Breach of Promise Case.

Manawatu Herald, 11 March 1902, Page 3

Breach of Promise Case.

V** A breach of promise case wherein Well-known residents and large landowners in the Molong district figured as principals was before the Sydney Court on March 7th. Richard Young Cousins sued Mary Louisa McNevin (now Mrs Barr, at present in England) for £SOOO damages for breach of promise. Plaintiff’s ease was that he became formally engaged in March, 1891, and arrangements were made to be married in Sydney, prior to which a document was executed to be signed immediately after the marriage, settling a quarter of defendant’s estate, which is valued at £50,000, on plaintiff. Defendant came to Sydney * shortly before the date of the marriage and plaintiff followed. Bridal dresses and presents were purchased, and everything was got ready for the wedding. The priest came from Molong to perform the ceremony, and a steamer ticket was purchased for the honeymoon trip to England. The night prior to the date of the wedding, defendant came to him, and put her arms round his neck, and said the wedding was not to come off. She gave no reason, excepting she wanted to go away for a month, and if she did not marry then, would give him a start with ; land. Subsequently she left for j Queensland, from where she wrote that after due consideration she had decided^ they had better part. Her feelings towards him were not such as she ought to have to pass their lives together, and she expressed sorrow things had gone so far. On July 26th, she married Barr. Documentary and other evidence was produced to prove the engagement. Plaintiff said ha spent £2OO in preparing for the marriage. Defendant, through her counsel, denied I any agreement, and that before the | alleged breach of contract plaintiff had exonerated her from the performance of the agreement. The jury awarded the plaintiff £l6O damages.