LOVE LETTER ON BUTTER PAPER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14235, 4 December 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

LOVE LETTER ON BUTTER PAPER.

m GROCER WRITES IT WHILE KEEPING SHOP.

PROPOSED IN THE KITCHEN. Lot* and business were combined in a whimsical manner in the courtship of 'Mrs. Minnie Muir by Mr. David Weir, jiio., which had its 'sequel in an action for breach of promise brought by the former in the King's Bench. Mrs. Muir is a hoardinghoiise-keeper. of Melrose Gardens, West Kensington. Mr. Weir Is a provision merchant, of Great Suffolkstreet. S.E. He denied having made the promise alleged. Alternatively he pleaded that, if it were made, it was canceiled bv mutual consent.

For Mrs. Muir, Mr. Horace Fenton said his client's husband died at Christma.*, 1906. and in September of that year Mi. Weir became a boarder at her house. Some time after Mr. Muir's death Mi Weir began to pay attentions to the widow. He would give her presents from his shop—provisions" and so forth —and in April of last year the alleged engagement took place. Mrs. Muir (continued counsel) was in the kitchen when Mr. Weir knocked at the door and entered and sat down a little distance from her. Suddenly he looked towards her and asked if she had any intention of marrying again. Mr*. Muir seemed surprised, and, before she could properly answer, Mr. Weir went to her and asked her to be his wife.

Eventually Mrs. Muir accepted the proposal. Then the question of i ring arose, and Mr. Weir produced a pawnticket for one which he said was worth £50. He tried to make her believe that he intended to obtain this ring for her, but one was never presented. Mr. Weir was anxious to be married • without delay, but Mrs. Muir said she was still in mourning for her late husband, and it was agreed that they should be married in the autumn. Mrs. Muir hinted that there were also financial diffiruilips in the way of getting married, and Mr. Weir replied, " I can give you anything vou want. I could let von have £20.' £30. or £40." WKm.NO THK FIRST J.OVE-LETTER. As a matter of fact, observed counsel, defendant gave. Mrs. Muir £5. Plaintiff commenced making preparations for the wedding, and Mr. Weir's presents of provisions became a practically weekly occurrence. The first letter he wrote was •addressed from Great Suffolk-street, May 19. 1908. It ran as follows

" .My dearest Minnie, —You asked me to write you a little note, so here it is. A broken pen, butter paper—(laughter)— and David watching the shop with one eve. and writing his Minnie with the other. Dearest Minnie, I am with you in thought all day. Looking forward to v our reunion this evening. It is in for a very hot day. Wish I was at home with my Minnie. I am just off to Stepney.— Jtye-byet sweetheart" your only, David." '*< P.S. — Save a nice cuddle for me, dear. Bless Auntie." (Laughter.)

The following day came this letter, making arrangement;* for Mrs. Muir to -meet the defendant:—

" Dearest, If you change, little mind, Weave nine o'clock, take Tube from S. $ttlh to Borough. Thirty minutes in all, {hanging at Bank. When vou leave station turn to the right, and* first turning .is Great Snffolk-street. No. 15 will find Sour David. /Please come, love, if you feel tit. I got two nice seats for Palace {-Friday. Do come, Min.—Ever yours, I'David." (Three crosses followed.)

.Mr. Justice Bray (examining the lettier) : They are very small crosses. V On the last day in August Mrs. Muir wrote « hitter, beginning " Dearest." and ■ complaining, of Mr. Weir's cold manner Etcher'on.the previous evening. She felt ■ it acutdx. The (letter went on to say • that Mrs. Muir /would he glad of the . ? payment' of certain money due for board. ksh'e also asserted that she had no jealous feeling concerning Mr. Weir, and placed J implicit, confidence in his honour. . ■ *;., ; MADE HIS l.irK r.VBKARABLK. Mr." Weir admitted that he" proposed -In "May,'i 1908, and everything went all •rigftt until August, when Mrs. Weir, began accusing him of all sorts of things. Jt made his life perfectly unbearable. If . Ae went home late from business he was Recused of having been elsewhere, and ,tier jealousy drove her into a perfectly frantic state. He eventually told her the iKjfiljfcAhing he could do was to go some'wfflHU&e until they were married. ' \'fl Marriage was arranged for July, lgnHLtMrs. Muir put it off till OctonerjWnen he left the house on|gfiptem . bcrVShe told (Mrs. Muir he woffl&jjave to go and live at, his shop., |' , *' } ''You don't mean to say that you don't , want/to,marry me?" said the widow. : ,He replied :, "No such thing; that is iStill as it was." : «• The same-day she wrote to him : — *% "My .dearest David,—l ,am heart./broken ati'the way you left my house this morning. You know what a position you are placing me in. I am terribly dip- ■ tressed about money "matters. - David, ■ .dear, please do not fail me with a £5 note to-morrow.'«&-+ ; . . , ..■ ;

He sent the £5, but on September 12 she threatened him With a breach of promise action.

:. ' "I contend she was simply rushing me • into breaking-off the marriage so that she •could take action against me. She so ] rushed me that I think she wanted my money and not me." ■'. ' Mr." Weir admitted he was now married to Miss Elizabeth Cissy Davis, who had managed his shop. He wedded her on November 9, after the present action was taken. He had not taken the lady , to the Coliseum while he was engaged !' to Mrs. Muir. It was his sister, and he asked Mrs. Muir to meet her; but the widow declined, saying she must have a new set of false teeth before she, met 'his relatives.

There was another laugh, when, having been asked about his means, Mr. •Weir produced his income-tax paper, and the judge read out, "Net amount chargeable—nil."

■ " I never broke off my engagement with Mrs. Muir,'.' said <]Mr. Weir; "she rushed

at it like a mad bull at a gate."

• When did you consider your engagement was ''.—• When she issued a writ for breach of promise. I would not have married her after that.

. She waited until October, when you had promised to marry her, before she look proceeding*. Could I go to the solicitor's office and go on my knees and ask them to stay proceedings"? The jury awarded Mrs. Muir €25.