WIDOW’S CLAIM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21789, 19 October 1940, Page 2

WIDOW’S CLAIM

BREACH OF PROMISE ACTION FAILS Rejecting a claim by a widow of 58 that “an aged and infirm widower, apparently overcome by the glamour of her autumnal presence” had proposed marriage, Mr Justice Hilbery in the King’s Bench Division, London, dismissed with costs an action for breach of promise brought against a man of 68. Describing it as a ridiculous action, the Judge asked: “What earthly harm happens to a woman of 58 if in February, 1939, she meets a man to whom she becomes engaged in June, 1939, and the engagement is broken off in two months?” Grown-up Families Both the parties in this remarkable action have grown-up families. The widow, Mrs Constance Margaret West, of Westcliffe, has a son aged 33 and a daughter 31, and the widower, Mr Thomas Peter Taylor, of Southend, has three daughters, states the News of the World. Mr Taylor denied the promise of marriage. In his judgment Mr Justice Hilberry declared: “At the first meeting Mrs West must have observed that Mr Taylor had 68 years to his debit, obviously had declined mental powers, had rheumatism and physical infirmities. But he had a little house and some money, “I do not accept Mrs West’s evidence as satisfying me that Mr Taylor ever intended to make a contract of marriage with her, but I think she had every intention of getting a contract of marriage out of him if she could.” When Mr Lamb, defending counsel, suggested that Mr Taylor was something of an invalid, who needed a great deal of care, Mrs West retorted: "He was full of beans when I knew him.” Grey-haired Mr Taylor, who wore gold-rimmed spectacles, declared that he first met Mrs West when he gave up his seat to her in an hotel bar. He had never proposed marriage to her. He told her he was too much of a broken man to marry again. He denied that he had given Mrs West the ring which hed been produced in court, or that he had introduced her to anyone as his future wife.