you before that I am not going to give up all my girl and boy friends to be able to go with you. If yon can't find something better to do with your time than to pick people to pieces, and say all the bad yon can find, it is almost time yon could.— Yours truly, A. LUCK." Cross-examined: She was told Mr Luck -was coming Into money. Were you fond of him?— Yes. Were you going to marry him?—l thought so, as soon as he could better his position. He was a chauffeur. Did you not tell him to look for a business which you could buy, so that yon could become married?— No. Further questioned, Miss Pearse said that in March she wrote to Mr Lack addressing him as "My dearest Monty (hubbie)," and stating she had had a van filled with things and taken to the garage, as they were going to live over it. The only reason you have brought this action is because he has not married you?— That is not true.

Mr Luck, the defendant, giving evidence, said he had courted the plaintiff for five years. The arrangement was that the business was to be the plaintiff's. She was to have the first £180 of the profits of the business.

His lordship said if the marriage had gone on there would have been no trouble whatever. The defendant had the business and everything for which the £180 was advanced. There would be judgment for the plaintiff for £180 and costs.

Mr. Victor Duval, secretary of a •league for Women's Suffrage,, has been fined 40s, and costs, for using threatening and insulting language to Mr. LJoyrlGeorge as he was entering the City Temple to addreiss a meeting. A similar fine was exacted from a companion who went to Mr. Duval's assistance after he was arrested, and in doing so assaulted a constable.