VALET'S BROKEN VOWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7807, 11 September 1903, Page 3

VALET'S BROKEN VOWS.

AMUSING JSKEACH OF PROMISE SUIT. An amusing breach of promise case came before the London Sheriff's Comt lately far assessment of damages. The plaintiff was a good-looking young waistcoat mater named Marie Emily Bryant, who lives with her mother at 50, Upper Maiykbon c Street, and th© defendant Tacito Gfustava Agati, valet to a well-known gentleman in Partland Place. A remarkable feature of the case was the rapidity with which events moved. Ac- ; cording 'to Mr Ray, who appeared for the : ycning woman, the coupla became erigaged ' only in December last ; on March 12 Agati ; broke off the match, and in May Miss Bryi ant obtained judgment against him. The wedding day Mas fixed for early in April, and the valet wrote his sweetheart a number of affectionate letters, addressing ber''ati "My own dear JMai'ie," and signing himself " Yours for life, Tacito." In on» letter h& wiot^ : — '*' My own darling Maiie, — I intend to take, you out to see the new cathedral at Westminster. There is no haippier time than tho few moments I spend with you. Wh*» the days are longer I shall take you \ to Covent G-arden to see the beautiful flow- i ers there.' ... Think of me, my Marie ' — the man that love* you." In spite of his protestations of constancy ! the d«fendaat, said counsel, suddenly became- tfool, and in March he wrote as follows : — "It as impossible to live with cne amothex under the present crisis, for I can't see how we should be happy. At any rate, I don't feel that I could -with you realise my dream of life — a dream of happiness for ever. We have never been happy sinco I have known you, and so why should wo marry? Oh, iio ! Let us. forge fc every sucli : idea • and- I know your mother will be j happy now, for she has always cursed the sight of me. " I feel one thing, and that is that I havo always bean a. honest gentleman both with you and with everybody cl»e. . . .What good I have done for you' let it be forgotten. Nothing I wish' 'to 'have buck except my rings. . . . I do not wish to se>e you, j and I do not wush to discuss ajiy of this ■ very unfortunate thing, and from now I i close everything with tihk. I shuil not ye? : you to-night ; it would )je more than my s health can stand. I shall live abroad a.s ;. soon as I can. — Tacito. "P.S. — Never will I enter again in that unfortunate, -house t and I shall think this a J dream, amd a very bitter one." | Miss Bryant wus> called, a.nd said that she ' became a. Eomtin Catholic at the request ot the defendant. In cross-examination she said she had never tr-ld him she could earn enough to support them both. Sho had eaimed as much as £3 10s a week, but her average earnings were £2 10s a week. Mr Ray (to defendant's counsel) : Are you going to claim damages from the lady for not keeping your client ? Mies Bryant admitted wiiting a wild letter, commencing "My Tacito., in mercy's name come to me." In that letter she ' threatened 1 to kill horwlf. It was true that she was charged ;tt M;irlbor.>ugh Street with beating tiie d«f<»nd;uit'.s brother, and bound over for three months. It xras a fako charge. Mrs Bryant, mother of th> plaintiff, stated that the defendant called on her after breaking off the engagement, and f-aid. " Come and sit on my knee, mother, mud everj^hing will be all light " Coun-sel : Did you sit on his knee ? The Witness : Of course I did The jury assessed the damages at £25.