SINGUUR BREACH OF PROMISE SUIT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2103, 8 April 1889, Page 3

SINGUUR BREACH OF PROMISE SUIT.

1 The London correspondent of an Irish paper says we are promised a breach of promise caee with some elements of freshness m it. The principals live m the cider shire, where the defendant owns a property. He is<s young gentleman of good family. In 1883 he became attaohed to plaintiff— one of the many daughters of a church dignitary. He made bis offer, and was accepted. The wedding day was appointed, but, before the date was reaohed, the bridegroom elect got a bad spill from the saddle m the hunting field. He was laid up a long time, and when he was able to go about again the doctors ordered him a long sea voyage. He was away nearly two year?, spending a good deal of time m one of the colonies. Some time before his return an extraordinary ohange appeared m the character of Us letters to the girl he left behind him; They were written m such rambling and extravagant terms as to suggest decided weakness of mind, The defendant returned' to Devonshire and home about 18 months ago. He presented himßelf m a tattered drees, which ho said he had worn m the bush. He persisted m wearIng this garb, and showed a distressing change for the wowo m his manner. He invited his ladylove, her family, and other of b!s acquaintance to a garden party m last May. Ho received them m a suit of chain mail, and the guests found tbemselyes m the compauy of a policeman from the village, a postmaD, the estate laborers aod their families, and others. Music was supplied by an organ-grinder, hired for the occasion. The amusement was a series of wheelbarrow raoap, with the ladies of lower degree seated m the vehicles, and before the respectabilities retired, their host, lifting his vizor, announced bis intention to keep house- m this good fashion of bringing the poor and their betters together ip social union. His conduot became «o glaring that the young ledy's parents, after obtaining medic*) opinion to the effect that the ancient hurt must have permanently affected the young gentleman's head, wrote withdrawing their consent to the marriage m the interests of their daughter's happiness, The letter was acknowledged In curt, but perfectly collected, terms. Tho vagaries and absurdities of the defendant ceased forthwith, he resumed his natural habits and ulteranca, and when last Octobor a lady whom ho had married m Australia arrived on the scene nobody could doubt the perEect sanity with which he introduced •■ her as his wife. The claim for damages is based on the plea that defendant obtained his release from the engagement by false pretences.