The Wooing of a Young Civil Servant.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4301, 13 October 1882, Page 2

The Wooing of a Young Civil Servant.

Wellington The Breach of Pbomise Case.

The following is the continuation of Miss Swiney's evidence :— She stated that on the 28th March last the defendant sent her a letter, in which be hinted that he was unable to satisfy himself as to the exact state of feeling toward her until he had seen her face again, to decide who should be bis lawful wedded wife. In the same letter defendant described his experiences at a recent "tea fight" be had attended. He said two certain young ladies (whose names were not mentioned in Court, out of consideration to the ladies in question, and also because, as Mr Shaw said, they were still od the warapath) had fought to decide which of them should sit next to him, while a third leaned over him at the back and a fourth hovered near him in front. He expressed a hope that she would not catch diphtheria, then prevalent in her neighborhood, because it would " go hard with her as she was far too fond of flesh meat, which made her liable to catch anything circulating in the air, and caused an inflammatory state of body easily pierced and made to suffer." (Loud laughter). Witnest denied that she was over partial to flesh meat. (Laughter.) Further correspondenoe ensued, and on the 24th March defendant wrote a letter in which Mr Leybourne stated he told her he had come across a volume called " Social Science," and gave her a resume* of the doctrines of social science- _ He also gave certain reasons why their marriage should be hastened. . Defendant subsequently sent a letter from Christchurch, in which he told her that yesterday he was visited by a lady, who gave him gome Scotch whisky—good, grand, glorious staff. (Laughter). He added that he had reason to thick that bad

he not been above the common class, poi> sessing good prospects, plaintiff would never have entertained him. At that time witness believ^dfaefendant got ten shillings per day as clerK in the Audit Office. She answered that letter from Palmerston North on the 11th April. In her com* munication, she told him of an incident she had lately experienced, in which a school' master and ex-clergyman wished her to become an "old man's darling," and asked if she were engaged ; she replied "slie was and she was not;" that she had an understanding with her lover and did not know exactly how she stood. Defendant wrote back on the 14th April. After receiving this letter she eaaie down to Wellington; she was determined to give him an opprotunity of seeing her face again, and then endeavored to ~ get him in the same frame of mind as formerly. He asked what she meant by coming there and annoying- him, and wished to know if she could not take "no" for an answer. She replied that after the letters he had written her it was impossible he could have taken such a sudden dislike to her for not having written for a fortnight. He conducted her home that night, promising to acquaint her with his intentions before parting. When they got to the door of her residence, defendant said " Now for the finale. Can I marrjr two women ?" Witness replied " No,'* and asked him if he were a married man< Defendant said he was;' he' had Tgot married in Christchurch to a tall, stout, auburn-haired lady, to whom he would introduce her when she came up to Wellington. Witness then gave him back a watch and chain he had presented her. '

Mr Shaw: That, of course, was to adorn the bosera of the fat, auburnhaired lady? (Loud laughter.)

.Plaintiff continued: She made an arrangement to meet him tlie next bight to receive back some presents,, she had given. When they met he asked her if she really though he was a married man, and added that he was no more a married man than she was. (Laughter.) He said he was going to a tea meeting that night in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association, and asked her to accompany him. She went. Before going he returned the watch and chain. His manner was very objectionab'e. They had buns, sandwiches and tarts together. (Laughter) There was not much opportunity for making lore there, bat they managed to have a sly glance or two at each other. (Renewed laughter) In the true love feast the believed the . gas was put out, but it was not out on this occasion. Going home they met defendant's mother in the street. He said to his mother, "You see it'takes me to do these things; I told you I would bring her round." That was on the 20th April, and "she saw him frequently during the next month. She was twenty-seven last September. On one occasion, a Saturday night, while, at his house, he became very angry with her for wiping up with a towel some hop beer he had spilled on the carpet. The towel would be worth about 2d or 3d. He said it was the most absurd thing hfr had ever seen. He recovered His temper, however, and saw her home. On the following Wednesday evening, they had an appointment for sevea o'clock. She was a little behind time, and he said it showed, she had not much respect for him when she kept him so long in the cold and rain. Subsequently, lie suggested she should go to Sydney to procure a husband. She imagined this was a joke, and answered him by another, saying she was sorry "she had not gone when the rush was on. Afterwards they met at the Tonic Sol Fa singing class,when he told her be-could not marry her this year. She replied that she was not in a hurry, and souli wait. He then said he would think it over, and write to her ; that if it bai not been for his position she would never have thought of him. The said position made no difference, she was not dazzled by his rank. Oa the 2bth June, not hearing from him she wrote making an appointment for that evening. He then told her "it was all over." He asked her to take his kind advice and get more religion into her, and, curb her temper. She replied" that even he was not perfection, and both could do with a little more religion if it came to that. The date of the marriage was fixed for the 7th September. Defendant pro« fe«sed to be a Good Templar: