ECHO OF ENGAGEMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 8

ECHO OF ENGAGEMENT

MAN ASKS RETURN OF £lO SUM ALLEGEDLY FOUND TO OBTAIN DIVORCE DECREE. PLAINTIFF NON-SUITED. I Per Pres* Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH, March 9. The sequel to a broken engagement was heard in the Magistrate's Court this morning, when the man concerned, D. M. Carey, paper runner, of Christchurch, sued a woman, also of Christchurch, claiming £lO allegedly lent her in settlement of an account. In his statement, plaintiff set out that he claimed from the defendant £lO lent and advanced to her, and by her direction paid by him to Irwin and Irwin, of Dunedin, solicitors, in settlement of an account owing by defendant. Alternatively, plaintiff claimed to recover from defendant £lO lent and advanced to her, after an Engagement to marry, which had been entered into between the plaintiff and defendant, which engagement was later broken off by the defendant. Mr.,F. F. Reid heard the case and counsel were Mr. K. G. Archer for the plaintiff and Mr. A. R. Young for the defendant. Darcy Myers Carey, in evidence, said that Christie promised to marry him. She told him at the time that she was divorced, but did not have the decree absolute, but added that if he produced the money to get the decree absolute she would marry him. Accordingly, he paid the £lO necessary in April of last year. He kept company with her until last Show Day. “Three times preparations were made for a marriage,” witness added. “My people were all ready, but she turned us down flat. We had even gone as far as going to the Registrar and fixed the date and signed the papers. Miss Christie would not go with it, however. Each time the date was fixed, she was responsible for the marriage not going on.” Witness continued that Christie was friendly with another man, and it was decided to write to him. Part of the letter produced was in Christie’s writing and read: “I think it is time we had an immediate understanding.” The engagement was finally broken off when they had a disagreement on Show Day. As far as the marriage was concerned, he would have gone through with it on each of three occasions. “When Christie would not marry me, I asked for the money back,” Carey’s evidence concluded- “ However, she said that it was only a fleabite and refused to give the amount back.” After hearing the evidence the magistrate non-suited Carey. “Perhaps he is unfortunate, but on the other hand he may not be,” said Mr. Reid. “His experience may be cheap at £10.”