BREACH OF PROMISE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1929, Page 2

BREACH OF PROMISE

PROLIFIC LOVE LETTERS. \ A JUDGE’S COMMENT. LONDON, June 24. Mr Justice Swift in the King’s Bench Division yesterday heard a breach of promise action in which it was stated that there were about 33,000 words in the letters written to a young woman by a young man. “Somebody has been engaged on a gruesome "task,” was Mr Justice Swift’s comment on hearing this. The girl was Miss Wilhclmina Trebesiner, aged 22, a milliner, of Briardale, Shirehall Lane, Hendon, N.W., She sued Mr Adolph William Hart, aged 21, of, Golders Green Road, Golder’s Green, N.W., who is employed by a firm of musical instrument manufae turers.

Mr J. N. Emery (for Miss Trebesiner) said Mr Hart did not deny promising to many Miss Trebesiner before he was 21, but disputed that the promise had been renewed after he had reached that age. Miss Trebesiner and Mr Hart first met at a dance early in 1926 and letters since then showed that Miss Trebesiner was accepted by Mr Hart’s relatives and friends as his future wife. In August 1926 Mr Hart wrote: “ I am longing for two years to pass quickly, then after one year’s engagement we will get married. I will love you for ever.” Another letter from Mr Hart ended with “ all my burning love and kisses.” Mr Emery said that Mr Hart had written no letters to Miss Trebesiner after he was 21, but after a visit to the pictures he told her that he Would marry her soon.

FOR THE BOTTOM DRAWER. Miss Trebesiner, who has fair bobbed hair, stated in evidence that when Mr Hart was 21 on September 25 last year she gave him a gold wrist watch. He gave her a present when she was 21, and Mrs Hart gave her a breakfast service saying, “ That will do for your bottom drawer when v you marry Adolpn.” Mr J. O. Maude (for Mr Hart): Do you know that there are about 33,000 words in the letters he has written to you? Mr Justice Swift: Somebody has been engaged on a gruesome task. (Laughter.) Miss Trebesiner said that on October 5 last year there was a meeting in the Green Park and Mr Hart told her that he had been thinking that it would be for their mutual benefit if they did not get married. /'

BAD TEMPER. She denied that she was quarrelsome. Mr Maude: Did you say after the Green Park meeting that you would like to smash his face in?—l said I would like to smack his face. I did not; but he thought I was going to and backed away. (Laughter.) Mr Maude said he was trying to show that Miss Trebesiner was bad tempered. Bad temper, he said, Was not justification for breaking a promise of marriage, but it might minimise any damages. Mr Justice Swift: But it may increase the damages. When a badtempered woman becomes engaged she suffers more than a good-tempered woman when the engagement is broken, because she is not likely to find husband. (Laughter.) Miss Trebesiner said that Mr Hart was so persistent in his attentions that her mother used to go. to bed so that she would hot see him. (Laughter.) Mr Maude: Did not Mr Hart complain of you making eyes at other young men?—He did a long time ago. He was very jealous. Mr Justice Swift: This seems to have been a very ordinary sort of courtship. (Laughter.) Miss Trebesiner said that Mr Hart talked of marriage practically every day.

OMNIBUS-TOP KISS.

Mr Justice Swift: He would probably say, using the language of the modern old bean, I am 21 we will soon be married.” (Laughter.) Mr Maude: Did Mr Hart’s aunt tell you that if you had not been so severe and allowed him to see his boy friends the engagement would not have been broken off? Mr Justice Swift: I thought that came after marriage. (Laughter.) Mr Adolph Hart stated in evidence that he was employed by a firm of musical instrument manufacturers and was earning £2 5s a week. • There were frequent quarrels between himself and Miss Trebesiner mainly caused by Miss Trebesiner’s jealous and suspicious nature. Mr Maude: Were you happy when on holiday together at Torquay P—Fairly happy, naturally. We were on holiday. Mr Hart added that they quarrelled a good deal during the second week of their holiday. The quarrels never really, healed. Mr Hart, describing a meeting on a London omnibus, said: “She sat down beside me and I gave her an affectionate ‘ peck.’ •” (Laughter.) Mr Justice Swift : Can you kiss a girl on top of a bus?—Yes. Cross-examined by Mr Emery for Miss Trebesiner, Mr Hart said that he did not kiss Miss Trebesiner after their quarrel during the second week of their holiday at Torquay. They camo back to London on his motor-cycle.

DEGREES OF LOVE. Mr Justice Swift: There must have been some stops on the way to London. Didn’t you kiss her then?—No. Just imagine coming all the way from Torquay by road and not kissing the girl to whom you are engaged! No wonder she was cross! (Laughter.) Later Mr Justice Swift remarked: There are degrees of love. Sometimes people are very ardent and they cool off. A holiday is a very cooling thing. Mr Hart was questioned by Mr Emery about his business. Mr Justice Swift: Do you demonstrate the musical instruments?—Yes sometimes. Mr Justice Swift: Perhaps she is better off than she thinks. (Laughter.) -ne hearing was adjourned. ,