THE UNSUCCESSFUL LOVER

NZ Truth, Issue 1001, 31 January 1925, Page 7

THE UNSUCCESSFUL LOVER

Wins m Financial Stakes The Law, Love, and a Loan. (From "Truth's" Wanganui rep.) A further sequel to the sojourn of John K. Lowe, formerly Railway District Engineer of Wanganui, and now of Auckland, under the roof of Mrs. Grace Marion Fleetwood, of Wanganui, was heard before Magistrate Barton last week. Readers of "Truth" will remember that John unsuccessfully defended a breach of promise case, brought by Miss Fleetwood, at the Wanganui Supreme Court ■ sittings m September last, as a result of which he was required to pay over £'150 to soothe the lady's feelings. At one time he was a warm favorite m the Fleetwood house, being not only the prospective husband of the daughtei*. but also the financier for the mother. When it appeared a certainty that he would join hands with the daughter, he lent n.a £160 to plank into shares m an American concern known as the Rubber Products Company. This was m May, 1922, and as there was no sign of Mrs. Fleetwood responding after many askings, he got Lawyer Brodie to set the law m motion with a claim for the recovery of the £150. A SLIP TWIXT CUP AND LIP. At the hearing plaintiff said that some time ".f ter the loan Mrs. Fleetwood informed' him that on the day he slipped the golden band over her daughter's finger- she would hand him the money. But there was a hitch m the path of love and when the engagement .was broken off. he decided to remain no longer m the Fleetwood home. '■' Some months later he applied to his no longer prospective ma for his £150. He received ai reply acknowledging the debt and a promise. to repay. The weeks passed by and as no cash was , forthcoming John wrote letter after letter. The nearest response he got to payment was that a bonus would be due m January and some cash would be forthcoming. More months elapsed and instead of his £150 John found himself a defendant m a breach of promise action, which he lost, and, strange to say, the amount of damages awarded to patch up Miss Fleetwood's broken heart was £150. Defendant had paid' the equivalent of half a share into Court and set up the defence through Lawyer Watt that John was her partner m the rubber share. Under cross-examination by Lawyer Watt, John said he did not think much of the prospects of making money out of rubber products at the outset and as he had plenty, of cash at the time, and things were running so smoothly m the household, lie did not care whether he had half . a share or not, but ma, when \it was all. off with the daughter) sought to punish him by not giving him the half share. "LOVE MAKING STUFF." Lawyer Watt then sought to show that John was a half shareholder from the outset and proceeded to read a letter from John to Miss Fleetwood. "The start of it is full of love-making stuff," said counsel to the S.M. "This is the part that counts," he added. ' "I am quite excited over this rub- , ber share business. Mother and I are partners m this^you know. I isay, Toots, she is so good to me and I get more fond of her every day. \ How lucky I was coming . to live with her." ' John wanted to know where the catch was m that letter, and counsel replied: "Now the thing is a frost you want to repudiate the half share and throw, the whole blame on Mrs. Fleetwood." The Magistrate did not take long to decide, and gave judgment for John for the full amount of £150, but no interest allowed. ■". ' •

. John also got expenses to the tune of £1 ISs, so that as far as Court experience is concerned he has had one loss m the matrimonial stakes and one win .on the financial side.