BEAR HUGS AND KISSES

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1920, Page 4

BEAR HUGS AND KISSES

] BREACH OF PROMISE CASE, j WELLINGTON, April 29. j The breach of promise case of Bali four and Ritchie was continued in the Court of Appeal yesterday. Tlio action is one in which Magdalone Paton Ritchie sued Claude Bali four (otherwise Caradus) for the breach iof a promise to marry. When the case j was before the Supreme Court the jury decided in favour of Mias Ritchie, and | awarded her £IOOO damages. Against this decision Balfour appealed . On Monday the court was addressed by Mr C. P. Skerrdtt, K.C., who appeared for the appellant. Yesterday Sir John Findlay E.C. addressed the Court on behalf ®f the respondent. Sir John Findlay said that the jury had decided unanimously in favour of the woman. Mr Skerrett, in his ad- | dross, had treated the .contract as though it were a commercial deal between keen business people over a cargo of pig-iron. The jury, who were men of the world, were not embarrassed by legal formalities, and went straight to the simple question of whether Balfour promised to marry Miss Ritchie. They decided that he did, and the evidence which had to be taken as a whole amply justified the jury. Mr Skerrett had referred to the rather laconic reference in the letters produced, but they knew that the Scotch nation had always been very undemonstrative in expressing its feelings. Such strictures as might be passed on an Irishman making love might bo quite unjust when criticising a Scotchman. j THE LITTLE SECTION AT THE ! GRANGE. In one letter read by Sir John Findlay, Balfour asked Miss Ritchie not to sell her little section'at The Grange. “It will certainly come in viiry handy for you and I; let us say in the not too distant future,” Balfour wrote. The Chief Justice: How is it signed? it is signed “Claude,” in a nest of kisses. Mr Skerrett: Signed “Yours very faithfully, Claude.” Sir John Findlay: The degree of faithfulness is shown by the number of kisses. 1 believe there were nine. T£e Chief l Justice: 1 think that is the strongest statement we have in the letters. Sir John Findlay : Yes. » • BALFOUR ON BEAR HUGS. When another letter was read, Air Justice Cooper remarked: “He puts eight kisses on mat letter.” Sir John Findlay: Oh, more than that. I have eleven on mine. Air Justice Cooper: My copy lias only eight. Air Skerrett: Tlio typewriter got tired. Writing to Miss Ritchie from a town in Australia, Balfour said, in reference to a girl who was a friend of theirs, that he would like to give her a boar’s hug—■ “one of those good old squeezes you used to ask me for.” He added: “1 would like to give you a bear’s hug tonight. I have not had a bear’s hug since I came to Australia. This country is no good for bear’s hugs.” One of the counsel: Too warm, perhaps. Mr Justice Chapman (authoritatively) : No hears. Sir John Findlay contended that the letters were more than business and friendly letters; they pointed to intention to marry. The absence of an engagement ring was nothing where the girl was Scotch. The Chief Justice: The poorer people in Scotland have no money to spend on rings. The »Scotch used .to be very careful of their money. T don’t know if they are now, judging by some one sees out here. The decision of the court is reserved