NURSE AND PATIENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10407, 3 April 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

NURSE AND PATIENT.

At tho London Sheriff's Court, recently, an action by Miss Margaretta Josephine Mcßrien, 25, a hospital nurse, residing in Urafton-acreet, Dublin, against Mr. William James Macartney Sandels, a gentleman farmer of Enniskillen, Fermanagh, Ireland, for breach of promise came before the under-sheriff for the assessment of damages. Mr, Candy, for the plaintiff, said that the acquaintance began in 1895. Plaintiff, the daughter of a gentleman farmer, residing at Belleck, County Fermanagh, was a qualified nurse in the City of Dublin Hospital. They became engaged in June, 1895, and a month later the defendant succeeded in seducing the plaintiff. It was arranged that, they should be married in September, and the two spent three very happy weeks together in North Wales; bub when the date of the marriage approached the defendant found it necessary to make aomo excuse. He was anxious that nothing should reach the ears of hie wealthy aunt that would interfere with hie expectation!. Hundreds of letters had passed between the parties full of endearing sentiments. In a postscript to her the defendant wrote: I won't forget the hair wash and the tomatoes (laughter). The plaintiff came up to London and was confined a short time afterwards. The defendant had practically deserted her, but he doled out at stated intervals a email pittance to keep her from starring in London.

The plaintiff wae called and bore out the opening statement of counsel. She met the dofendant first at the house of a common friend, where she went to nurse the defendant ae he was very ill. The defendant, attired in a fawn Newmarket coat, said that he had on'y 92 aorea of land in Ireland and nover owned any racehorse*. He had been a stockbroker in New York.

Mr. Candy: Did your aunt not bring strong monetary influence to bear on you in re3pecb to your promise of marriage? Did she not offer you £1000 if you married someone else ?

Defendant • She said she would give me £1000 if I did Dot m»rry the plaintiff. I owed my aunt money, but not £2500 Ido not .emember my aunt promising me that she would make me a present of the debt if I did not marry the plaintiff. The Under-iheriff: Have you received the £1000!

Defendant: Not yet. I first told my annt that 1 would not take the money, bat wanted to marry the plaintiff. . After farther evidence the jury awarded £500 as damage* Judgment accordingly, with wet* : ' • ' '