BREACH OF PROMISE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8079, 6 April 1912, Page 1

BREACH OF PROMISE

CARUSO AND MILAN SHOP GIRL. ROME, February 17. The breach of promise suit brought by a shop girl named Ganolli against the celebrated tenor Caruso was heard yesterday at Milan. : . About five years ago Caruso fell in love at first sight with a beautiful shop girl who sold him a necktie in Milan. Caruso proposed immediate elopement, but the girl prudently referred him to her parents. . ' , Caruso left Milan some time later, hut he continued to shower valuable presents on the girl. He gave her money wherewith to buy dresses and to learn French and piano playing, and generally to acquire accomplishments necessary to the wife of a celebrated singer. Meanwhile, he wrote her many passionate love letters, in which he promised to marry her very soon. Eventually Caruso summoned his fiancee to Berlin, where he presented her to his friends as his future wife. Then he changed his mind, and refused to marry her. The girl was heartbroken, and strove to move the obdurate tenor, who accused her of blackmailing. As an amicable settlement was impossible, litigation was the only available remedy, and the girl claimed .£IO.OOO damages. (jarnso’s lawyer denied that there had been a promise of marriage, despite the evidence of the love letters produced in court. At the same time he stated that Caruso was ready to give her a certain sum as compensation.