AMUSING BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 3195, 17 May 1873, Page 3

AMUSING BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

In the Bail Court, the case of Pull v. Denne came up before Mr Justice Quain and a common jury. It was an action for breach of promise of marriage. Tho defendant pleaded the usual p'eas. Mr Cole, Q.C., and Mr Thomas wore counsel for the plaintiff; Mr Serjeant Ballantino aud Mr Murphy were counsel for the defendant. The parties became acquainted several years ago. The plaintiff was a dressmaker and tho daughter of a m ster builder. The defendant was formerly a grocer’s assistant, but now the proprietor of the establishment in New street, Covcnt Garden, which he had formerly managed. The parties first met in 1863. The defendant visited her at her father’s house, and a voluminous correspondence took place between them, extending over several years. The first read was described as the coolest of the whole, and that each subsequent letter increased in warmth of affection. It commenced, “Dear Nelly,” and asked her to excuse him for not commencing in tho usual orthodox fashion; but it concluded thus ‘‘M ay the pillow of peace kiss thy cheek—(laughter)— and the pleasure of imagination attend thy dreams, —(Loud laughter.) —With kindest love, ” &c. A le‘ ter dated Feb., 1868, was ro ferred to as showing that matters were getting warmer •—“The oftener I see you tho more I want you.—(Laughter.) Oh, how I long for your company, and hoar your own dear, sweet voice.—(Renewed laughter,) I can’t write more, becase I have to serve other members of society” (meaning, the learned counsel observed, the grocer’s shop). “With fondest love,” Ac. Another letter states, “ You have been so kind as to give ms one of the first sweets in the flowers of affection.” — Laughter.) Another, dated 31st March:— “My dearest Nelly—Give me your lovely lips and your darling heart as a fresh assurance of your love, my pr:cious angel. - (Roars of laughter.) Your fond, affectionate, and loving John.” Another contained the following “To the one I live, to the one I live for, to the one 1 would die for—if iequired. (Renewed Jaughler ) RJvor your aflbctvvtatc and dear John.’ l.!io next letter road commenced, “ My own darling—Do not think that you will tire me in writing. If you were to get a big box of pens, ton dozen bottles of ink, and a thousand quires of paper, you would not write to me more than I should be delighted to read.” (Roars of laughter.) The last letter read commenced, “My darling, fond, dcvo'eJ, aud affectionate Nelly-i sink happily to rest because to mcr r ow is Wednesday, and tomorrow will bring you. Sleep on, fair lady, and dream those dreams of universal happiness. No; they are not universal —they arc but like the Sabbath, that too quickly pass away.”—Mr Justice Quain Do you think it necessary to read any more of these amatory utterances ? -Mr Serjeant Ballantine : We say the promise was broken off in August, 1869,—Mr Cole said he did not read them to prove the promise. 'I he defence was, that they were not to marry until they were in good circumstances, and that the plaintiff voluntarily broke it off; but that he should reeet with the positive statement of the plaintiff that she was ready to wait until the defendant was in good circumstances, and tho best evidence that he was not ready aud willing and able to marry was, that he had recently married the daughter of his master, of whom he managed the business.—The plaintiff was called. She positively denied that she had released tho defendant from his promise to marry her ; she was .always ready and willing to marry him.—At the conclusion of the plaintiff’s case, the further hearing was adjourned.