A CLEVER WOMAN AND A FOOL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2379, 8 February 1915, Page 5

A CLEVER WOMAN AND A FOOL

SEQUEL TO AN ENGAGEMENT. , (Br Telegraph.—Press Assooiatkoi.) Auckland, February 6. • At the Court, Ernest Maltravors sued Sarah Jane Day, a Widow, for £100, which he alleged he lent her to pay off. a mortgage on one of two houses owned by her. The money, he alleged, was to. be a free gift if they married; if not, the money was to be repaid. without interest. Maltravors stated in his evidence that he met'defendant on the waterfront, after which they kept-company. She told him ehe was a single woman, and employed as a hoji&ekeepor at Parnell. When he visited the house at Parnell he heard hor call a man she was keeping house, for "Charlie," to which no objected. She began to cool off, and finally broke off the engagement, • and went to Wellington. He denied having ever threatened defendant with a revolver. Defendant denied that the money was a loan; it was a free gift, and when she received it there was no question of marriage. There had been no date fixed for a marriage. Plaintiff came to the, house unexpectedly and asked her to marry him at once, as it would be cheaper. She refused, and he threatened her with a' revolver. Mr. Kettle, S.M., said plaintiff's testimony was the more reasonable of the two. Defendant' was evidently a clever woman and the man was a fool. The money was a payment to her, to become a gift if a marriage took place. 'Che marriage had not eventuated, therefore the gift was not complete, and the money must be returned. Judgment was for plaintiff for £100 and costs' (£9 45.). , . '