A BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19952, 20 November 1926, Page 11

A BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.

BREACH OF PROMISE ACTION. £2OO DAMAGES AWARDED* (From Ouh Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, November 13. Damages amounting to £2OO, instead of £2OOO as claimed, were to-day- awarded to a qualified nunc, Louise Scanlon, m a breach ol promise case against Alexander rrunnay, ot Palmerston North. Mho story as told to the Supreme Court was that complainant had seen war service as a qualmcd nurse. During last December site had met defendant and they had boon out a good deal together, lie made frequent visits to Wanganui to see her, and as a consequence ho asked her to marry him in February, the engagement being finalised uy the gilt of a ring, which was produced in court. Though she accepted the ring she had not been 100 enthusiastic over the proposal as ho was a widower with throe children, lie had proved himself u good wooer, however, and he had put up a good case for himselt. The engagement was celebrated at a tea party at Foster’s Hotel. Ho had informed her that ho was manager for Manson and Barr (Ltd.;, Palmerston North, and was receiving £ICOU a year. Ho remained in his own district while she continued her profession at Wanganui. They were usually together at week-ends, and a regular correspondence was established as well as constant communications over the telephone. She did not keep all the letters, but the majority of them were couched in affocionato terms, such as one produced, dated March 9, starting, “Mr darling Louise.” The first cloud on the horizon was caused by something she had heard, but he denied the allegation when she asked for an explanation. His denial was accepted by her m all good faith, and in his next letter ho said he felt that ho was not good enough for her. To her the statement was rather vague and seemed to have something at the back of it, so she decided to investigate and took a friend with her. lie again denied that there was any cause why the engagement should not proceed, but said that he had been worried over the business. He assured her that ho was not a hypocrite. With the development of the correspondence she had received a letter saying: “Yes, let the engagement bo off.” She had, in the meantime, prepared her trousseau and all her friends knew that she had been preparing for her marriage. Defendant had, according to his own statement, informed his friends that Miss Scanlon had turned him down. His Honor said ho could not discuss the trousseau unless details of the cost were submitted. Counsel for defendant suggested that defendant and complainant had been getting on well together, and ho gave her a ring with (ho understanding that if they oon tinned their courtship and decided to get married ho would give her a proper ring. This witness emphatically denied. She said the ring was too large, and ho said when they were married he would give her another ring. At Easter a part'- went to Auckland. She was there two weeks and defendant for a few days. There was a perceptible molinn- off and she had written to him on the day of the Otaki races asking wb- bo had not telephoned, and suggesting that she was not of so much importance as previously. She had also written to him with the request that he should not carry on wiih another woman. In a note referring to the Otaki races she had mentioned that she had met Roy Reed and he had given her three wins. The letter concluded with “Lots of live and not to be peeved with her.” In reply to his Honor she said she had a consulting room. His Honor said that a number of letters handed in seemed to be referring to races. Complainant said she would swear on oath that defendant came to Wanganui after she bad made a certain complaint to him and had an interview in her consulting room. The trouble was then patched up. She subsequently had another interview at the Grand Hotel, Palmerston North, and in view of her unquelled suspicions she again tackled him about a certain woman, but she accepted his word of denial. She did ask him if there were anyone else, and the question, m thought, was quite a natural one in mow of the oroposed marriage. When she left Palmerston North she did so with a complete understanding that when he got over his business worries everything would bo as usual. He was still anxious for the marriage to take place. Her suspicions wore again aroused by something she had beard, and she asked him to be a man. Personal investigation caused satisfaction in her mind that there was a good deal of truth in the allegation made. She was quite satisfied that from one point ot view she was better without him as ha wasn’t a man at all. Robert Bond, hoarding-house keeper, said plaintiff had resided at his house. Defendant came to the house on a number of occasions to see her, and witness had congratulated defendant on the engagement. Defendant did not offer any evidence in denial of the statements made by complainant. Mr Cooper said the case was not one in which a 1 young girl had been led astray. There had been only a short engagement with apparently no feelings between the parties. The plaintiff had not suffered to any great extent except for pained feelings as a result of the broken engagement. The defendant was not now in the employ of Manson and Barr at £IOOO a year, although he was still a shareholder. Counsel contended that any damage plain tiff had suffered was negligible. He concluded that the minute the engagement was terminated plaintiff wrote regarding how much defend T-t was prepared to pay for breaking it off. Mr O'Leary said it was unfortunate that Ilannay had not gone into the box, but he had had the courage to come into court and sit with his counsel and let them see what Miss Scanlan had missed in regard to a husband. He was a man of matured years, and had entered into an engagement with the evident intent that it should mature into a marriage. He afterwards became infatuated with another woman. Counsel contended that the defendant had ceased to act as managing director of Manson and Barr only until such time as the action was over. Mr Cooper: No. His Honor did not comment on the case, and without any discussion as to the merits or demerits of the claim he /awarded damages for £2OO, with costs on the lower scale.