PECULIAR CASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 102, 31 March 1925, Page 6

PECULIAR CASE.

ALLEGED BREACH OF PROMISE. Per Press Associatiou. CHRISTCHURCH, March 31. A peculiar breach of promise case was heard by Mr Justice McGregor this morning, when Nireaha. Lister sued John Patrick Sheehan, a mail messenger, for £250 damages. Counsel for plaintiff said that Miss Lister had been employed as a shop assistant, but added to her income by doing private detective work. Defendant met her m October, 1921. lie was the;, seeking a divorce from his wife and obtained her assistance to collect evidence. Defendant obtained the divorce and subsequently saw plaintiff very frequently. They went to a jeweller’i. shop and selected a diamond engagement ring. The defence would suggest that this was not an engagement ring, but a dress i ing. Plaintiff gave evidence that the defendant used to kiss her good-night. When the ring was selected the jeweller said “a girl was not engaged every day.” Later defendant showed coolness made appointments, and did not keep them. “In Cuhedral Square once he called me a ‘black nigger.’ and said he would tar and feather me and put me out of town,” said plaintiff. Defendant said he had never asked plaintiff to marry him because he did not like her principles or her tactics. He had given h r a ring as compensation for looking after his child.