ENGAGED FOR SIX YEARS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14400, 23 March 1911, Page 5

ENGAGED FOR SIX YEARS.

BREACH OF PROMISE CASIO: AMUSING LETTERS. -V breach of promise suit in reaped of ail cugiigciiiuu., made, ju I'JLKi occupied tlio attention of AJv >J ust-ce Lush and u common jury in Uio King's Btilldil ihvuiun last month, Tiie plaintiff wag Ethel Clumcr, formerly a draper's assistant, but noiv living at llol|py roud, Cliiswicit, and tho defendant J' 2>U'pi]en JJecr, o) UewiiurbL load, wee; Kensington, described as having beflu m tho employ oi' u claie merchant in bouth London. .Mr liter admitted the promise, but said it wan always understood Lliat tho marriage wub tvly to lake place wlien his means pertniw trtiu. At present he had 110 moa.UA, but* ho was ready to marry the piaiutill whenever he hod means. Mr Warron, for tho plaintiff, suid ,vu f amiple story without a fragment ol romance in it but it wm a story Which exhibited "übisot SOlflßbttess and the conduct of a complete a/t i. l^o P art defendant. M 153 Ounter was 21 in IUO4 when she first became engaged to tho defendaut. In April, 1910, the defendant went to gome friends whom lie and Mia* I "11 titer were to visit, and told them: I xou linoiv ji,tiiel and X were to risjfc yon to-inoirow. >Voli, X shall not be cre ». because it is ail oif between urn and Kthel." .■ At various times Mr Beet had r.jesouted the plaintiff w-tli. a diamond 'ring, three braeelets, a locket and ; cluun, a paii' of boots, a hat, gloves, and winter coats, and had also 11 tide ; iiandsomo presents to Miss Hunter's Bisters. , - marriage of Miss Glintor and the defendant was to huve takon nlnoe on the same day cm that of | laufiflV; brother. X'laintifT's brother was ~r-ried ried last Jiastor, but just before I',ister delendant went away for a h-iliduy: On several occasions Mr Beer iuiied to keep appointraens to meet the j.'rintitf. An arrangement was made that , they should meet again on a certain ■ 'luesday,' but defendant again faitcJ to turn up, and from that day Miss Guo> ter had never seen him, LETTERS TO."GYP." ; Miss Guntor then gave evidenoo, pnd several letters written to her by tho defendant wero read by counsel. Oft one occasion ivhen ho visited Yarmouth the defendant wrote to her lit follows: . .'' ■ My dear Gyp,—Just a line to Irt you admire my nioe writing again. I am pleased to say I am fueling V mucli Better for the .change, lin '' getting fat like you, and my face if peeling. I will give yon my pro• gramme since X left London. Sunday: Left London Bridge 9,46 for Yarmouth. Reached there 8 o'clock. Music all day and dans- • ing. Popular songs during the-voy-age. "Molly's a Jolly Little Lady" j ' and "Ain't vor going ter say How . .< Do?" The ladies indulged in dine, ing. Liquid refreshment very muca in evidence. (Laughter.) Monday: Morning, beach; plenty l of people. Afternoon: walked round ; fish market to Nelson Monument, and 1' paddled. ' Evening, strolled along front, and enmo back and had whelk* v and cockles by quay and Yarmouib ale. (Laughter.) " IVeeday: IBvendng, AVeliington ■. Gardens and pier. More whelks, . cockles, eto. On October 9 th, 1908. plaintiff said the defendant wrote to her ia follawjir ■ CHRISTMAS HHYMB. Dear Gyp,—Very sorry I oould not. ■■. get down laat night. Was kept at the office until ten o'clock. This is not ' a. married matt'a yiuu. 11 usr.; . ' , ■ '. At Christmas, 1909, he eent her a Ciiruttmas card bearing the following • < rliynie of liis own comparison: X'hat joy and happiness may ba yours this Ohristmas time, And .throughout the year, Is the sincere wish of Stephen ■H, • Bear. (Laughter.j ' . . Cross-examined by Mr Simner (tor the delendantj, pltuntitf said she and ■■ Mr Beer had been. very fond of txuiU other. When do you think you will be food of him again '{ —Never. When did you cease to be fond of him?— After lias ter. You know he is willing to marry you:-" —Yes. But you don't want him. You want damages!'—Yes. The 'Judge: That is not quite a fail way of putting it. She wants what she asks for. Mr Simner: That is damages. The Judge: s:x years is a long ©Or gagement. How came it to be ao lout? —I don't know. . ' 1 For the defence, Mr Simner said tha defendant had not the means to married. From the first it was agreed that the marriage should_ not take place until they could afford it. Lore mignt laugh at locksmiths, but there was littl* humour in a succession of babies. Tlio defendant, in evidence, Bald that none of the presents he gave tiba plaintiff were worth more than 80s; He told the plaintiff he would marry her when in a position to <lO so, and fih® was perfectly agretitiblo^ The hearing was adjourned.