RIVER ROMANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18677, 5 October 1922, Page 4

RIVER ROMANCE

RIVER ROMANCE ENDS WITH £SOO DAMAGES. BEAUTIFUL, YOUNG SINGER AND HER RESCUER. LOVE THAT COOLED. A - dark,' young, and beautiful girl, who met a young and apparently rich undergraduate at Cambridge when tho girl was in difficulties on -the river, sued him in the London Sheriff's Court recently. Phyllis Westcott, daughter of a London solicitor, .sued Seymour Stuart Benson, a Hying officer, for breach of promise ol marriage. After hearing a curious story the jury awarded Miss Westcott £SOO damages, and judgment was entered for this amount, with costs, against Air Benson; Mr Coventry, K.C., for Miss Westcott, said she was 28.. She had a beautiful voice, and had been trained under the best, masters for ihe operatic stage. She took a small part in a light opera company, and in that capacity went to Cambridge, where defendant was up at (he University. Mr Benson was a flying officer, and met her every day, telling her he had about £750 a year., lie proposed marriage. One of defendant’s letters to Miss Westcott ran ; I hate got. a charming letter from my mother. She seems very pleased. . . . I think some of (he sentiment in your loiter was most .beautiful. 1 am awfully proud of you, darling. WELCOME THAT COOLED, i Defendant took, her to his parents’ house near Darlington. &tie there found an army of servants, some horses, motor ears, and the general appearance of much wealth. She was made very welcome. She was also introduced to defendant s grandfather, whom he described as a millionaire, who lived at Gloucester. On a later visit she did not think she was so cordially received. She contracted a chill from which she recovered next, day. The young man called in a doctor, and said lie could never many her, because she .was a chronic invalid. This gave the poor girl a. serious shock, and she wished to consult a specialist. Denson, however, would not hear of this, seeming to bo anxious to take any means and go to any length in order to break off the engagement. Before she was properly recovered she was bundled off, like- a parcel of goods, to London, whore she was left on the station with a note “explaining the situation.” ONLY A SHOCK. As a matter of fact, (hero was nothing really wrong with the young woman except shock caused by defendant's conduct. Miss Westcott wrote to him asking; Didn’t, you go down on your knees to me and beg me never to leave you? How could you, if you really loved me, as you have sworn in church you do, treat me like this; defendant’s reply was a formal one, saying his last letter was “absolutely definite and final.” All over tho country, said counsel, people have been asking, "Why has this man jilted this girl?” and saying there must bo some reason. There is no reason. Describing her visit to defendant's home. Miss Westcott said that they were rarely allowed to he together alone, but after dinner they were allowed to read together a little from a religious book which his mother provided. Cross-examined, plaintiff said she knew defendant, would have to go abroad on duty. If necessary she would fly with him'.'' Slur had flown, and liked it very much. Defendant said he was 35 years of age, and a lieutenant in Ihe R.A.F. When he mot Miss Westcott ho had about £750. His father had a country house with about 60 acres, but lie was not wealthy, nor was his grandfather. Counsel: You threatened to go bankrupt? —lt is my only course. Have you been engaged before?—Yes. Was that engagement broken off? —Ves. Plaintiff burst into tears when counsel was addressing tho jury on her behalf.