A PASSIONATE WOOER

Evening Star, Issue 14224, 25 November 1909, Page 4

A PASSIONATE WOOER

OPENS WITH "DEAR, DEAREST DARLING." CLOSES WITH"''DEAR, MISS HANCOCK." MUST PAY £IOO.

Mr Under-Sheriff Huston, at the Middlesex Guildhall recently, heard the claim of Miss Ida Kelurah Hancock, who had sued William Phillip Knight, for damages, alleging his breach of promise of marriage. The suit had been remitted from the High Court for the assessment of damages, no defence having been entered. The plaintiff, who is twenty-three years of age, resides at .Sittingbourne, Kent, and the defendant, a shipwright in the Royal Navy, is twentvfivc years of age, and "lives at" Beckenham. Mr Maggs, in opening the action, said that if he was writing a book on the case he would call it the 'Psychology of Love,' or ' Cupid's Girl.' There was some comedy, a little dratna. and Fome tragedy. On October 25, 1905, his client, he continued, was introduced to the defendant, who became immediately enamored of her. No engagement was entered into until October, 1905, and then it was agreed to get married on the return of the defendant from a voyage of two years on H.MiS. Africa. Many letters came from the defendant of a loving character. Counsel estimated that they included 505 "dear, dearest darlings," and in the course of all his experience he had never seen so many loving terms. The letters and post cards* written by the defendant contained upwards of 51,000 words. —On His Chest.— One letter, dated October 20. 1906. from " Mess 31 R.N. Barracks, Chatham," commenced, counsel said: J My dearest Ida. . . . My eye! it' is cold up here. . . . And now, my. Ida, my own. what about the ring? Ls , there one particular sort that you ad- j mire? If so, let me know by return. I will endeavor to bring it with me and put it on that dear little finger of yours > with my own hands. I do miss you, I darling.* Don't you miss me? Write me a nice long letter, for I am longing to learn how you are, for you are my all in all. I have set my mind on making you happy, darling; so be good. Kindly excuse writing; I am writing this on my chest —clothes chest, I mean, dear I shall never rest until 1 marry yon, for , I want you, and you only. j The letter was signed " Your ever-loving ; Will." j A letter, dated November 18. from : H.M..S. Africa, Sheerness, commenced : J My own darling Ida. . . . Darling, ' you must not worry because you are poor. '. . . Another thing —remember that there is one man in this world who

wishes to share that poverty—or' poorness, ;ig you call it—with you. Oh, Ida, darling, .it the end of this commiflsion. if you are willing, we will share the trials and troubles of this world together, shall we not? —Jury Want Xo More.— Counsel was proeedineg to read letters cout'h(*l in a similar strain, when-the jury intimated that they had heard enough. A Juryman : We "don't want to hear anylliing more of that sort of thing. There seems to bo plenty of love on that side, at any rate. Let us know something about his means. Counsel added that the engagement want smoothly up to the end of 1908. On December 17 last year the defendant saw I lie plaintiff, and arrangements were made for Christmas. In January her father died, and three months later her mother. The defendant had never written at all, or even been near tlie plaintiff, since that date. Two days ngo he wrote to " Dear lliss Hancock " afeking her to return his violin and piccolo. Lately he had written to the plaintiff's sister, saying he had lost all affection for the plaintiff, and he had also written to her solicitor saying he was seriously ill in hospital, and was without money. The plaintiff, in her evidence, said her last interview with the defendant was of quite a friendly character. She had spent money upon arranging for the marriage, which was to have taken place last May. She admitted that she had not suffered in health owing to his conduct. The jury awarded her £IOO damages.