“FICKLENESS A LUXURY”

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 7

“FICKLENESS A LUXURY”

CONTENTION OF COUNSEL BREACH OF PROMISE ACTION. YOUNG MAN’S CHANGE OF HEART. JUDGMENT FOR SUM OF £3O. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. “This is one of those cases where fickleness demands some reparation,” said Mr. R. A. Singer when appearing for Stella Lavina Jack, Silverdale, plaintiff in a breach of promise action against William John Bridson, shepherd, of Atea, near Gisborne. The action was heard before Mr. Justice Smith. Mr. Blathwayt, Gisborne, appeared for Bridson. Miss Jack’s allegation of the agreement at marriage was not denied by Bridson but he did deny, in reply to her claim for £350 general damages and £5O special damages for depreciation in the value of her trousseau, that she had suffered any damage. Mr. Singer, for Miss Jack, said the law allowed a man to be fickle but it was a luxury for which he had to and ought to pay. Miss Jack, who was 23 years old, had devoted fou. years of her life to Bridson in fitting herself for marriage. Evidence was given by Miss Jack on the lines of counsel’s opening. To His Honour, she said that had Bridson written and asked her to break off the engagement she would have accepted the position. ' For the defence Mr. Blathwayt said that Miss Jack could get no advantage out of the action and no good purpose was served by it. Miss Jack’s proposals of another marriage had not been lessened. The parties were very youthful and inexperienced at the time of the engagement, Miss Jack being 21 and Bridson 23. There was no reasonable prospect of marriage and the formality of becoming engaged seemed under the circumstances unwarrantable. Bridson had no prospects at the time of the engagement, nor when he broke it off, of marrying. The defence was an honest one that Bridson had suffered a change of heart. His Honour; Suffered is not the right word from the plaintiff’s point of view. Mr. Blathwayt added that Bridson had done what he thought was the honourable and courageous thing. After Bridson had given evidence that his only assets were his three horses and his dogs and his earnings of £2 a week, His Honour said he would read the, letters which Bridson wrote to Miss Jack. His Honour gave judgment for Miss Jack for £3O general damages and costs on the lower scale. ' 14