A POETICAL WIDOWER'S SORROWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9142, 25 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A POETICAL WIDOWER'S SORROWS.

SUING A LADY FOR BREACH.

At the King's County Assizes, Mr. Thomas Macken, a widower, 60 years of age, sought to recover damages against Emelie Berry and Nicholas Berry for breach of promise of marriage by Emelie Berry, who since the breach of promise had married the co-defender. The promise by the female defendant was admitted; but it was pleaded that she was a minor when she made it, and was consequently protected by the Infants' Relief Act. The reason Mrs. Berry alleged for breaking the promise was that plaintiff told her he had only two children", and that she afterwards found he had live. Some very amusing letters from the plaintiff to the young lady were read in court. In one he said :—

" Don't keep me in suspense, as if hanging from a tree waiting for you to unloose me or tie me tighter. (Laughter.) Dear Me., you know me a great while. You have an impression on me. (Laughter.) We could be happy if you were to know all the preparations I had made for your reception. I even ordered Molloy, the harnessmaker, in Tullamore, to make a, new set of harness that would shine in the dark— (laughter)all on your account. I intended showing you life, and after me you never will met anyone to care for you or do so much as I intended. Dear Me., don't be cowed about my family ; they are not near so numerous as I report. (Laughter.) 1 have one more than I said first. (Laughter.) I was sorry for saying it. I do not think that should be sufficient cause of separating you and I at the eleventh hour to be made a public show of all over the world." (Laughter.) The plaintiff wound up with some doggerel poetry, which concluded : — My dear Melia, don't say so to me, That was induced to do so much for thee. (Great laughter.) In a second letter the plaintiff sent defendant a few verses for her perusal which he was going to have printed and published and hung all over the country and at her own door. (Laughter.) "I must do it," he continued ; " my mind is so annoyed at not hearing from you, after the unexampled offers I have made on your account. We have been talked of far and near, so now I will get our mournful tragedy sung far and near." (Much laughter.) "If there be anything in it you would not like to be published, let me know within a week, and I will have it changed.', The plaintiff closed this letter with the following stanza : —

Far better lights I hope will guide me Along the path I have vet to roam, In pursuit of another sweetheart That will he glad to accept what you refuse.

The jury found that the female defendant was a minor when she made the promise, and that the plaintiff was not entitled to damages.