END OF A ROMANCE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 104, 26 January 1935, Page 18

END OF A ROMANCE

Breach of Promise and Damages

“Hello! I’ve called to get the ring back. I’ve got to give you up.” This remark was stated to • have ended a five years' romance and led to a breach of promise action being brought before the Manchester Under-Sheriff and a jury by Miss Doris Wakefield, aged 27, against Mr. Norman MacArtney, aged 32.

MacArtney, who was present in court did not contest any o£ Miss Wakefield’s statements, and after a few minutes’ absence the jury awarded her £125, including £25 special damages and costs. Counsel for Miss Wakefield stated that the couple i first met five years ago, when they were both members of the Raddon Tennis Club, Warrington. MacArtney, who had been educated at a public school in North Wales, and ■was employed in his father’s business, offered to take Miss Wakefield home on his motor-cycle one night, and from then onwards they became friendly. In May, 1930, she was introduced to his parents, who raised no objection to the friendship. In June, 1932, MacArtney asked Miss Wakefield to become engaged, and she agreed. The ring was bought, but MacArtney said he wanted to buy a house, furnish it and have £5OO in the bank before they were married. About Christmas, 1933, MacArtney told Miss Wakefield that he was not getting on well with his parents, and later he went to live at her mother’s 'home. He had all his meals there, and it as his real home. In the interval, continued counsel, a

Miss Ohrissie Dyson came to live with MacArtney’s parents, and on February 12 last MacArtney took Miss Wakefield’s mother aside and said his parents wanted him to give Miss Wakefield up. He then asked Miss Wakefield if she was still willing to marry him, and she said she was.

“MacArtney, in the meantime, had returned home,” proceeded counsel, “and on February 15 he sent word to say that he could not see Miss Wakefield that night as arranged, as lie had to ‘teach Ohrissie how to play cards.’ He made the same excuse on another occasion.

“Then, on February 16, MacArtney called on Miss Wakefield, put his head round the door, and called out, ‘Hello I I’ve called to get the ring back. I’ve got to give you up.’ ” Counsel submitted that MacArtney could not have displayed a more callous or abrupt attitude towards a stranger, far less to the young woman who had given him five of the best years of her life. “The culminating point came in June last,” concluded counsel, “when defendant married Miss Dyson, who has a private income of £2 a week.”

Miss Wakefield, in the witness box agreed that she was dumbfounded When MacArtney called for the ring. “I went upstairs,” she explained, “laydown on my bed, and sobbed for a. long time. Eventually I put the ring in the box and took it down to him, and I did not see him again.” Judgment as stated was entered for Miss Wakefield.