GOLF COURTSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 158, 5 July 1921, Page 2

GOLF COURTSHIP.

NOT ONE _O"V_-______ IX 10 -_EAKS. " Not a single love-letter passed between the parties," said Mr. Schwa.be, X.C, appearing before Mr. Justice Avory and a common jury on behalf of Miss Ada Ethel 'May Chance, age 44, of Kingsclere. Newbury, who sued 'Mr. Claud Frank Gultsdl. age 45, of London, for breach of promise of marriage. When Miss Chance explained that Mr. Outsell never wrote passionate letters, Mr. Justice Avory remarked: " It is quite a treat not to hear them."

It was stated that they became engaged in 1902, while employed at Messrs. Shoolbred's, and golfed together and went to the same place for t'helr holidays. A letter was read in which Mr. Gntsell' described how, when in the trenches, he saw some flower, in ICo-Man's Land, ana crawling over the top he got them and sent them to Miss Chance. " I hope yon will like them," ho said.

Mr. Schwahe said Miss Chance gave up the best years of her life waiting for Mr. Gtrtsell's financial position to improve.

" Then after all those years he changed his mind and married somehody else." In 1014, when Mr. Outsell was a sergeant in the Queen's "Westminsters, Miss Chance went to the camp. While there a telegram arrived which she was carious to ccc, and after the name had been torn off Mr. Gntsell gave it to her. It said: "May 1 come to see yon to-day ? Love." First _c said it was from his sister, hut afterwards admitted that it was not. Miss Chance iras angry, but forrrave him before they parted, but Mr. Gutsell now said the engagement ■was hroken off then hy mutual consent. I_ one of his letters from 'France he said:

" I am glad yon are golfing a iblt. Go in for it as much as yon can and give mc a hiding."

After leaving the. Army in 1916 Mr. GutsoU and Miss Chance spent a holiday tozether at Ambleside. He visited her at Hampstead two evenings a week.

In the spTing of 1920 she suggested to Mr. Gutsell that they should.get married, and he replied, '"We are all right. I am quite happy." This upset her. She became 111 and had to go home, and when Mr. Gutiell : saw her off 'by train he pot his arms round her and kissed her till the train started. On October 5 he wrote, " I do hope yon are sleeping better, and will send yon on some medicine," but it turned out that he wa*. married to another woman of 2D on September 2.

She wrote to him, hut got no answer. To •her brother, who -went to see him, Mr. Gutsell said he was thoroughly ashamed of •himself. Afterwards he wrote to her :

" I should have written to tell you I am married, but as so many times yon bay. told mc it was all finished with ns and have offered your ring back I considered when yon went away I was free. It is needless for mc to write more. I am very sorry for the pain I have given yon. and can only ask for forgiveness."

Miss Chance in evidence said that while in France Mr. Gutsell wanted to *pay he* subscription to a golf club, but she would not allow 'him to do so. He never wrot* passionate letters. He was too cautious for th—t. she remarked. In private he was affectionate. "When he went to the front _c left her his hank-book and jewellery, and be had told her he was earning £400 or £450) a year, that his father had left him nearly £1000, and that he 'had a sum in the Post Office which would bring him in an annuity of £1 a week when he was 50. She sent him parcels when he was at the front, and she had given him presents worth £70 or £S>. "His letters to her invariably concluded

•' with much love " and were signed " yours affectionately."

Miss Chance told how once, after her engagement ring had been repaired, she refused to take it back from Mr. _utse_. She was trying to bring tbe question to a head. He forced the ring back into her pocket.

Mr. <for Mr. Outsell) asked MissChance if he ever wrote her a loving letter.

Miss Chance: He has never in any of his letters used language which one would say

Mt. .Tusticc Avory: Gushing ? Miss Chance: Tes. gushing; that is a good word)

Miss Chance said it was not true that she ceased to wear her engagement ring after October. 1014. She did not wear it at business or when she had chilblains. " And T did not -wear it at golf," she added. '• Very few women wear their rings when out golfing." Mr. Justice Avory: I am glad to hear it. Miss Chance: Some women take off their wedding rings. Mr. Watts: That is dealt with in another $*•*■*• x A jam story was told in one of Mr. Gutsell's letters ftom the front. It was about plum and apple jam. Said the writer: '"So unpopular was the jam that when one consumer met another he said: 'God punish that (the manufacturer).' And the answer was: ' Aye. may he he punished.' " The Judge: "We have heard about plum and apple jam before. Mr. Outsell in evidence declared that the engagement came to an end after tbe telegram Incident, and when they met afterwards it was merely as old friends. He •told Mr. Schwalie he could not remember how long he had acquainted with the woman who telegraphed to likn in 1014. "Was your relationship with her merely Platonic ?—Not esaetly. She was sending you her iov e . yon know ?—What happened in 1014, when a man was going to France ? Wasn't everybody sending their love ? Ask yourself the question. Mr. Schwabe: I don't think I should get the same answer. i_su__ter.) "When did you arrange to get married to your present wife ?—About the last week in Angust. Mr. G-utsell said he was now getting _ ♦lary of £.-,00 a year in his present position, and lived in his mother-in-law's house. The jury awarded Miss Chance £3SO and costs.