A CURIOUS COURTSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8664, 5 September 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CURIOUS COURTSHIP.

A few days ago, in the Westminster County Court, the case of Smart v. Smith was down for hearing bofore Judge Bayley and a jury. The action was brought by a clerk against Mr. E. M. Smith, a corndoaler, of Scrutton Ground, Westminster, to recover £10 debt and 20s for costs. Mr. Lowe, in opening the ewe, said his client recovered judgment against Mrs. Smith, the defendant's wife, and as she had handed him on her marriage rlie 1 whole of her property, the judgment had not been satisfied ; therefore this action was brought. Plaintiff said for a long time he was engagod to Miss I .aid law, now Mr . ; Smith, having met her at Brighton. During the courtship plaintiff gave her £10 to put into her bank with her own money, and he got a letter from Mrs. Smith after her marriage acknowledging the debt. Cross-examined by Mr. Abinger : I did not -pinch her. (Laughter.) I never slapped her face, but I may have sworn at her. The engagement was never broken off. In answer to further questions plaintiff said during the time he was living in London Mrs. Smith was living at Stroud, and goin»r out with a Mr. Faulkner, a friend he had introduced to Mrs. Smith. Mr. Abinger: Used she to pay your expenses to go to Stroud to court her? No. Mr. Abinger : She was engaged to Smith, wasn't she? No ; she was married without being engaged. Mr. Abinger : They were engaged after they were married, then? (Laughter.) Continuing, he said ho was not aware that Faulkner asked £50 for Mrs. Smith's letter to him. Mrs. Smith said the reason she gave Smart up was because ho used to ill-treat her and pinch her. She used to pay the fares for Smart from London to Stroud when he came to see her. She always paid for all the presents Smart brought her. The £10 was given her to buy a gold watch with. She had not found life without Faulkner a blank. (Laughter.) Mr. Smith's courtship was shorter than Smart's, and therefore sweeter. (Renewed laughter.) She met Mr. Smith on the Friday, and married him on the Saturday week. Mr. Smith was Smart's cousin, and was introduced to her by Smart. The jury found that the £10 was lent, and the plaintiff was entitled to that sum, but the judge would not allow the costs claimed.