“ALICE, MY IDOL.”

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1664, 20 January 1904, Page 14

“ALICE, MY IDOL.”

POETIC LOVER TO PAY .£250 DAMAGES.

A crowd of people attended Dublin Four Courts, when Master Courtenay and a jury of six heard the case of McCourt v. Crimes, which was an action to assess damages for breach of promise of marriage. Defendant did not put m d©foiicOi Mr Moriarty, for plaintiff, said she wasru-young—lady named Alice JvlcGourt, a daughter of a respectable shop keener, carrying on business in Birr, and defendant was John James Grimes, at present the proprietor of the btrancl Hotel - Youghail, a fashionable watering place in the South of Ireland. young, -lady’s grandfather resided at Mullingar, where the parents of defendant also resided. His father was a Wealthy man, carrying on a drapery and spirit business. Plaintiff was visiting her grandfather in Mullingar during che Christmas holidays of 1901, ami the two became , acquainted and walked out together, and defendant made a proposal of marriage, which was accepted. At that time defendant occupied the position of sub-manager in Mooney s. wellknown establishment in DublinWhen he returned to that city defendan sometimes -: ----- WROTE TWICE A DAY.

In 1902 defendant-went to London, to manage one of Mooney’s establishments in Fleet street. About that time lie had an idea of setting up in business for himself in Dublin. He talked of buying h publiehouse, which gave some idea of the means of this young man. Why the defendant conceived the idea of breaking off the engagement with this young mrl he could not understand. She seemed tt mcfet sensible, attractive, nicely educated young lady, daughter of respectable parents, having herself a handsome fortune for a girl in her position of life—p, sum of <£2oo—and no doubt her parents would give her more. Leaving London, Mr Grimes took up the management of the Strand Hotel, Youghal. From mat place plaintiff received several affectionate letters, when suddenly a letter arrived in June of this year, in which he addressed the plaintiff os “Dear- Miss McCourt,” instead of ; “MY' OWN DEAREST ALICE,”

and in the letter he spoke of the proprietress, Miss Brown, as a very nice young lady, of 24 years of age, who was very good-looking. (Laughter.) The next thing plaintiff found was that defendant had broken off the engagement and married Mias Brown on June 16. Miss MeCourt bore out counsel’s statement. When he went back to Dublin he corresponded with her, and continued the correspondence down to June of this year. Counsel: Is that the first letter you received from' him. It is dated January 24, 1902?.—Yes. —“My dearest Alice (there is a portion of the letter I do not think it necessary to read.) It refers to some trifling details, but in the course of the letter he burst into poetry as follows:—•

If love were a. rosebud bedecked win dew, ~ • • I would pluck it my darling and give it _to you. ' ~ If love were a jewel that money could <• buy, I would give thee a casket no queen - could defy. : * . But love is not purchased m whom or m

So fbave nothing to give thee but love and my heart, .... ' Rosebuds will wither, and jewels are vain, . But on to eternity love will remain. (Laughter.) He continues: “Don’t forget, dearest-Alice, that long letter you are to write to me. I will now say au revoir, ma chore fille—(loud laughter) —with best love, I remain, dearest, yours for ever.—Jack Grimes. - The next letter is one of tho 20th of February. It is short and sweet: — - “My once dearest Alice, say if you have changed your love for me to bestow it on another. Do not keep mo in suspense so long. Let me know all, for I love_you dearer than my very life.. It seems Yhat life -holds nothing dearer for me but you, Alice.—-From yours for ever. —Jack Grimes.” q . "v. Next come© a letter-of the 12 th of April, 1902, written from Fleet street, one of Mooney’s places in London:— “My dearest Alice” (and now we have more poetry):—

Oh, yes ! so woll, so tenderly, Thou’rt loved, adored by me; Fame, fortune, wealth and liberty Are worthless without thee. Though brimmed with blisses pure and rarp," " Life’s cup before me lay, Unices thy love were mingled there I’d spurn tho draught away. v Those. worlds, for which , the conqueror sighs . . -' For me have now no cnaims; My only world those radiant eyes— My throne your circling arms, vV - —JACK.

' The next letter said:— •A “My dearest Alice, it is needless to say' how lonely I feel to-night after parting with yon. But I earnestly trust that I will 6ee the day that I Trill not have to leave you. You shall see'how steady and wise I shall be for the future, so that one day I may be worthy of one jl love so . dearly. Overlook the past, and juuge me..by the. future, and then,- Alice, my idol, yon shall not be disappointed.” ■%-Cotnisel read passageJhpm other lettiers as follow: '; “Alice, keep true to me, for I love you as dearly as I love my life, I could not dream of happiness in the future without you, and I think' you know that by this time.” . ■ i ‘ Again he burst: into - poetry- A.. V; ~ I’ love you, Alice, I love you, .. As flbwers lovo the sun; Of .all on earth to me of worth • t You are the only one. I.love, you,“Alice, i love you, ; And well you know I do, :■ Ye't hear me say I love always : No other love but you. You- know well I. love you as none else, r-V-tV.. • - ' ; • .

so that should suffice. So bye-bye, Darling. With best love and x x from yours as usual, Jack.” From Youghal they had the last of his poetry. He says:— “My dear Alice, your most welcome letter of the 19th inst. to hand. Well, you need never for a moment fancy teat anyone could make me forget you. You should know that quite well yourself, that you are the only one I care for. and I think it is needless to tell you so. Then comes the poetry: “No other love but yours I seek, No other heart but thine; No etiier happiness in life, But that you shall be mine.” —J.J.G.

Subsequently came the letter breaking off the engagement. The jury,* after a short consultation, as soloed the damages for nlamtiff at ,£2so.—Master Courtenay: That ib a very proper verdict.—Mr Moriartj: And we are quite satisfied ivith it.