SHATTERED ROMANCE

Southland Times, Issue 19275, 20 June 1924, Page 6

SHATTERED ROMANCE

FORMER LOVERS IN COURT. YOUNG MAN’S CLAIM. SYDNEY, June 12. An interesting Scottish romance was revealed, when John M’Carry, a handsome young Scotchman, sued Helen Bissett, a winsome Scotch lass, the former betrothed of plaintiff, for £7l 15/- for money lent, which included defendant’s passage money to and for damages for the detention of goods, including a wristlet watch, and other alleged presents. The story told in Court by the young man was that he had known the girl for about 10 years. In Glasgow, they had been keeping company for about six years, and while he was away on active service he had kept up a correspondence with her. Early in 1921 he left England, two days after becoming engaged to the girl. She followed him two years later, arriving in Sydney in July, 1923. Meeting his betrothed as soon as the boat landed, the young man learned the tragic tale. The girl informed him that she had fallen in love with another man on the trip out, and wished to break off the engagement so that sheh could proceed to Queensland to marry the “man of her heart.” Plaintiff declared that prior to the engagement, they had come to an agreement that, in the event of their engagement l»eing broken off, defendant was to return the goods and money. The defendant admitted that there had been an undersaanding between plaintiff and herself, with reference to marriage, but she denied having received money in trust for the making of a home. She had received birthday presents from plaintiff, as well as other gifts. After their engagement had been broken off she promised to pay back certain money.

The Judge, in entering a verdict for the plaintiff for £39, said he would give the defendant the satisfaction of the two birthday presents by declaring them her property, and deducting the value from the amount claimed.