BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1164, 22 April 1872, Page 2

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

A case of this description Was heard list week before the Supreme Court, Dunecfin. It was an action brought by Elizabeth Feeney against John Richardson, for his having failed to fulfil his promise to marry her within a reasonable time. The damages were laid at L 250. Mr Edward Cook-far the plaintiff. The case was undefended. From the declaration it appeared that on the 14th June last year the plaintiff sued the defendant by her solicitor, Bfr M'Keay, when he promised to marry her within a reasonable time. Sufficient time had elapsed, and as he refused to marry her, she claimed to recover L 250 as compensation. The defendant is a master mariner, according to the evidence of Mr M'Keay, receiving Ll2 per month, and the plaintiff is an immigrant from Ireland, twentyseven, years of age, who since her arrival in Otago has been in domestic service, and bears a very respectable character. The defendant's letters were read, some of them dating as far back aa~MaTch 3rd, 1869. They, .were very c uninteresting, and were merely useful as. evidence to show that the defendant had -agreed to marry the plaintiff, and that up to£tb.e 25th August, 1871, he had not abandoned the intention. The evidence of Mary Kerrington and Hannah Francis were taken in confirmation of 'the -promise to marry. His Honor addressed the jury, and pointed out that, as the defendant had not put in an answer to the charge, their duty was merely to assess damages, in doing which they must be guided by the common rule of law to give them in proportion to the circumstances pf the defendant, so as not to be ' absolutely ruinous. The plaintiff had" been gaining her living by honest labor, : was very respectable, and was. entitled to consideration at the hands of the. jury. After consulting together a short time, the jury* returned a verdict— damages, LSO.