LOVE AND LITIGATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9034, 21 April 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

LOVE AND LITIGATION.

When a gentleman sues a lady in the Queen's Bench, and asserts that his intentions were honourable, "although he did not mean to make the lady his wife," ib is nob surprising to find thab the jury give a verdict in favour of the lady. This curious action was one in which Colonel H. F. Marryat sued Mrs. M. Ashburner for the recovery of various sums of money—including a sum of £100 alleged to have been lent to the defendant. Mrs. Ashburner was a lady who had obtained a judicial separation from her husband, and who had been on very friendly terms with Colonel Marryab; bub aboub bwo years ago a quarrel ensued, owing chiefly to the attentions paid to defendant by another gentleman, and the present action waa brought, the entire claim being for a sum of £270. Mrs. Ashburner admitted the claim of £100 in the shape of borrowed money, but pleaded in satisfaction that she had returned to the colonel a pair of diamond earrings, valued at £130. In cross-examination the colonel did nob come out very strong, for he admitted addressing Mrs. Ashburner as " My dearest Merlin," and subscribing himself as " Your old fool, and your bad-tempered cab-horse." Taking all the facts into consideration the jury found for Mrs. Ashburner, and a sum of £50, which she had paid into court to enable her to defend, was ordered to be paid out to her.