Amusing Breach of Promise Case.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7449, 1 October 1895, Page 4

Amusing Breach of Promise Case.

A London correspondent writes :— A breach of promise case, in which two well-known operatio celebrities figured as plaintiff and defendant, occupied the courts lasc Friday. This was aD action brought by Miss Edtnan, professionally known as Carla Dagmar, a popular contralto long attached to Sir Augustus Harris's provincial companies, against Edward Jokobowskl, the Anglo-Polish composer of "Erminie," "The Queen of the Brilliants," etc., etc. Mr Candy, in opening the case for the plaintiff, stated that the action was a somewhat amusing one. The plaintiff made the acquaintance of the defendant a few years ago, and although he made several' offers of marriage, oue of which was eventually accepted, he broke off the contiact in January of this year by marrying a widow residing in New York. Two days before he married the widow, Mrs Brown, he wrote to the sister of the plaintiff : " Something has occurred financially { and otherwise which obliges me to give back the promise to Oarla. I can never support her now; I am utterly broke. Please look upon me bb a stranger in the future." la 1893 the plaintiff was engaged by Sir Augustus Harris at Covent Garden and Drury Lane, and she went during his tours throughout the provinces. Immediately after his acquaintance with the young lady defendant made a somewhat precipitate offer of marriage, but she gave him a distinct refusal. His love for her, however, did not cease, for while at Margate he wrote her many endearing and affectionate letters. While the plaintiff was in Birmingham playing in one of Sir Augustus Harris's operas, defendant visited her, and made a proposal to her that she should leave immediately for London and become aprima donna in a light opera composed by himself. Eventually she came to London, where she discovered defendant was doing excellent business as a composer of light opera. In 1894 the plaintiff renewed her contract with Sir Augustus Harris. The defendant was an ardent and fascinating letter-writer, and addressed the plaintiff as " Dearie," *' Tootsie," " My own sweet one," etc. In June, 1894, the defendant paid the plaintiff a visit at Covent Garden Theatre, where he renewed his offer of marriage. On this occasion she neither refused nor accepted him, but referred him to her mother. Mrs Edman severely cross-examined the defendant as to his means and prospects, as her daughter was then in receipt of a considerable sum from Sir Augustus Harris. The defendant gave a glowing account of the many triumphs and successes he had already achieved in the dramatic line. Mrs Edman expressed satisfaction at the account ho gave. On September 2, 1894, the defendant wrote from the Hotel Mdtropoi&, to the plaintiffs mother to the effect that ho should like to call her mother, and would do his utmost to be a good and affectionate eon. Referring tp the plaintiff, ho said : " Poor, dear Oarla, she is really a treasure. We must get married as soon as her presenc tour is over. I shall see her soon, and I am going to kiss her a good many timea for myself, and as I am rather greedy I'll tell her that I have also to kiss her for you. My piece is going well and strong. I feel safe about the first and second act." In October he wrote from Cork to Mrs Edman: "Does not my darling look splendid as SiebeU I shall give her a bouquet to-morrow. I know she likes it, and it makes the other prima donnas jealous." In December, 1894, defendant j went to New York and wrote to "his{ darling Carla " that he was doing splendid j business and was being "boomed"— laughter— by everybody who was anybody. In a letter to the plaintiff's mother defendant said ; " I know she loves me, and I feel very, very happy without being conceited (don't laugh, dear Mrs Eduiau.) 1 j jwtice it ere*/ time we meet; eke Jpvw

me more and more. I broached, or approached I ought to say, the question of when we were to be married, and, would you bolieve it, she did not snub me. No, she received it very well. Now, dear Mrs Edman, is the time for you to Help me, for she will do anything you ask her it you put it in a diplomatic way. May I join in and make up the trio ? (This is a musical way of putting it.)" Writing from Russell Square, in September, 1894, to Mrs Edman, defendant said : " I have taken the liberty to send you a few bottles of whisky— hope you will enjoy it. 'The Queen of Brilliants ' is going strong and well." In October, 1894, defendant produced a piece at the Lyceum which proved to be a great success. Mr Candy said that some time after defendant went to America to superintend the production of his pieces, he wrote to plaintiff that they were "a roaring success." Mr Candy added that without the slightest intimation of anything of the kind the plaintiff was told that the defendant had broken off the engagement, and almost immediately afterwards he went and married a Mrs Brown, in spite of his admission that he was "utterly broke." The plaintiff said she had for a considerable time been engaged by Sir Augustus Harris in various operas. At the present moment she had no engagement, owing to the fact that Sir Augustus had requested her to resign her position when it became known to him that she was engaged to the defendant. Defendant had viaited har on many occasions at Covent Garden, Drury Lane, and a number of provincial theatres. He had always been affectionate to her, given her bouquets and presents. During the whole time defendant was in iiew York she had no reason to doubt that his affections were in any way cooling. She was at one time perfectly willing to go to New York to marry the defendant and play in his light operas. Witness had seen the marriage notice of Mr and Mrs Jakobowski, which stated that after the honeymoon the leading part in Mr Jakobowski's new comic opera, " The Dawn of Venus," would be taken by Mrs Jakobowski. (Loud laughter.) The jury assessed the damages at L7OO.