JILTED ON WEDDING EVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15646, 27 June 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

JILTED ON WEDDING EVE.

{< } ',' '"' ' n; i. •'; i ' "V. / FICKLE ; TRICK CYCLIST. J DAMAGES FOR DESERTED GIRL. After all' arrangements had 'been wade for Wir wedding,.** daring trick-cyclist' told the girl who hoped to be his bride that he had made a mistake, and backed Out of the contract. The girl, whom he 'had known since he was 12 years old, accordingly brought an action for breach of promise against her fickle lover, whirk was heard at the , Sheriff's. Court, Manchester, recently. Plaintiff, Miss Rose Kremner, was describld as an Austrian Jewess, and defendant, Richard Davies, a music-hall artist, was stated to be the brother of a well-known cycling champion. Mr. Foley (for plaintiff) said that this was one of those cases in which a young woman had been kept dallying about f<sr many years. The parties became acquainted about"l2 years ago, when defendant was a joiner. Later ho became a member of a music-hall trio, and made a big salary in a turn called "The Circle of Death," in which lie impersonated a female. This act consisted of careering in motor-cars around a track which was suddenly lifted bodily in the air. The proposal of marriage was made by defendant and accepted by defendant in 1905. During defendant's absence on tour in South Africa and other countries plaintiff received from 400 to 500 letters from him, but, said counsel, "there was nothing trashy in them," Tho letters showed he was a sensible young man and would have made a good husband. Illustrating the "sensible" character of the letters, counsel read one in which defendant wrote:— " Some people say money is not the makings of happiness. I don't believe it myself, a$ I have found that when people have no money they have no happiness."

In August, ,1913, when defendant was going to Australia, the wedding day was fixed for October 20. On October 15 defendant obtained a liconso from a registry office, and told plaintiff she had just cost him £2 14s. A day later the ceremony was arranged for the following Monday, and plaintiff prepared for it. On 'the Sunday night, however, meeting her in the street, Davies said to plaintiff: "1 find I have made a mistake. I don't think it right that I should marry you and then go away to Australia." The -result was that plaintiff became ill, and had to be medically attended. In the meantime defendant left the city, and plaintiff heard no more. of him until the proceedings were begun. Then he wrote a letter stating that ho had not intended to get married until plaintiff repeatedly asked him to do so. He added, "What I have done could not be avoided without "both of us suffering, in the future."

Plaintiff stated that when it was proposed that 'she should accompany defendant to Australia after the marriage he said it would cost £200, which would be a waste of nioney. The final arrangement was that after the marriage he would send her money every week when he was away. On the Sunday night he did not mention until a few minutes ■ before N he left her that he had made a mistake. He said he was sorry he could not marry her; that [was all. When she asked him why, he gave no answer. , ' Mr. Foley: Did he suggest putting you in a taxi-cab and sending you home?— Ye.«, and I would not go.' I turned away, and when I turned round again he was gone. 1 collapsed when I got home, and a doctor was sent for.

The jury awarded plaintiff £50 damages, j