BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 636, 25 January 1872, Page 2

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

A sheriff's jury was empannelled at the County Hall, Winchester, recently, before Mr Under-Sheriff Coxwell, to hear and determine the case Roberts v. Dunn, which was an action brought by Miss Liicy Roberts, of Basingstoke, Hampshire, against the defendant, Alfred Dunn, of the same town, to recover damages by reason of his making default in marrying her. The plaintiff's case was conducted by Mr Lewis, and Mr Rolland, special pleader, of the northern circuit, appeared for defendant, whose absence was stated to be caused by illness. The facts of fcho case appeared to be as follows :—The plaintiff, who assisted her mother ia carrying on business as a milliner at Baskingstoke, was at some athletic sports held in that town on the Bth of September last year, and, being of prepossesing appearance, attracted the notice of defendant, a large tea-dealer, who followed her about, and a few days afterwards was introduced*, to her at her uncle's, when he proposed W engagement, and said he should likM'to marry her. He told her that he knew (of her engagement with Mr Taylor, of tike same locality, saying that he was "'a great radical, unworthy of her." She told him that she engaged to Taylor, and could not break off that engagement; bufc subsequently, when she met him, he renewed his proposals, and told her his profits in bnsiness amounted to £500 a year. The lady appears to have dallied, but saying^ "she would ne'er consent, consented "to become his wife. Frequent visits followed, and some very amatory

letters. Defendant, it appeared, wished the match to be broken off, and suggested to plaintiff that she might make it up with and marry Taylor. This she refused to do, and held defendant to his engagament. He subsequently deserted her, Hence the present action. It would not be denied that the promise to marry had been made by defendant, but the substantial defence was that he was without means. Altogether the engagement lasted about six montjas, plaintiff being at the present timrt^vTenty-one years of age. The sum of £40 had been offered by defendant's brother to compromise the matter. At the conclusion of thr case, the jury deliberated about ten minutes, and then gave a verdict for the plaintiff, with £250 damages. ________

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