ARE LOVER’S GIFTS TO BE RETURNED.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1072, 11 May 1882, Page 4

ARE LOVER’S GIFTS TO BE RETURNED.

This is a vexed and oft-debated question upon which many young persons will no doubt be glad to have a clear legal opinion. Mr Barstow, a Loudon magistrate, is the authority who decided in the negative when a case was put before him by a “ well-dressed, fashionable-looking woman ” recently Her daughter had been courted by a young man, who gave her several presents, such as an “ engaged ” ring a brooch, and other articles <jf jewellery, besides a few ornaments and articles of vertu. The day was fixed for their marriage, and the course of true love for once appeared to be running smoothly, when at a few hours’ notice everything was broken off, the reason assigned by the gentleman being that he had found his lady out in ■“ telling one small falsehood.” He wrote that though she might have meant it “ as a white lie,” he could never forgive or forget it, for if she would deceive him in one small matter .she would in larger ones. At the same time he demanded back the presents he had given her. The latter clause was the object of the mother’s visit to •Clerkenwell Police Court, as she had told her daughter not to return anything to “ the fellow,” and he threatened legal proceedings. Mr Barstow said nothing was considered freer than a gift, and the applicant’s daughter, ■so far as he was concerned, could keep the presents. If the young man ever ■came to him for a summons in relation thereto he should refuse to grant it, and he would have no legal remedy elsewhere. Whereupon mamma retired, evidently well pleased with the result of her inquiries. It is to he hoped that knowledge of the fact will not make lovers more chary in making presents.