A BUSINESS BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1904, 15 June 1892, Page 6

A BUSINESS BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

In the Queen's Bench Division on March 3, before Mr Justice Mathew and a common jury, the case of Oliver v. Warren waß tried. It was an action for breach of promise of marriage. The defendant denied the promise.

Miss Oliver, a rather stout lady of fair complexion, said she lived in Wellington road, St. John's Wood, and had private means and a house of her own. The defendant called upon her and said that, though he was very comfortable at home, it was not like having a partner. He said he had a nice home, and asked her to share it with him. He invited her to his house, and introduced her to his son and daughter. When she said she would like to go to America he said " You shall go, but you will be Mrs Warren before then, and that will bs our honeymoon time." She went to the Adelphi with him to ' The English Roae.' When she spoke of bis coolness he said " Nonsense ; it is only fancy."

Did he ever kiss you?— He sealed the promise with a kiss.

Examination continued : She went to see defendant's present wife before they were married to tell her how she had been treated, thinking he might treat her in the same way or worse.

Cross-examined by Mr Dodd : I never received any letters from defendant, but I wrote to him once when I was in the country He did not reply.

When he made the promise he did not go down on his knees ? — No.

Perhaps they drop that kind of thing nowadays? —He was very affectionate. — (Laughter.)

He had been having some brandy and water ?— He is a teetotaller ; he had nothing but coffee.

Then what happened after the coffee ?—? — He said he was going to America in the spring, and I said I should like to go. He said : " You will be Mrs Warren before then, and it will be our honeymoon, dear,"

What did you say?— l said I was perfectly willing.

To go to America?— No ; certainly not. — (Laughter.)

You were willing to go for the sake of the gentleman ? — No ; for the sake of being married, — (Laughter, )

When marriage was talked of in the presence of others it was all in chaff ? — Some of it was.

The bedding the defendant gave to you was a very substantial present — was there anything beyond that? — He had my watcb repaired. — (Laughter.) He never gave me any money or trinkets.

Re-examined : When he said he was very comfortable at home was that before or after his second marriage ? — Oh, before — (Laughter.)

Mr Wright said the defendant observed to him " Miss Oliver is a jolly woman." He added : "I am very comfortable with my children at home, but I want a partner." He replied: "The best thing you could do is to take a partner, and I think Miss Oliver would make a very good wife."

Cross-examined : Did he say " Hem " ? — Oh, yes ; or something of that kind. — (Laughter.) The jury, after a brief deliberation in the box, found a verdict for the plaintiff for L 75.