A POLICEMAN'S LETTERS.

Mataura Ensign, 24 January 1912, Page 4

A POLICEMAN'S LETTERS.

BREACH OF PROMISE ACTION. £2OO DAMAGES. The, history of tho ocurtshin of a policeman and a barmaid was narrated at Middlesex Sheriff's Court, held at tho Town Hall, Brentford, on December 1 1, when Miss Clara Annie Bishop, of New Road, Batter. c ;ea, was awarded l-L'UO damages for breach of promise of marriage against Police-Constable John Cowie, of Radnor Street, Chelsea. Mr Frank CI. Enness, who appeared for tho plaintiff, said it was while Misa Bishop was engaged as a barmaid at the Jamaica Hotel, West India Dock Road, K., that she made tho acquaintance of the defendant, who was then a constable at Jiimehouso. Their relations continued to bo of tho most affectionate character for six or seven years. Miss liishop ultimately left her situation to take a better ono at the King's Head ami Lamb Hotel, Battersea, and the defendant also moved to Battersea. In September, 1910, they agreed to fix th» marriage for the following month. Miss liishop was rnado the recipient of a very splendid testimonial which was signed by JO gentlemen who visited the hotel • lure sho was employed, and she was al.-'i given a present of the value of £3O and £lO in gold. This showed that she va t highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends.

Miss Mishop left her situation, said ".inmcl, and tho defendant took a flat at Parson's Green, but just before the '.'■dding day ho gavo out that he was .11 The plaintiff believed that the plea o? illness was really a subterfuge and that the defendant was fighting shy of t'r.f. veddirig. Although ho was able to go .lbout his duty the wedding was put '.ff Tho plaintiff ascertained from a polio* surgeon that the defendant was only suffering from slight rheumatism in the -.boulder. Afterwards the defendant, said he would marry the plaintiff during his next leave in the middle of last summer, but when the time approached he made the excuse that his l<v>'/e ha/1 be*n postponed on account of *•'''' '"■' • '.v and dock strikes. Gift Instead of Wedding. rW. r r.ing to tlk- original date fixed for the weddinc. Mr Enness said it was not until the neddinir morning that the plaintiff understood there was to be no wedding. TV- defendant called on her on the wedding morning with a rose howl. Instead of getting a husband she got a. if,;/. Uv.l. Eventually the defendant gave Mi.ss Bishop very clearly to understand that he had no intention of marrying her.

The folio.-ina; passages were contained in .1 fctt'-r whirl, Miss Bishop said she received from the defendant in February last:—

Mv darling I-airy. —I never thought a rew hours. ago that I should ever write the above to you again, but in my heart you will alwavs be that, and no matter what happens it would bo just the sam©.

h tj-ving will make any amends for what J have made you suffer, dear, you need „ ot fear, and lam sure vou will not regret it. . . I am going to take thi« to the post before I to to bed—but not to sleep. I am afraid, Ducks, as my poor old head does ache again, and I cannot see very well. It started before I left you. 'dear, and serves me right for upsetting vou thin morning.

Miss RMmp said she had received 825 letters from the defendant.

The jury assessed the damages as stated above, and judgment was entered accordingly.