CURATE'S LOVE LETTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14984, 4 May 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

CURATE'S LOVE LETTERS.

ACTION BY A NURSE.

£25 DAMAGES.

The Rev. Thomas F. Fisher, a Welsh curate* was ordered, s-t Cardiff Assizor, to pay £25 damages to Miss Alma Jones, a hospital nurse, of Neath, for breach of promise of marriage.

In 1908 Mr. Fisher was a curate at Briton Ferry, and Miss Jones was a member of his congregation and his Sundayschool class. When Mr. Fisher left Briton Ferry for Newport he asked Mias Jones 10 be true to him. and they arranged to meet each other at Cardiff as often as possible.

"A regular correspondence took place between them."' said counsel, " but in October, 1908. Miss Jones wrote to Mr. Fisher "for the last time.* In that letter hho said :—

'"I am told you were seen coming out of the theatre at Cardiff with a girl on your arm.' "In answer to further letters Mr. Fisher visited Miss Jones at her home, and promised to marry her within twelve months. That same year, however, he married another lady.

"In one of his letters to 'My Dear Alma ' Mr. Fisher said :—' I am quite alone sitting by my lonesome fireside, with my day's work done and cigarette lit (this is Sunday, though it is Lent) and left to myself to conjure up fair smiling faces through the soft bluey .wreaths of tobacco smoke. 1 have been very much sflfiUSed ever since coming here to find how very often your sweet name is taken in vain. 'These Newport, people must be extremely fond of it. Besides a strew in my own district which is dignified with your name, I was very much taken aback to see only last Saturday, when going up Commercialstreet, the words "Anna Inn'" staring mo full in the face, and smiling dismally down upon me in shabby gilt letters. _ I had half a mind to go in and have a drink, for old acquaintance sake. But then, what's in a name exoept the person behind it?' "Shortly after this letter was written Miss Jones wrote from the fever hospital at Swansea, asking for an interview, but there was no reply. She wrote again as follows 'If you "don't answer this letter I shall think you don't love me any more." "To these "importunities Mr. Fisher replied :—' You are insistent, and demand a reply by return. You ask for information which it is not in my power to give, You are quite forgetting yourself. My actions may appear unintelligible. If you cast your mind bark a bit you may see light in your own shadow,' *' On Christmas Eve, 1909, Miss Jones called at Mr. Fisher's lodgings at Newport, asked him the reason tor his conduct, and accused him of flirting with another girl. He denied the allegation, and after j a short conversation told her she was the < only girl he hod ever cared for, and that lie would be happy when the day came to be married. ■ " She suggested an engagement ring. He declined, saying he did not believe in engagement rings, and that he would carry out his promise within twelve months. " Ultimately Miss Jones wrote to Mr. Fisher: —' I can't believe what I have heard —that you were seen with a girl on your arm coming out of a theatre at Cardiff. You told me you loved me, and asked me to bo true to vou two years ago, and I have never walked out with any young man since. I was only eighteen, and put my whole trust in you. You taught me to love you, and it is not easy to forget the past and to press onward to the future.'" Miss Jones stated in the -witness-box that Mr. Fisher paid her a great deal of attention. > " Wo used to go for walks when it was ! fine," she added, "and sit in the house together when it was wet." "Are there any special lovers' walks at Neath?" asked counsel. Yes," Miss Jones replied. "You can make love anywhere," said the judge. " Mr. Fisher used to kiss me," continued Miss Jones, " and always promised to marry me." "I suppose he put his arms around you?" said counsel. " Yes," Miss Jones admitted, "he told me I was the only girl he ever loved, or ever meant to love."

A tragic scene was witnessed during Miss Jones's cross-examination. Sho swooned suddenly, and two ushers had to run to her assistance. The judge rose, poured out a glass of water for her, and called on Mrs. Jones to conduct her daughter out of court. Mis. Jones afterwards gave evidence. She said she had come to regard tho curate as her future son-in-law. • , Miss Muriel Edith Merriman. of Neath, said sho had seen Mr. Fisher kissing Miss Jones, and had seen them walking together alon^. a road which was regarded as a lovers' walk. In cross-examination Miss Merriman said Mr. Fisher kissed Miss Jones on Christmas night. "Were you kissed that night?" asked counsel. "No," Miss Merriman replied. "I am rather surprised," returned counsel. Mr. Fislier did not enter the box, and consented to judgment against him for £25 and costs.