BREACH OF PROMISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

BREACH OF PROMISE.

TELEGRAM' STOPS WEDDING

TEN YEARS' COURTSHIP. MAN AND HIS MOTHER. JURY' AWARDS £l5O DAMAGES. Three days before her wedding was to tako place, and while she and her'father woro busy at their home making final preparations, ft prospective brido in England received a telegram which shattered her romance. It came from her fiance, and ran: "In viow of letter, cancol definitely all arrangements for Thursday." This brief message played an important part in a breach of promiso action brought before the Under-Shcriff for Monmouth shiro by Miss Winnie Irene Thomas, aged 31, of Newport. Sho claimed damages from David Gelhin Evans, of Flford. Plaintiff's counsel, Mr. A. W. Cockbush, explained Chat no defence had been put in. Miss Thomas, ho stated, was tho daughter of an overseer at Newport Post Offico, and during tho war was a V.A.D. at Wooloston Ifouso Military Hospital, to which Evans went as a wounded soldier. 110 was about her age, and a friendship sprang up. On plaintiff's 21st birthday defendant sent her a diamond and sapphire ring and asked her to treat it as an engagement ring. Sho wrote back that sho was rather young to think of marriage, and iio replied asking her to regard it as a dress ring In 1919 Miss Thomas boeamo a cashier at Tredegar, and Evans frequently visited her there, while they also corresponded. Their friendship was kept up without a break or a cloud for seven years. An Engagement to Marry. At last, on Miss Thomas' twenty-eighth birthday, when tliey wcro at Nowport, Evans again begged her to marry him. This was in April, 1920, and sho consented to do so in about two years' time. Miss Thomas remained at Tredegar for a year, and then returned to Newport to live. Sho visited Evans at Ilford, staying at his mother'." house, whilo ho frequently fpent week-ends in Newport. During that timo sho received two offers of business appointments, but ho asked her not to accept them, as they wero going to be married. Whilo plaintilf was at Ilford in December, 1927, defendant's mother, for somo reason, took a great disliko to her, and left tho house and did not speak to her. This upset her, and she wanted to go home, but Evans said " No," and sho stayed until Easter, 1928, keeping liouso fir him. Iler brother was also there. Thcv went on shopping expeditions, buying "things for tho house, and she spent a great deal of money on linen, etc. She bought her wedding dress and trousseau. For 14 years, counsel added, Miss Thomas had been saving money bit by bit. Sho had saved £ll6, which she haa spent on preparations for the wedding. Tho banns were put up at tho parish church at Ilford, and at St. John's, Maindee. Plaintiff's father and mother sent out invitations for the wedding reception, and motor-cars wore ordered. Evans gave Miss Thomas £lO for a wedding present, and £5 for presents for tho bridesmaids.

Three Days Before the Wedding. As tho wedding day approached, difficulties arose in regard to defendant's mother, and Miss Thomas wrote, in reply to a letter, that he need not worry about that. The wedding was fixed for a Thursday in April, and on tho previous Monday* tho telegram arrived. " I cannot imagine any more cruel thing," counsel commented, " that any man could do, Thero was no possible excuse whatever, and no excuse has ever been suggested." After the receipt of tho telegram Mr. Cockburn said, Miss Thomas and her father rushed t(j London to see defendant. They found his mother, who stated that sho expected him in at any moment. They sat up all night, but he did not arrivo. Tho following morning they went to his office and wero told that ho had gono away on a week's holiday. Returning to his house, they found a letter which had been redirected from Nowport. This ran as follows: " I havo given very careful consideration to your letter received this morning, and;* ill' view of its contents, havo definitely decided to abandon all idea of marriage. Apart from the point to which I tako very strong objection, you said ' You will find mo more than your match if you conic that game.' It appears very obvious that you wish to bo the ruling factor in the house. No doubt wo shall both livo for a number of years vet, and I don't sec my way clear to enter into a life-long allogienee which shall bo full of endless difficulties. Your things I will havo packed as soon as possible." Threat to Send for Police. That night, counsel added, Evans and his mother went to tho house, and there was a tcrriblo scene. Miss Thomas pleaded with him, but could get nothing out of him except that ho had lost all his lovo for her, and, as far asjio was concerned, it was all finished Then he statod, " You aro crying not bccauso of your broken heart, but because of your 'broken pride," and his parting shot was that sho was to pack up her things and clear off. Later sho had a message from him. " If you don't clear out of the house by half-past eight, I shall get the police to turn you out." Subsequently defendant went round and apologised. He went to London to see plaintiff, and asked her to reconsider it and havo him after all. She told him sho was heartbroken, and said " No." In her evidence, Miss Thomas stated that tho first suggestion of marriage was made before sho was 21. but they actually becamo engaged when sho was 28 years of age. _ The jury awarded Miss Thomas £l5O damages.