BREACH OF PROMISE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21530, 30 December 1931, Page 12

BREACH OF PROMISE

ACTRESS AWARDED £3OO VERY SHORT COURTSHIP PROPOSAL AFTER FIVE DAYS. Damages to the amount of - £3OO for breach of promise of marriage were awarded by a jury iu a Loudon court recently. Plaintiff was Miss Selina Iris Salmon, an actress known as Lennie Deane. She sued Lionel Russell Scott, described as a motor car salesman. Judgment was entered by Mr Justice Charles for Miss Salmon with costs, and Mr Scott’s counter-claim for £4O, the value of the engagement ring, was dismissed with costs. The judge,, in his summing up, said that the circumstances surrounding the case were such that the jury might think that defendant’s conduct was that of an utter, calculating blackguard. The promise, which defendant did not deny, was made at Eastbourne in August, 1930, when Miss Salmon was appearing in the musical comedy, “Hold Everything.” She alleged that, she was induced by Scott’s promise to give up her part in “ Hold Everything ” and to cancel a £2O-a-week pantomime engagement. Defendant denied the allegation, and said that the engagement was broken off by Miss Salmon. Counsel for Miss Salmon said that when plaintiff visited Scott’s home on October 8, 1930, she found him very moody. He refused to eat his lunch. The following morning Miss Salmon asked him why he was treating her so badly, and he said that he was not well. “ I want to be left alone. lam sick of responsibility,” lie added. DEFENDANT GOES TO A DOCTOR Miss Salmon then said:, “If you do not want to be engaged you had better take your ring back.” She took it from her finger and tried to hand it to him. He refused to take the ring, which fell on the floor. Both of them were rather excited, and when defendant’s mother came on the scene Scott said to her, “Make her put the ring on again.” Someone picked up the ring, and Mies Salmon put it ou her finger again. No one treated the incident as putting an end to the engagement. Later Scott went to a doctor, and on his return told Mies Salmon that the doctor had said that his temperament must clash with Mies Salmon’s. Miss Salmon, giving evidence, said that when she first met Scott he was “very sweet and kind ”to her. On the night he proposed lie called for her at the theatre after the show. They had a meal and went for a ride. “We got on marvellously well, and I wag carried away,’ she remarked. She met Scott on August 22, and he proposed on August 27. After the ring incident witness and Scott’s mother went to view some flats. When she went to Scott’s room about 2 a.ra., and asked him for an explanation of his behaviour he said, “ Get out and leave me alone. I hate you.” Mr Justice Charles: That was straight enough, wasn’t it? —(Laughter.) Witness said that when she put her hand on Scott’s shoulder to try to make Jiini speak lie smacked her face. Miss Salmon having stated that she was supposed to be rehearsing for a revue which was to open the following week at Leeds, (he judge remarked: “Well, it is good practice appearing here before all these people.” “HEAPS OF FLIRTATIONS”. Counsel for defendant: This was a rather short courtship, wasn’t it? , Witness: Yes, but he told me he loved me and wanted to marry me and would look after me. Did you think you could live on love? —He seemed a very able-bodied young man. If you love someone you will work with them or for them. Miss Salmon denied that on October 9 she threw her engagement ring at Mr Scott. There was a struggle, but she did not hit or scratch Mr Scott. She admitted that she had had “heaps of flirtations.” Defendant, giving evidence, agreed that when Miss Salmon visited hie parents home in October his attitude was different toward her. He was not feeling well. Describing the ring incident, Scott said that he had just finished hie breakfast when Miss Salmon entered the room and threw the ring at him, saying, “I am finished with you, you dirty swine.” He left the ring where it fell, and walked out of the room. That morning he was awakened about 2 a.m. by a blow on the head, and he saw Miss Salmon standing beside his bed with her fist raised. She was hysterical. There was a struggle and he might have pushed her in the face, but he did not hit her. JUDGE’S STERN WARNING. Asked why he did not answer a letter written bv Miss Salmon after the ring incident, Scott replied; “Because I got the writ on the same day.” Mr Justice Charles (sternly): Listen. You are in great danger of going to gaol. Why do you lie to me like that? Y'ou say that it was on October 12 that you got the writ, when in fact it was not issued until October 23. Defendant said that he had contused the dates. 1 Miss Caroline Jane Maun, housekeeper for the Scotts, gave evidence that on the day following the ring incident she was called to Scott’s bedroom, where she found Miss Salmon screaming and “ making an awful noise.” Scott, who was standing beside the wardrobe, was shak,n*sip Justice Charles: Shaking?—Yes, wouldn’t you? The judge: No, I should not. It would take a good deal more than that to make me shake.