BREACH OF PROMISE.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12766, 7 February 1910, Page 4

BREACH OF PROMISE.

! An amusing case has just been heard at Dublin. A Miss Ester Keegan sued one "Chevalier" Hugh Berein assessing her mental, normal, fnd cardiaoal damages at £1000. The pair met only a year ago in an Irish convalescent home at Dumcondra, kept by nuns. . . The Chevalier's defence was, m erfect that it was all Miss Keegan s fault: that all the lovemakmg was on her side; that she made the proposals, and that he took the whole matter as a huge joke. His counsel was most ungallant to the lady, and tho reverse of flattering to the Chevalier, whom he described as a "doddering individual, who had not been out of some institution or other for years. Cross-examining Miss Keegan, counsel drew from her an admission that though she had represented herself as a tender young thing of twenty-eight, it would really bo no discovery for her to hear that her natal day was April 26, 1862 ; that, in fact, she was, when the alleged promise of marriage was made, approaching the immature age of forty-seven. The lady was also ruthlessly queptioned on the subject of the Clievalier's physical state. "Don't you know that the Chevalier was a chronic invalid, that ha suffered from paralysis and apoplexy, and was never out of some institution of other?"— "He told me on his oath that he never suffered from anything but rheumatism." "Just tell me what he said."— 'I asked him what was the matter with him,' 1 ' "You thought he was looking rather 'dicky'?" — "What is the matter with you old Josey?" says I. "Upon my oath, ma'am," says he, "I never had anything the matter with me but rheumatism. ■ • 1 "Did you believe Mm?"— "I did." "Now, are you curious ? Would you love him still if I told you that this is his condition, and was his condition at that time; that he is a man who has paralysis and apoplexy, whose heart ts at present, and has been for years, diseased, and whose internal organs are all disarranged?" The lady's answer was an emphatic "No!" " - In spite of the lady's tarradiddles concerning 'her age, and the eloquent pleading of defendant's counsel, the jury found for the plaintiff, and 'he "doddering" joker has to pay Miss Keogan £100 and costs. Mr Ernest Mansfield, who has returned from the Arctic Circle, states that in Spitzbergen there are the richest veins of smokeless coal in the world. "Atticus" says in the Melbourne "Leader" :— "Lord Kitchener is out for 'colonial experience,' and he is getting it. His private, confidential opinion of things antipodean would be extremely interesting. One would like to know exactly what he thinks of that quaint institution the Australian mayor, along with what conclusions he may have arrived at respecting another troublesome local item quite as intimate and aggressive, and, if anything, more numerous. I refer to the mosquito. Which has the great war lord found to be the greater nuisance, I wonder? Another 'colonial experience' of his is a military strike. A fatigue party on duty at the Liverpool camp suddenly recollected that there was no definite understanding about the rate of pay. Down went tools, and a strike was declared. This incident accentuates our striking peculiarities as a people. One day an Australian army may decline to strike for hearth and home because of being passively engaged striking for shorter hours aud longer pay."

The secret of how to givo gold the [ temper of fine steel is reported to have i been discovered at Los Angelos, Cali- ) fornia, where the first complete set of gold tempered surgical instruments is being manufactured. After an old-age pensioner who had lived on charity for many years had died at Marlborough, Wiltshire, nearly £200 was found hidden in her bedroom, rund it was ascertained that she had £400 in a bank. 'jV'vThe "Melbourne Ago" reports a sensational experience which befell a bush-worker named James Daly whilst engaged in lopping a branch from a gum tree near Curawarna. Daly had taken a position on the fork of the tree, 25ft from the ground, and from this dangerous position was using an axe, when the limb, almost cut through, broke, and rebounding, struck Daly on the leg, smashing it below the knee. Fortunately Daly caught a branch, saving a fall to the ground. Daly was alone, and, after waiting for assistance without avail, commenced the dangerous and painful task of scrambling down the tree. Reaching the ground, he crawled a considerable distance, and attracted assistance just before darkness by cooeeing. Daly reached the residence of Joseph Crawley about 9 at night, greatly exhausted. After receiving attention he was conveyed to Wagga.

Quite lately a nov&i experiment was tried in tho lloyal Exchange, w'jeu the first of a series of address )s io city Tiien in connection with, ths L'ishop of London's Evangelistic Council was delivered by the Bishop of Manchester. There was lvo devotional service. At 1 o'clock a large cro-v.l cf men gathered, in the great irili, »md without any preliminary tho Bishop entered the specially-erected ptii^ib and began his address, be^i-.-g hi* audience to remain covered. Alaiiy clergy were present. There uhs thf> constant noise of hurrying feet a:.d swinging doors, but tho l«*luip 3 strong voice was clearly heard .'ill over tho building as he spoke on •'llumf"' The second address was givn Ly tiio Bishop of London, and -lie ilur; hy Bishop Welldon. One of the most promising of ro» cent London street improvements is the opening of the Mall in St James' Park leading to Charing Cross. Whilst it will be an immeasurable advantage to residents west of Victoria street, it will greatly relieve the often, blocked traffic by Pall Mall or Parliament 'street. The Board of "Works have splendidly completed their share of the great undertaking. At a cost exceeding £30,000 they -hare -built a magnificent stone archway, shaming by its architectural beauty the dull frontage of Buckingham Palace, which, separated by the length of the Mall, it faces.