PROMISE TO WED

Evening Star, Issue 23145, 20 December 1938, Page 11

PROMISE TO WED

JILTED WOMAN AWARDED £4OO A woman who formerly carried on a costume shop at Worthing, Susses, was awarded £4OO damages by Mr Justice Gavan Duffy in a breach of promise action in the Dublin High Court. She is Miss Ivy Edyth Simmerdinger, 30, of Monkstown, County Dublin. Ihe defendant, Mr Osmond Dison, is a commercial traveller, of Foxrock, Dublin. Miss Simmerdinger' alleged that the promise, was made verbally in October, 1937, and repudiated in letters, some of which were read" in court. The defendant pleaded that the promise was rescinded by mutual consent. Counsel for Miss Simmerdinger said that while she was in business at Worthing, Mr Dixon visited her there and wrote proposing marriage, which she accepted. Later, when she went to Ireland for cub hunting, Mr Dixon met her at Kingstown. He produced six rings, and she chose one. Later, when she came to_ Dublin for a hunt ball, she was received by the Dixons “ with open arms,” and she had “ a gay fortnight.” On January 30 this year Dixon wrote to her saying that marriage would increase his difficulties ten-fold. “ That is my reason,” he wrote, “ for saying now What others would leave for years to say.” He advised her not to waste her years waiting for him, and added: “ I am waiting for you to say you won’t go on, as personally it, will be better from you than from me. But whatever you wish.” In a subsequent letter Mr Dixon said he was rushed for time owing to hunting and social activities. Later he wrote: “ I always consider engage-; ments trial runs, and no doubt you will agree it is better to find out sooner than later. My engagement is ended.” Miss Simmerdinger, in evidence, said that the engagement ring was stolen in a burglary at Worthing. The defendant had told her that he was earning £9OO a rear. . . Defending counsel interposed thaii Mr Dixon was. earning £550 a year, did not keep a hunter or a car, and went to the hunt in a bus. Mr Dixon, in evidence, said thaL he had been rebuked by the plaintiff's people for extravagance, and he was afraid there would be family interference when they were married. That was • his real reason for breaking the engagement. Counsel said there were numerous ferences to card parties and dances in the letters, and asked: “ Was all that done on £6OO a year? When the defendant replied “ Yes,’' counsel commented: “ If you are single vou can do it.”