“UNSUITABLE” MARRIAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 May 1933, Page 10

“UNSUITABLE” MARRIAGES

£lO AWARDED FOR “BREACH.”

LONDON, March 25

A jury in the King’s Bench Division yesterday returned a verdict for plaintiff in an action for breach of promise of marriage, and awarded her £lO. Judgment was entered accordingly, with costs.

Plaintiff was Miss Amy Georgina Howe, Oxford Road, Upper Norwood, and she sued Walter Joseph Farrar, an L.C.C. fireman, who formerly lived at Upper Norwood.

Mr Justice Humphreys, summing up, told the jury that, from one point of view, they might think it was a good thing that this marriage was not brought about. “In these days unhappy marriages end in the divorce court,” said his lordship. “If young people realise they are unsuitable for each other it is better they should realise it before, instead of after. That observation is one .that applies to a great many people who get married light-hearted-ly, with the result that the divorce lists are crowded.” Mr J. D. Cassels, K.C., for Miss Howe, said' that she became acquainted with defendant in 1922, when Mr Farrar was in the Navy. In 1923 they became engaged. At that time Miss Howe was 19 and Mr Farrar 18. In 1927 Mr Farrar left the Navy and became a fireman.

A quarrel in July. 1930, ended in the engagement ring being given back to Mr Farrar. On the following day, however, he urged Miss Howe to become engaged again, and the ring was returned to her. Subsequently Miss Howe noticed a “cooling-off” on his part. .

Mr Farrar, in his defence, said he never promised to marry Miss Howe, and if he did, the engagement was broken off by mutual consent. Mr Cassels read passages from letters Mr Farrar had written to Miss Howe. “There are more crosses in the letters than I will waste the time of tho Court in counting,” counsel observed. One letter stated: “I am always longing to be with you and shall not be content till I am out of the Navy and have made you happy by registering you as Mrs Farrar and given you your own home.” Hiss Howe gave evidence. Mr Parnell Kerr, for the defence, read from a letter that Miss Howe had written to Mr Farrar: “With all my love and tons of kisses — E S G B. O.” “Does that mean ‘ever such great big ones’?” asked 1 counsel. “Yes,” replied Miss Howe, amid laughter. , “Then I see the letters T OIL VBI A W W. What do they mean?” inquired Mr Kerr. “Economy of language, [ suppose,” suggested Mr Cassels. Miss Howe said the letters meant lo tho one I love the very best in all the wide world.” Mr Harry Howe, plaintiff’s father, m evidence, denied that after the engagement was broken off he threatened Mr Farrar with violence. Dclendant said that when Mr Howe called on him he took off his coat and turned his sleeves up. “I thought I was in for a rough house and Had better keep quiet,” added Mr Farrar.