BREACH OF PROMISE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 12

BREACH OF PROMISE

RING TAKEN BY FORCE

(From Our Own Correspondent)

LONDON, Nov. 21., An award of £SO was made at the Leeds Assizes to a young woman who declared that her engagement ring had been taken from her by force. The woman, Rose Gregory, of Guilthwaite, sued ' Christopher William Lawson Steel, 24, now a master butcher, of Muston, near Filey. Dr E. C. Chappell, for Miss Gregory, said that the couple met at Scarborough in 1933, when Steel was an apprentice. There were two verbal promises of marriage, the first in June, 1935. The romance continued until last year, when, said counsel, “ This young plan’s ardour had cooled tremendously.” Counsel said that during the courtship Steel improved his position, and ultimately became a partner in a butcher’s business at Scarborough. He bought a car and a racehorse. “Plenty of Money Saved*’

In one letter which Steel wrote to his “one and only sweetheart ” the following occurred: “ I hope your dream comes true, darling, because you know I would like to be a footballer and make a lot of money, so that I could make you happy in a house of your own.” , , Counsel said that after the'quarrel last ear Miss Gregory wrote, saying: “ Dear Mr Steel, I consider ypu have served a dirty trick on me.” Dr Chappell added that under promise of marriage, intimacy took place. Miss Gregory, who gave her age as 24, said that a promise of marriage was made in Steel’s car. “He looked into my eyes, she added, “and said. ‘ Darling, will you marry me? I have got plenty of money saved up.’ I accepted.”

Racehorse Denial

Last year she noticed that he was more or less indifferent to her. He kept her waiting a long time when he arranged to meet her, and when she asked him why, he sa'd, “I am fed up coming to see you.” She told him, “I have your ring,” and he said, “You won’t have it after to-night.” She added that he took the ring from her by force. The defence plea was that the promise of marriage was rescinded by mutual agreement. Steel, in the box, said that he was only drawing £2 10s a week from the business, and he had* r partly to support his mother and sister. He denied making a second promise to marry Miss Gregory. He also denied taking the engagement ring from MisS Gregory by force, and declared that she gave it to him in the car, and goGout. threatening to drown hei'self. ! Cross-examined, •,Steel denied that he bought a racehorse. His grandfather, he said, bought a horse, but it was not a racehorse. Mr Justice Singleton entered judgment for £SO, with costs.