CURIOUS BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1987, 18 May 1875, Page 4

CURIOUS BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

In the Sheriffs Court in London, an action for breach of promise of marriage, presenting some very peculiar features, came before Mr Sheriff Burchell and a jury on March 4th. It was an action in the Queen's Bench, by Bosina "Wormleighton against William Aah, for breach of; promise of marriage in which the damages were laid at £1,000. There was no plea,' and the case came before the Court on the amount to be awarded. There were witnesses on both sides, and from the peculiar features it occupied nearly'the whole day. Both plaintiff and defendant are Eoman Catholics; the defendant, it was stated, had become a convert about two years ago. In September last he became an inmate of a boarding-house at 27, Ovingtonsqmare, Brompton, kept by the aunt of Miss Wormleighton. The plaintiff said she was 85, and the defendant 44, and they Became acquainted. At the end of the month he went to _ Paris and they corresponded. The plaintiff had advised him to marry, as he said he was dull, and he had told her he had about £290 a year. In one of the letters she sent him, she said, " some unsophisticated love, of which he was to drink freely," as it was the best .medicine for his heart, and he sent her an offer of marriage, which she accepted, and in an.,epistle he called her his " Eose," as the Queen of Maidens, as the . rose was the Queen of Flowers. On his re- .. turn in December they met as accepted lovers and arrangements wert made for the wedding. Some £50 had been expended ; on dresses, Ac, but no day was fixed. > The plaintiff was introduced to the defen- i dant's sister, Miss Ash, and when she heard of the intended marriage she was surprised, and by her wish the defendant saw Dr Johnson and Dr Buckland, who ■ had attended him for aberration of intel-r

lect, and he was advised not to marry. The defendant left the house on the 4th *; of January? and the 3 'writ of the present action was served on the following day. On the part of the defendant it was alleged that the plaintiff had hastened on the affair and had. made love to him. The defendant was examined,' and described Ms illness. . He imagined, he said, that the plaintiff wanted to marry him, and he did not think that she had lost much by not marrying him. He had, after seeing hia sister, consulted several medical gentlemen, and they strongly'advised him not to marry, though he was attached to her and fully intended to marry. The jury assessed damage* at £600. Execution was stayed to apply to the Court of Queen's Bench.