A BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2949, 21 September 1910, Page 34

A BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.

SUIT FOE RECOVERY OF RING. WELLINGTON, September id>

The story of an engagement- of marriage almost as r.brupt in its origin as in its. termination was: unfolded' during the hearing of a civil action in the Magistrate'** Court to-day, before Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M. Frederick College, who described himself aa a tailor's cutter, eued Sarahr Cohen, stated to be a boarding-house-keeper, of Wellington, for the recovery of a diamond engagement ring or its value (£22 10s). In his statement of claim the plaintiff eet forth that the ring had been detained by defendant since September 1. He had asked her for it on several occasions during the present month, and each time met with a refusal. Now he,had reason to believe that the defendant was about to leave for England, hence the civil proceedings to Tecover the gift. The plaintiff is a Jew and the defendant a Jewess. Mr C. R. Dix appeared for the plaintiff •>nd Mr A. H. Hindmarsh for the defendant.

liiieily, the evidence of College -waa to the following effect : He had been m iN«w Zealand for the past eight or nine years, and was 36 years of age. For three and a-hall years he had worked with a firm at Auckland. On the occasion of a vi*it to Wellington some time ago he made the acquaintance of the defendant, and about four weeks ago came to take up his residence in Wellington. While here he lived at the .aioert Hotel, and then stayed at the house of Mrs Weigel. ladies' tailor, in Vivian street, who was a friend of his, and who was also related to the defendant.

Air Dix (to College) : You proposed certain transactions with Mrs Weigel?— Yes. What was the condition of that transaction coming to frutition?—That I should take Miss Cohen as my partner. » Tlhe Magistrate : What a ridiculous thing ! How old are yea r—Witness : Thirty-six.—(Laughter.) Mr Dix : Did you btcome engaged to this lady ?—Witness : Yes; three weeks ago. It was just the day after my arrival.

Jn response to further questions Vitnees said ho gave the defendant an engagement rine which he. purchased from Mandel, Harris, and Co. for £2k.

The question was then put to witness as to why he broke off the engagement. Witness : They (the girls friends} wanted me to get married in a hurry. I got here on Thursday, and they wanted me to get married on" Sunday. In fact, he said they told him after he broke off the engagement not to go to the shop any more. Counsel : Had you got any money from Miss Cohen?—Not a cent. To counsel for the defendant : Witness said that when he left Auckland he lifted the amount of his savings. Further auestions elicited the fact that when he left Auckland plaintiff had deposited part of his savings with a man whose Christian name he did not know, but he lived in Ponsonby. In coneequtnee of this the; defendant had to pay certain boarding expenses Hawera. His Worship : I fail to see any shadow of legal claim that this man has for the ring. I can't see how, if a man has given a present, he can sue for the recovery of it. The whole thing has a very fishy look. Counsel for the plaintiff suggested an adjournment that he misjht look into the logal aspects of the claim and obtain authorities in parallel cases which could be submitted to the court.

An adjournment till to-morrow morn ing was agreed upon.