CURIOUS BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 478, 27 November 1869, Page 3

CURIOUS BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

In the Glasgow Small Debts Court, Mary M'Nicol, a blooming damsel of something over twenty summers, sued a youug and extremely pleasing-looking young swain, rejoic ing in the name of Paul Mullan, a labourer, hailing from the interesting village of Cam lachie, for having failed to fulfil his promise of marriage. The following is a copy of the account served on the " false and fickle" Mullan : — " Mr Paul Mullan to Mary M'Nicol. 1868, Nov. 14.— T0 breach of promise of marriage, you having engaged the pursuer in marriage and caused the banns to be pro claimed in the Carlton parish of Glasgow, afterwards declined to marry her, and still declined to marry her. Damages, £10 10s." Sheriff Murray (to defender) : Is thia true, Paul ? Defender (who s*~oke with a strong Irish accent) : No, yer honour ; I deny the charge entirely. (Laughter.) The sheriff : But I want to know distinctly about the matter. There are two things here. Firsts you engaged to marry pursuer , and second, that you broke it off. Did you engage to marry Mary M'Nicol? Laughter.) Defender : Ay course, I engaged to marry her. (Laughter.) The sheriff : And did you break it off? Defender: No, sur; it was hur. (Laughter.) The sheriff: Then you mean to say you are still willing to marry her ? Defender : Ay course ; but I don't know whether she is willing or no. (Loud laughter.) The sheriff (to the pursuer) : What do you ssy to this? Will you have him still ? (Laughter.) Ihe pursuer hung her head and blushed, but made no reply. Ihe sheriff: I think the best plan is to continue the case until we see whether you don't agree again. So far as I can see, you may come to an amicable settlement, especially seeing that the banns have been proclaimed. Defender: Well, yer honor, it was the time of Advent that the marriage should have taken place, and I couldn't do it then, but I offered to go back again. (Laughter.) The sheriff: You say it was in consequence of these religious ceren-onies that you were prevented from carrying out your promise ? Defender: Yes, t^r. The sheriff : Well, then, see and have matters satisfactorily arranged. (Laughter.) Defender : Thank you, sur. The defender then left the court, but the fair pursuer was not persuaded to accompany him.