UNION AND DISUNION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 10

UNION AND DISUNION.

AMUSING BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. ENTERTAINING LOVE LETTERS. From Our Special Correspondent. London, March 14. Breach of promise cases generally make good " copy" from a newspaper point of view, but it is not often one conies upon such a gem as Cumberland v. Roberts, which occupied Mr Under-Sheriff Burchell and a jury last Friday afternoon. The question at issue was only one of damages, tho defendant not denying his broken promise, but tho proceedings threw a vivid light on life, society and morals among the pious persuasions of the lower middle classes.

Mr F. W, Beck, who appeared on behalf of tho plaintiff, said that in 1892 tho plaintiff went to Balham to assist in a stationery business carried on by her brother-in-law. Some littlo time afterwards tho plaintiff met the defendant at a Sunday school treat, and it was a case of lovo at first sight. (Laughter.) It was perfectly obvious that the defendant's father felt that his son might do better in tho way of socuring a wife than marrying tho plaintiff, and he told his son as much. The defendant, however, insisted on giving the plaintiff an engagement ring, and it was finally settled that they should be married when his salary had reached £IOO a year. The engaged couple met constantly, and nothing occurred to break tho harmony of their meetings. But on April 19, 189;;, the defendant, who, the day previous, had expressed his untying love for the plaintiff, suddenly wrote breaking off the engagement, and gavo as his reason that, "I have found you aro not a suitable young lady for me to look forward to to make my wife." (Laughter.) He subsequently wrote, in answer to an urgent enquiry, that he had heard nothing detrimental to tho plaintiff's character. What followed was somewhat extraordinary, but, he (Mr Beck) might say, was not uncommon amongst lovors—(laughter)—with tho embers of lovo still in his heart, tho defendant seemed to have suddenly changed his mind, and sont a telegram to tho plaintiff four dny3 afterwards imploring forgiveness. Defendant begged to recall all he had said, and concluded : "Kindest love and warmest affection from your loving and affectionate, and, I trusS your future husband." The engagement was renewed, and, as a matter of fact, lovo-makii:g between the two wa3 continued with greater vigour than ever. (Laughter) Ho invariably commenced his epistles of lovo with "My precious Emliie," and concluding "My own precious and evor loving Emilie.'' (Loud laughter.) Strange to say, tho defendant was exceedingly pious, and was constantly quoting texts of Scripture and tho text 3 of Sunday sermons, laughter.) In his love-lottors ho intermingled theso texts, and attempted to graphically describe his intense devotion for plaintiff. Then came a period of silence, so far as tho defendant was concerned. Plaintiff repeatedly wroto to know the reason of such strange conduct, and also as to a ring which defendant's fathor had asked her to give up. With regard to the ring, the defendant sent a postcard couched in gentlo and kind terms. He said, " I advise you to send the ring back, as it Beems to be valued so much by them." This she accordingly did, upon which the defendant wrote :

15, Tcmperley road, Balham, November 11,1895.—Dear Miss Cumberland,—l think it 'is only right that I should let you know that, without further delay, I have fully and permanently made np my mind to discontinue my friendship towards you. My twelve months' experience lias convinced me that you p,re not the kind of young

lady I am in search of.—Yours, etc., Union Roberts.

Tbo breaking off of the engagement wa3 without doubt the work of the defendant's father. He thought that his son could do much bettor, and the defendant admitted as much to tho plaintiff. Tho defendant's father not only got back the ring from the plaintiff in an artful manner, but was also the author of his son's dofenco to the action. A RATID TRANSFORMATION OF ATTITUDE. The first letter breaking off the engagement was as follows :

My dear Emilie,—ln receipt of your letter to-day, I wish to recall all I have said, feeling extremely sorry and hurt that anything of tho sort should have happened. It was entirely my own fault, therefore I must apologise and ask you to forgive mo. I rejoice to feel that the ultimate result has proved my lovo to you. Subsequently, defendant wrote :

My dear, dear Emilie, —I feel so depressed and weak. I can toll you I do long to see you. I feel you would make mo better. Do you know dear Emilie I cannot do without you. You do seem to strengthen me so much to climb tho diilicult hill. Your ready sympathy and encouragement have assisted in developing tho best possibilities of my end —(laughter) —and I am positive that marriage to you will mean the seal which works the vowed transition of temporary and fitful into eternal love. (Loud laughter.) Ido lovo you with all my heart. "union" on "duplicated UNION."

