SEQUEL TO A SEA-SIDE COURTSHIP.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 670, 5 May 1870, Page 4

SEQUEL TO A SEA-SIDE COURTSHIP.

In the Court of Queen's Bench the case of Dudley v. Grissellich was heard. Plaintiff was one of the illegitimate children of Lieutenant-Col. L. S. Dickson, through whom she brought the action, and defendant was a German. Plaintiff wa3 between 17 and 18, and defendant between 30 and 40. He made her acquaintance by " encountering her on the Brighton beach and pier in company with other young ladies." The effect of the "encountering " was that he became " enamoured," and, without any introduction, wrote to her, asking for an interview. His letters were answered, and a regular correspondence ensued. It would appear that the foreign gentleman spoke in a grand way of his prospects and his relations ; he was understood to have known archdukes in his own country^ and even to have had the honor of spending a night at our Cremorne in the company of no less a personage than the late Emperor Maximilian. It turned out afterwards, when he was being questioned with a view, to damages, that he had a small income dependent on the vicissitudes of the bead trade, and that his abode was in the district of Camberwell. In cross-examination, Colonel Dickson said : If previous to the atitumn of 1868 I should have had no objection to an eligible marriage. I told her in conversation that India would be a good place for. a young lady to go to with a view to matrimony. (Laughter.) I met the defendant after he first called at my house at the Adelpha Club. My daughter told him he had better join the club where he would be sure to find me.

He was told my daughter's position before he proposed. She has always been called Dudley, and the mother's name was frequently mentioned to defendant. Her mother died from the bursting of a bloodvessel. Mr D. Seymour : Has not the young lady had another alliance with a view of matrimony since? , LieutenantColonel Dickson : Yes. Mr D. Seymour : Where did that gentleman first meet the lady 1 Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson :It is very curious. She was staying at Brighton last September, where she had another ; offer. (Laughter.) It was not a good one, lam sorry to say, but a very bad one — he had no means. We thought it would have been completed, but the fact was the gentleman made so, many misstatements that it came to nothing. Mr Seymour : Where not the banns published? Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson : Yes. The defence was that plaintiffs mother and brother having died from consump- \ tion, plaintiff was liable to it, ' and that, therefore, defendant was justified at breaking off the match. Evidence was given to show that his income was not more than L2OO a year. The jury awarded the plaintiff LSOO. ;