Love and Grammer.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13602, 23 May 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

Love and Grammer.

A WESLEYAN MINISTER'S BREACH OF PROMISE. A Wesleyan minister, the Rev. Thomas Edge, of The Marconets, Ringwood, Hampshire, was the defendant in a breach of promise action -which came before a jury, at the Preston Sheriff's Court on March 28 for the assessment of' damages. The plaintiff was Miss Mary Potter, a milliner, of-Boothstown, near Leigh. Mr. Elliott, counsel for • the plaintiff, said that the parties were ' practically brought up together from childhood. After, following work as a weaver in a cotton mill, defendant became agent for the Wesleyan communion in. Somerset. Subsequently he went away to Didsbury Training College as a student, and became-en-gaged? to plaintiff 'on March 6, 1904. De-. fendant told the plaintiff he desired as his wife somebody who would conduct herself fittingly in-the position of a minister's wife, and plaintiff agreed to the proposal that she should endeavor to improve and educate herself. . Defendant was evidently very seriously in love with plaintiff, and on April 10 he wrote: You are a sweet. It will be a treat when I get, my arm round you once more. We might as well begin soon as late. We had a splendid week-end. together, . and I was glad we did not go elsewhere, because we might not have . had that delightful conversation we had in your parlor. Tons of kisses from your loving sweetheart.—Jim. . ) In another letter defendant wrote:

I am still in the land of the living, we had a very good time, but for that little lapse of grammar which cropped

up nowjind again. But it's silly to keep on talking about grammar when we might have, been talking about something eke. We shall get over it all in good time, and I don't want you to worrv one bit. •

Defendant repeatedly visited'plaintiffs at Boothstown, walked out, and exhibited her to the whole village, until ten inonths after .the engager;enf.': he accepted, the post of \ missionary"on the; West Coast"'of Africa. After being on the Gold Coast for twelve months defendant's health broke down, and he returned to England.: At defendant's request plaintiff, had previously given up a good-situation as a milliner and dressmaker, and with the idea of educating herself for the position of a minister's wife she became companion, in a clergyman's house, where she took up reading, arithmetic, composition, and other studies. She remained ,in this family three r years without receiving remuneration beyond pocket money. " .After returning from 'the Gold defendant was sent to Ringwood, where he officiated as probationary ■ minister. Voluminous' correspondence ensued.' The majority of defendant's letters covered twenty pages (laughter) and in several he mentioned the coming honeymoon. In February of last year defendant wrote in a jocular strain, giving a forecast of the onerous responsibilities attached to the position of a minister's wife. He said.-: ;. We shall not go in for much furniture, considering we. may haw to ehift about every three years. 'My word, you have a game in front of you. You had better be repentant before it is too late. If T was a Church parson with a thousand per /; year there would be some sense in it, but a Wesleyan minister—- „ well, there, you have time to. change your mind. Hundreds of kisses * and barrowfuls". ; i

In July defendant went to Boothstown for a holiday, staying and having every meal at plaintiff's house. On September 19 he forwarded two most extraordinary letters to the plaintiff and her mother. The latter read: ''.."'

It is with Very great pain I write : this letter. I have, after much thought, asked Polly to release me from my eni gagement. It is hard to do this, but, I cannot give Polly the affection' I ought, and if we are married we should not be as happy as we ought to bel I have not seen the complete improvement in her I hoped for. I have tried honestly and, sincerely, and have hoped against hope. It is not Polly's goodness of heart. She is a champion so far as that goes, but . I have serious doubts whether she is fitted for the post I

hoped she would fill. Counsel said that by his letters defendant showed absolutely' no charity or regard for the girl's feelings. For years and years she strove to fit herself for the life of a minister's wife, and the jury would agree that defendant's conduct had been that of a cad and not a gentleman. In subsequent: correspondence defendant wrote: "If you threaten me with legal proceedings, and bring an action against, me, you will ruiii and degrade me in my profession with the Wesleyan body." Never throughout the correspondence was there the slightest suggestion of sympathy or words which would tend to lessen the shock plaintiff sustained. It was self, self, self, every time. Defendant had offered her £IOO in full, and final settlement of the case, but he (counsel) asked for £2OO damages at leastMiss Potter, a stylishly-dressed attractive young woman, who said she was thirty years of age, gave evidence in support* of counsel's statement. She agreed that she once wrote saying she did not desire damages for her own pocket, but would devote them to charity. > Be-. fendant had been asked by the Synod secretary to resign the ministry, but had not done so. Had he. resigned, she would not have brought the present proceedings. The jury assessed damages at £175, costs to follow judgements