After the consent of tho parents had been received relative to the engagement, the defendant communicated with the plaintiff as follows : My precious Emilie. —At tho time you get this you will be twenty years of age. Now, Emilie dear, let me got very near to you, and let mo look into your face and tell you how much I love you. I shall continue my arguments on marriago with next time 1 get a chance, and will let you know all I hear.— Behove me, your faithful and over-constant fellow-partner in life, Union.

In a subsequent letter he wrote :

I think the two redeeming qualifies aro that wo aro Christians and love each other truly. I have had a letter from a friend, in which ho says, "Unio, my boy, you stick to her; she is a good girl." lam becoming even more assured of tho happiness of that perfect state of duplicated union—(loud laughter)—into which wo trust it will ploaso God to call us, and that before very long. I love you more than over to-day. As you used to say, "more than tongue can toll." (Laughter.) P.S.—Oh, Emilie dear, lam longing for tho time when you will be my own dear wife Oh, happy day! look sharp and come, because I want to bo married to my Emilio dear. Emilio, do you lovo mo F Oh, Emilie, I do lovo you !

Writing again to the plaintiff about his breaking off the engagement on the iirat

occasion, the defendant said : I attribute the cause of my action to nothing less than the fact that I had wandered away from Jesus. As I have often said, wo were brought together by God's desire, and His overwhelming power has strengthened and sustained us. I guess 1 would just like to kiss you now. You know what your dear mother says, "That though severod we all meet around one common mercy seat." Pray with me at ten o'clock on Sunday night. (Loud laughter.) THK DEFENCE. Mr Beck said the defence that had been set up aggravated the case to a certain extent. Tho defendant hid not assailed the plaintiff's character, but said that she was internally injured, and was in consequence unlit for marriage. As a matter of fact, tho doctor who had examined the plaintiff had reported that there was nothing whatever tho matter witli the plaintiff. A " UNITED" DENIAL. The Under Sheriff: 1 have not yet caught properly the defendant's Christian namo. Mr Beck; "Union," sir; and singularly appropriate in this c.ise. (Liughtor.) The defendant several times interrupted the learned counsel, and asked, after one of the letters had been pro duccd, "Did I write that letter?" Mr Beck ; Yes, you did. Defendant : Then I did not. Tho Under-ShDrift' asked defendant to remain quiet, as he would have an opportunity of giving his version of the case presently. On the namo of Mr Roberts, senior, being montioned by Mr Beck, tho former exclaimed, " Is it that my namo should bo dragged into this ! I had nothing to do with it." Later the Undor-Sheriff said (to defendant): You had better toll us. Now, do you admit writing the letters ! Defendant : Yes,

By leave of the Undsr-Sheriff, defendant was allowed to cross-examine the plaintiff. She did not deny that she had met with an accident, but swore that she told the defendant of the fact when they met. The Under-Sheriff pointed out that that was tho defence tho master had struck out, and asked defendant if ho Intended to continue that defenco ? Defendant (reluctantly) : I'll drop it. Defendant, cross examined, said ho did not bob why he should marry a lady to have her continually under a hospital. Mr Roberts, senior, denied that he was a man of wealth. Ho was 3imply a traveller in a respectable houso. Mr Beck; I havo no questions to ask, Mr

Roberta : If you had I should not have made such a fool of myself as my son has. (Laughter.) THE VERDICT. After a brief summing up, the jury awarded the plaintiff £75 as damages. Judgment accordingly, with costs.