CURIOUS PLEA IN BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8670, 12 September 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

CURIOUS PLEA IN BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

THE LADY GROWS TOO STOUT.

A sensational breach of promise ease is on the calendar at Lake View, Illinois, United States, for the September term of the Supremo Court. It appears that Julia Clark, a lady of some 2- years, became engaged to Joseph Weddell about eighteen months ago, and at that time was not romarkablo for unusual size or appearance, being then little over nine stones in weight and exceedingly pretty. Shortly after the engagement was announced the young lady began to grow stout, and Was shortly confined to her room with a disease closely resembling elephantiasis in the increase of bulk entailed, but with a difference that it speedily attacked every portion of the body, and she grew to be of monstrous proportions, her weight increasing to over 4001b. Under theses circumstances Weddell declined to fulfil his engagement, averring that the lady had by this radical charge in her personnel made it impossible for her to be a companionable adjunct to his house or a presentable spouse. He expressed the sincerest regret at the incident, but eveclared that he felt justified in withdrawing from his obligation. It was hoped that the matter would bo amicably arranged and the principals and their j friends spared the publicity of the Courts, but Miss Clark had declined to accept the situation, and insists upon the marriage being carried out. It was finally placed in the hands of attorneys, and the petition or the plaintiff asks 50,000 dollars damages, on the plea that the engagement existed and still exists, that the increase in the lady's construction does not indicate any mental or physical deficiency such as would interfere with her performance of her duties as a wife, that the marriage at the request of the defendant was delayed several months beyond the time when it should really have taken place, and that had it been solemnised at the time originally agreed upon there could not have been any reason for an objection on the part of the defendant. It is also set forth that but for the defendant the lady might have married someone else before she lost her original artistic shape. Accompanying this statement are measurements and doctors' certificates.