BREACH OF PROMISE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12804, 7 March 1936, Page 9

BREACH OF PROMISE

JILTED ON WEDDINC EVE

NINE YEARS’ COURTSHIP

QN the eve of the day Hint. he was' to have married the opr! he had courted for nine years, a bridegroom-to-lie sent a telegram cancelling t.be ceremony. He actually stood at the altar with another bride on the following day. This was revealed in a recent, ease at Birmingham, in which VYilirid .John Proctor, commercial traveller, formerly of Birmingham, and now of Middlesex, was ordered to pay ClTo to Miss Lilian Dorothy Keatle\. of .fesiuond Dene. Handswon h. who sued him for breach of promise. Ine parties, if, was explained, became acquainted about J| years aim, and started walking out two years alter ihat. Five years ago thev became formally engaged, and since Limn Miss Kentley had worn Proctor’s ring. hollowing promotion in his business Proctor removed to London. The marriage was fixed for August 31 last, and Miss Kent lev went to London to kelp him choose the furniture. Owing to the absence uf ilm man through whom lie proposed to lmy if, this was postponed, the understanding being that, they would get it after the honeymoon . Proctor went To Birmingham to make final proportions for the wedfling. and a number of the CO guests for whom .Miss Ken I ley’s, father arranged a reception at a hotel were invited on his suggestion. On the day previous to that fixed for the wedding, after all the arrangements had been made, there came a telegram from Proctor: “Cannot go through with it to-morrow. Express loiter in post explaining decision. which is final.”

The loiter whir-h follower] st.itor! ; '‘Mv Door Lili,—This is the most terrible letter ] h.-tve over had to write, and it ; s killing me to do it. . . . Yon know only too well how dreadful T have been during the last year. The real reason has been that T felt in my own sotil that T did riot love yon with ah the fullness of my heart and desire. I have tried on numberless occasions to tell yon, and on Tuesday T came with the firm intention of telling you that I was not ft to marry yon. Then when T see you I can not tell you. heeause T am so sorry and T know how ii will hurt yon. You have been so wonderful during all these years—patient. true, tender, loving and helpful in every way—and T have been just the opposite to you—God only knows why. Xow it’s nearly the time tlini we arranged io he joined together for ever, and if ! lid so if would he an unforgivable sin to you. lor T am not fir or worthy of loving you. You deserve so much love and devotion, and f have failed to give if to you. ... T eannof write more, and ean hardly see fhi' paper for my tears. . , , You are always in my thoughts and prayers, and always will he, and may God help you and comfort you and make you realise fl at ii's all in JTis hands. -—AViI frit].” Certain inc|ttirios were made and from information which come to Miss Kent ley’s solicitors, it appeared that Proctor did no! marry her heeause lie married someone else—actually on the day fixed for his wedding with Miss Real ley. In tlte witness-box Miss Real ley spoke of receiving letters from Frnc- , tor iu which he ret erred io her as “a gift of God” and pledged his “eternal devotion.”