Breach of Promise.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18229, 17 January 1931, Page 12 (Supplement)

Breach of Promise.

LOVER RUNS AWAY.

DISAPPEARANCE A WEEK BEFORE

WEDDING DAY.

Twice Jilted, the second time within six days or 'her proposed wedding, a young woman sued her former sweetheart for damages'for breach of promise of marriage in the King’s Bench Division, London, before Mr Justice Acton and a jury. During the hearing a remarkable letter was read. It was written by defendant, Mr William Dix, 42, waterworks labourer, of Portsmouth Road, Surbiton, to plaintiff, Miss Edith Rose Thurley, 31, of Ham Common, Surrey. Mr H. M. Abrahams, the Cambridge Blue, who was counsel for Miss Thurley, told the Jury that his client met Mr Dix first in January, 1925. They became very friendly, and.be came to lodge with her-parents. In December, 1928, they became engaged to be married, and all went well until one morning, when Miss Thurley went, to call Mr Dix, she found he had vanished. She saw him later, and he informed her that he simply could not come back. Miss Thurley saw no more of Mr Dix until April, 1929, when he met 1 her and remarked that he wished he 1 had not run away from her. She saw very little of him, however, until September, 1929, when he wrote her a letter as follows: —“Dear Edie, —I expect you will be surprised to get this letter from me, but I am asking you to answer this for your o\vn sake. It is with regard to the will I have left in your favour, and I am asking you to give me an appointment one evening, as I want to talk to you about it.” They met, became engaged again, and the wedding was fixed for December 21, 1929. The banns 1 were published, the bridesmaids and best man were I selected, and i Carriages Were Ordered for the wedding. Six days before the wedding, however, Mr Dix again went off without saying a word. When, in the end, she found him, she asked, “ What are you going to do about our wedding next Saturday?” and he replied, “ I am not going to get married yet. I have cancelled everything." Miss Thurley, a pleasant-looking young woman, corroborated her counj sel’s opening statement. “ lie could not tell us why he left the first time,’’ j she remarked, “but lie assured me he | was quite free, and would marry me i because he intended to settle down | and not go away again.” I Miss Thurley produced the "ring, ! which she handed lo the judge, who I observed, “ I am sure you won't mind : me seeing it ?” i Miss Thurley: “j have Ihe wedding ring here, Loo.” Miss Thurley added Hull she went lo see about Ihe publication of Ihe banns, and made all Ihe oilier weddinc • ari'aiiu'ements at .Mr

Dix’s request. She bought the Wedding cake, and ordered flowers, spent £2 17s Gd on the wedding breakfast, and altogether incurred expenses amounting to £3O. Cross-examined by Mr T. A. Brown, for the defence, Miss Thurley admitted that she did not know that Mr Dix was a labourer, and only earned £2’7s lid per week. She agreed to pay 25s for the flowers for the wedding. Of course, the wedding -breakfast was afterwards consumed by herself and the family: She did not know Mr Dix was in debt. Judge: If he promised to marry the girl, he should have thought of that before. I Mr Brown: As soon as he is free of debt he is willing to marry. Mr Brown then asked Miss Thurley whether she inquired of Mi Dix what his wages were and she replied, tartly, “ No, it Was Not My Business. I had a home, and if he could not have supported me I would have helped him:” Mr Dix, in the witness-box, admitted promising to marry Miss Thurley. Mr Abrahams: You are not married? Mr Dix: No. Mr Abrahams: Then why did yo’ write the following letter to Mis Thurley?: I have tried to tell you, hi e not found the courage to tell you that I am a married man. I got married about eight years ago and the girl went away and left me after about four weeks of it, and the last I heard of her she was dead —about seven years ago. But I met her last Saturday face to face trying to find out if I was married to trap me. I know I am going to upset you all again, but it is best. 1 shall never be happy again. It is enough to drive me mad. I tnought the best thing to do was to clear out. Well, dear, 1 am to blame for not telling you before. I do hope you will not be upset. I have never wished it, dear, and I always loved you. I could not hurt your feelings when I was near you. I do hope you will not take jt too much to neart: do try to forgive me, dear,. —From your broken-hearted sweetheart, Will. Mr Dix admitted that the letter was all lies. Judge: Have you ever tried to augment your income by writing fiction? Mr Dix explained LnaL he wrote the letter because Miss Thurley had listened to otner people’s tales, that he was married. So he thought he would tell her that he was married. Mr Abrahams: Why did you go away jusl before the wedding? Mr Dix: I did not find a enance to go before. The jury awarded Miss Thurley £SO damages, and judgment was entered accord.ngly whh costs.