JILTED MATRON

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20926, 4 January 1938, Page 10

JILTED MATRON

READY FOR WEDDING BROKEN PROMISE COSTS £lO5O Learning indirectly through friends that her fiance no longer considered himself engaged, the former matron of a convalescent home at Weston-super-Mare consulted solicitors. The solicitors wrote to the fiance, the London representative of a tannery firm. They received no reply. A King’s Bench Division writ was issued, and, as the man did not appear, judgment was given against him. Those events had a sequel at Bristol Sheriff’s Court, where a special jury awarded Miss Kathleen Newth, aged 34. of Clifton, damages totalling £lO5O for breach of promise of marriage against William Budgett Parker, of Beaconsfield road, London. S.E.

Parker did not appear in the case, and it was explained that the jury had only to assess damages under the judgment already obtained.

According to Mr Kenneth Bain, representing Miss Newth, the couple met in March or April, 1935, and became engaged the following June. It was arranged toward the end of 1935 that they should be married the following spring. Miss Newth, who was matron of a convalescent home at the time, gave three months’ notice to end her employment. Parker, however, suggested the marriage should be put off for financial reasons.

Correspondence continued, and. Miss Newth last met him in London in February of this year, when he gave no indication that his attitude had changed. In March or April, Parker ceased to reply to Miss Newth’s letters, and then she had the information concerning the broken engagement from friends.

Miss Newth gave evidence that her salary in the position she gave up had been £165 a year, plus £34 bonus, while 1 she had lived entirely free as regards food, accommodation and service. She had been unable to get back her job, or any position of a comparable character. Miss Newth went on to say that it would cost £270 a year to obtain accommodation, food, and service equivalent to that she enjoyed free in her position of matron. Her estimates were:— Flat with two bedrooms, lounge, dining room, spare room, and bathroom, £9O; maid, £5O; food for herself and maid, £100; and light, gas and coal, £3O. She had, continued Miss Newth, spent about £l5O on her trousseau. She detailed the cost of clothes purchased, which included a fur coat at £22 Is, six evening dresses at an average price of £6 6s each, two coats at about £lO together, shoes about £lO, and lingerie about £3O. Miss Newth added that Parker had been receiving a salary of about £4OO a year.

Addressing the jury, Mr Bain said he did not wish to stress unduly the circumstances surrounding the breach of promise. “There are breach of promise actions,” Mr Bain observed, “which are brought simply to make money out of a broken engagement. This is not brought on that basis at all. "I do not wish to stress to you the injury which has been done to this lady’s feelings. The case is brought to obtain compensation for a very grave financial loss she has suffered.” After a brief retirement, the jury found £5O special damages and £lOOO general damages for Miss Newth, and judgment was entered accordingly.