A Breach of Promise Case.

Manawatu Herald, 12 July 1902, Page 2

A Breach of Promise Case.

. ; A WIDOW CLAIMS £soa:

The patties in a breach of promise . case on June 30 at the County Melbourne, were a widow--named Emily Leeds, of West Melbourne, who claimed £SOO damages from a widower named John Greenwood, of Abbotsfort gentleman. Plaintiff gave bet age as 55, and defendant. bis at 64. Both had grown-yp daughters. The widow said that she met Green* wood in a train going to Sydney in July last year. When all the passengers got out at Moss Vale for refreshments, they were left alone, and the stranger , opened conversation with her upon being asked to share some. 1 tea she had in: a j ng. The acquaintance - ripened, and at Redfern station plaintiff and her motherdn-law helped defendant to obtain lodgings. He used to have breakfast at the latter’s house nearly every day. Returning to Melbourne a a few weeks later, the pair met again' and Greenwood proposed marriage, which was accepted. He said he -had 16 houses, and would- comfortably keep her. They went together..one Sunday to the Sailors’ Horae Mission, where defendant was organist, but his daughters, finding out that plaintiff was a Wesleyan, preferred "'that ha should marry a lady of his own church although plaintiff agreed to join the mission. Defendan tin November last finally said he would not marry, Cross-examined, Mrs Leeds said her husband had been dead three years. Were you going to marry Greenwood for love, or bis 16 Cottages ? I felt as lonely as he did. Were you food of him ?—-I had hardly time to get fond of him. Well, where do your injured feelings come in ?—He made a fool of me in the eyes of my relatives. Defendant denied having proposed marriage. He became acquainted, with the plaintiff in the manner described, and on one occasion, when she was ill, visited her at her house., While there she asked him if hts . thought he would ever get married again. He replied, "I have turned 70.” ‘Plaintiff added, “ I don’t think you are too old. My late- husband , was much older.” She frequently '' asked him to take her for a. driyq,,,^