Breach of Promise Case.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 160, 18 June 1884, Page 2

Breach of Promise Case.

£l5O DAMAGES. [Per Pbess Association.] Dunedin, June 18. The breach of promise case, Fynmore v. Acton, occupied the Supreme Court all day. The plaintiff claims £750 damages. She is a widow, with eight children, formerly residing in Timaru, not in Dunedin. She states that Acton, who is a civil engineer, and formerly manager of Bruce’s flour mills, but now in Dunedin, used to visit her frequently in Timaru, and made certain proposals. She asked him if he meant marriage. He said he did, and as the result of their intimacy an infant was born in April, 1883. She now knew that defendant was a married man, but did not know it until she instituted proceedings. The defendant denied that he had ever promised plaintiff marriage, and he denied the paternity of the child. He had told plaintiff he was a married man. He used to visit plaintiff in Timaru, but it was because he found plaintiff’s daughter Edith a very engaging girl. He had never contributed to the infant’s support, but he had given plaintiff £5 to bury her child, and to help her out of her difficulties. The jury could not agree in the case, and a verdict of threefourths was accepted. Damages were given to the amount of £250.