FARMER’S LETTERS IN COURT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2086, 22 May 1907, Page 1

FARMER’S LETTERS IN COURT

NICODEMUS THE RIVAL.

. There was a good deal of laughter at the Leeds Assizes during the hearing of a breach of promise case. Tho plaintiff was Miss Margaret Hall, of Hems worth, and l the defendant, John ■Theaker, of Bullensliaw Hall Farm, in the same district.

The parties were about the same age, and after a four months’ courtship they, in May last, engaged to marry. Plaintiff, said counsel, went to the Riviera Hotel, at Maidenhead, as a waiting-maid. He asked her to leave behind her a ring, so that he might get the size of her finger. Tlio girl went to Maidenhead, and defendant was thrown back upon the very cool method of love-making through the medium of the post-office. His first communication was a postcard, “From your, ever true lover, Tommy,” apd it' was covered with crosses, denoting kisses. Soon, however, he wrote her a more pretentious letter. His missives were a little bucolic here and there, added counsel. In,one of these .communications defendant said:—

“I wish you were a little nearer to me. Mother and I ci ied ivlien wo received your wire. ■ They say that .“Absence makes the heart, grow fonder,” but it can’t make mine fonder. I shall always keep my promise. I shall be true to you to the very last, as I want you, love, and nothing shall part us. You are the only one for me in this world. “I shall always be the same to you as I was before you left me all alone. I hope the time will soon pass for us when we shall lie able to clasp one another as we used to do in the old corner chair. It will get cold without us, love.” With 15 or 20 crosses in the next letter the defendant taid

CRYING FOR LOVE,

“I only wish I could place one or two kisses on your swept smiling face.

which would, remind me of the old corner of the room. ‘ I shall never change, as I never cared for anyone so much as I do you. I think the world of you, and shall do to the very last. I have cried hours about you when I have been lying in bed and thinking of you. Oh, my love, I shall have to come over to see you before long, or I shall die heartbrpken.tt

As if the letter was hot' warm enough, remarked counsel, the defendant appeared to have held it to the fire and scorched it. (Laughter.) Counsel read other letters of a similar kind, in one of which the defendant said, “I would do anything for you. 1 would even (lie for you, love.”

Then the defendant, added counsel, met in the village, another lady, who was a dressmaker,' and began to keep her company, and ignored the plaintiff altogether. She wrote him letters asking what had happened, and got no reply. In August the defendant sent the “Mizpah” ring back to the girl. He was married in the registry office at Wakefield on December 16.

The plaintiff then went into the box, and stated that she was 26 years of age. She had known the defendant- for some years. His father fanned some of the best farms in the district. The defendant promised to marry her on her 26th birthday. She wrote three letters, asking for an explanation after the return of the ring, but received no answer. She never wrote breaking off the engagement. - Mr. Mellor cress-examined the plaintiff about a young man named Nicodenius, who was called “Nick, for short.”, She was also closely questioned respecting having been photographed with a waiter at one of her situations.- She refused fo marry Nicodemus, Jo,lin iTqeaker, the defendant, denied that lie was engaged to plaintiff, but- admitted that in a letter he had promised to marry her. Plaintiff was awarded £4(l.