JILTED GIRL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23107, 5 February 1937, Page 16

JILTED GIRL

AWARD OF £IOOO

LONDONER CHANGES HIS MIND After travelling 6000 miles from Vancouver to wed her sweetheart in London, a Canadian girl, in the London Sheriff’s Court recently, dramatically described how she had been jilted shortly before the day fixed for the wedding. Suing her former lover for breach of promise of marriage, the girl declared: “ I would have staked my life that he would not have let me down.” The jury, finding for the girl after , a short retirement, awarded her damages of £IOOO. The girl, Miss May Lighterwood Hamilton, aged 32, was awarded the damages against Derrick Casson, aged 30, traveller, of West Acton. Mr Cyril Salmon, for Miss Hamilton, explained that Casson admitted his promise to marry. It was for the jury to assess what sum should be paid to the girl for her financial loss, the injury to her feelings, and the humiliation she had suffered —so far as it was possible to -«ensate for such things. Miss Hamilton, went on Mr Salmon, formerly lived with her mother and sister in Vancouver. She was in good employment as a bookkeeper, and for the five years prior to sailing for England was earning £5 a week. In 1928 Casson visited Canada with his family, and made the acquaintance of Miss Hamilton. They became very friendly, and it was generally understood that when Casson had enough money they would be married. FAREWELL PARTIES

After some months Casson returned to England, but the couple corresponded, and in 1930 Miss Hamilton went over and stayed with Casson’s people. In the spring of 1935 Casson wrote Miss Hamilton, and told her he was in a position to wed and asked her to come over and marry him. It was decided she should leave in the spring of 1936. Miss Hamilton gave up her job, bought a trousseau, and announced her forthcoming wedding in the Vancouver papers. Parties were given before she left in honour of the occasion. “You can imagine her feelings now after all that, her life savings gone, and jilted after

travelling 6000 miles,” commented Mr Salmon.

Miss Hamilton arrived in England in May last, and stayed with the Cassons. The marriage was arranged for May 6. The wedding ring was bought and the clergyman seen, and all details settled. Then it was found difficult to secure a suitable house, and Casson suggested the postponement of the wedding until August. Remarking that it was unlucky to change the date, Miss Hamilton, nevertheless, agreed. She arranged to stay with her married sister in Glasgow for a few weeks. The couple were then on the most affectionate terms. LUGANO HONEYMOON Later, stated Mr Salmon, Casson told her he had changed his mind and was not going to marry her. They would not be happy, he said. Miss Hamilton, an attractive woman with a soft Canadian accent, bore out Mr Salmon’s story in the witness box. She and Casson, she said, had planned to go to Lugano for their honeymoon. She added that when the case was over she was returning to Vancouver.

She had considered herself engaged to Casson after 1930. Asked if she wished to have Casson punished, Miss Hamilton replied: “ I am not revengeful, but I feel he has hurt me very deeply, and that he should not get off scot free." With some warmth she added; “ I don’t think any man should ask a girl to give up a good position and come all this way to be married, and then jilt her.” Casson did not give evidence. Mr Burchell, the under-sheriff, declared that it had been suggested for Casson that the marriage was doomed to failure. “ But he has not gone into the witness box to tell us why that should be so,” he added. Damages as stated were awarded Miss Hamilton.