ENGAGED FOR 10 YEARS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1306, 8 December 1911, Page 6

ENGAGED FOR 10 YEARS.

.fil.W TiltKACrr OF PROMISE DAMAGES The Rlory of a Inn yearn , caißaeomont wm told to Mr. Jnslicc Ifuclcnill and a jury in the Kiriff'n linnch Division on October '■!.'>, when Mira Elsio Nellie, Alford, of Church Orescent, J'inchley, lir(iii|;)it <m action for breach of promise Mr. Arthur Chapman, of Cowlev, Middles' , *. Defendant admitted tho iifimiiM', but said it had been rescinded \>y mutual coiiwnt. lor Mm plaintiff, Mr. Ralph Jknkca, K.C., wild thai, in 1901 his client was cmjiloycd in (in nuctionwir's office in Pinchley, and defendant was manager of tho filii"'. Diif'rmlnnt went to plaintiff's fuller and said he hopwl in marry Miss Alford when \m got a letter position, nri'l from that tiino forward they troated cii'ih <it.h«:r fin engaged people. In VM Miss Alford went t/j India with a and when eho returned Mr. Chhinnan gavo her an engagement ring. l'f>f<;i(jl,y all would havo gono well if ,\[f».. Andrews, a widow lady, had not apl><!;iT(*l on tho ncono, 'J'ho dofendant nsod to «o and stay iroek-eade with her, and plain tiff alno went In Mrs. Andrcwa's nniim to play lawn tennifl. Tho lady must, therefore, havo known that Mr. Chapman was engaged. In December last Miss Alford, without any warning, received a letter in which tin; defendant wToto:

"fj'iar Jumbo— . . . You asked mo if I had forgotten you. That I shall never do. Jumbo, but, (a bo candid and truthful, my lovo for you has completely gone. I feel it is useless to try to baltlo with it any longer, but that it is best to bo candid and tell you. . , . Knowing mo as you do, it is needless to say I have not written this on the spur of the moment, and I assure you it has cost me hell for months." An interview between Miss Alford's father and Mr. Chapman took place in duo course, but Mr. Alford was unablo to get any satisfactory explanation, lleanwhilo plaintiff had herself written to tho defendant, and he replied on December 20. Eleven days later defendant had married Mre. Andrews. After the plaintiff and her father had given evidence, tho defendant was called. He stated that when ho broke oft - his engagement with the plaintiff he was not engaged to his present wife. Is your wife a lady of considerable means? inquired Mr. Bankes, in crossexamination. Defendant: Not of considerablo moans. Has she a house and horses f—She has a house which she rents, .and a horse and pony. , The Judge: Havo yon any occupation now?— Defendant: As her husband. (Loud laughter.) Are you living in her house as a country gentleman?— Yes. ■ The jury awarded ,£l5O damages to tho plaintiff, and judgment was entered accordingly. "■