Amusing Breach of Promise Case.

Hastings Standard, Issue 126, 21 September 1896, Page 4

Amusing Breach of Promise Case.

At the Herefordshire Assizes, Mr Justice Hawkins and a jury were occupied for some time in bearing an amusing breach of promise case. The action was brought by a widow, Jane Elizabeth Challen, of Oxford-street Gloucester, and the defendant was a widower named Thos. Brewer, a fanner, of Tyberton, Gloucester. The plaintiff's statement was that she knew the defendant slightly in 1889, but did not make his acquaintance until 1892, when he met her in a shop, and, seeing that she was wearing widow's weeds, asked if her husband was dead. To this she replied. " I am sorry to say he is," and he then said, " I will come and see you." She did not give him her address, but afterwards he said, " I have got your address and shall come j up to see you." She saw him in Gloucester once or twice, and then after the Gloucester Festival he came up to her house, stayed an hour and a half, and asked her to be his wife. She told him she could not give him an answer until Saturday. On the Saturday, when he came again, she promised to be his w T ife, and everything was settled. He said, " X am true and honourable with you. Be my wife and I will be true and honorable ; " and she said, " I will." They were to be married in three months from that time. In calling afterwards Mr Brewer never missed a week. Plaintiff's husband then had, been dead nine months. The defendant objected to her wearing widow's weeds, and she then left them off, and had a grey dress made. She also had a silver-grey dress mada for the wedding, and he had a light pair of trousers, saying that they would match. (Laughter.) During his visits he asked her to make some milking-apron3, &c., for him, which she did. She also made him a pair of garters, and at Christmas time he asked her to make him some plum-puddings. She made nine. (Laughter.) He had a large family. He bought the flour and suet, and she found fire, basins, cloths, and trouble. (Laughter.) He had his photograph taken, and gave her two copies. She also give him a photograph of herself, showing the dress she had when she went out of mourning. In cross-examination by Mr Darling, the plaintiff admitted that she sent the following letter to the defendant:—"lst June, 1896, —Sir, I request the pudding basin returned to me ; also the bill as below : —Mrs Sherman, Is ; half a peck of flour, Is; three milking-aprons, Bs lQd; pudding cloths, Is ; paid for making shirts, Is 3d. Now, I have not charged you for firing, nor for teas and suppers and sundry other things for twelve months. If this is not paid within a week I shall commence proceedings for action. You have no manly act in you." (Loud laughter.) She also admitted sending this bill:—"Bill delivered, 8s; September, 1892 to October, 1893, for one hundred teas, at 6d each, £2 10s ; thirty suppers, beer, and whisky, £ 1 10s 6d; and eight pudding basins at G£d, 4a 4d." (Loud laughter.) When she sent biiu that bill £e said

he would speak to the exciseman about her selling beer and spirits without a license. Mr Darling: During that time were you supplying him with meals for which you were charging him, or were you and he love-making ? The plaintiff: Love-making (laughter). Then why did you charge him for his meals ? Because he never turned up afterwards. The Judge: It was a case of love in the pudding basin. (Laughter.) Mr Darling: Then on •June 10, did you write a letter in which you said : —You have not paid me for the beer or spirits, so you cannot go to the Excise officer. The fluted pudding basin I shall have returned back with love." (Loud laughter.) Mr James : No, no, Mr Darling; there is a stop after the word " back," and it goes on, "With love I am the same." (Renewed laughter.) The defendant said he asked the plaintiff to make different things for him, but he paid her for what she did, and he never thought of marrying her. The jury, without hesitation, found a verdict for the defendant, the plaintiff to pay all costs.