BREACH OF PROMISE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1935, Page 8

BREACH OF PROMISE

MAN MARRIES ANOTHER. JURY AWARDS DAMAGES. “Hello! I’ve called to get the ring back. I’ve got to give you up.” This remark was stated to have ended a five years’ romance and led in a breach of promise action being brought before the Manchester Under-Sheriff and a jury by Miss Doris Wakefield, aged 27, against Mr. Norman MacArtney, aged 32. MacArtney, who was present in Court, did not contest any of Miss Wakefield’s statements, and after a few minutes’ absence the jury awarded her £125, including £25 special damages and costs. Counsel for Miss Wakefield stated that the couple first met five years ago, when they were both members of the Raddon Tennis Club, Warrington. MacArtney, who had been educated at a public school in North Wales, and was employed in his father’s business, offered to take Miss Wakefield home on his motorcycle one night, and from then onwards they became friendly. In May, 1930, she was introduced to his . parents, who raised no objection to the friendship. In June, 1932, MacArtney asked Miss Wakefield to become engaged, and she agreed. The' ring was bought, but MacArtney said he wanted to buy a house, furnish it and have £5OO in the bank before they were married. About Christmas, 1933, MacArtney told Miss Wakefield that he was not getting on wel with his parents, and later he v. tto live at her mother’s home. He bad all his meals there, and regarded it as Iris real home. In the interval, continued counsel, a Miss Chrissie Dyson came to live with MacArtney's parents, and on February 12 last MacArtney took Miss Wakefield’s mother aside and said his parents wanted him to give Miss Wakefield up. He then asked Miss (Wakefield if she was still willing to marry him, and she said she was. “MacArtney, in the meantime, had returned home,” proceeded counsel, “and on February 15 he sent word to say that h'- could not see Miss Wakefield that night as arranged, as he had to ‘teach Chrissie how to play cards.’ He made the same excuse on another occasion. “Then, on February 16, MacArtney called on Miss Wakefield, put his head round the door, and called out, ‘Hello! I’ve called to get the ring back. I've got to give you up.’ ” Counsel submitted that MacArtney could not have displayed a more callous or abrupt attitude towards a stranger, far less to the young woman who had given him five of the best years of her life. “The culminating point came in June last,” concluded counsel, “when defendant married Miss Dyson, who has a private income of £2 a week.” Miss Wakefield, in the witness box, agreed that she was dumbfounded when MacArtney called for the ring. "I went upstairs,” she explained, “lay down on my bed, and sobbed for a long time. Eventually I put the ring in the box and took it down to him, and I did not s him again.”

Judgment as stated was entered for Miss Wakefield.