BROKEN PROMISE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 497, 3 April 1933, Page 2

BROKEN PROMISE

CON STARLE'S LETTERS TO GIRL HE JILTED. TO PAY £101 DAMAGES. Love letters written by a young Metropolitan constable to a g.ijrl worker in a chocolate factory were read at Bri'stol Sheriff's Court when the man was ordered to pay damages for breach of promise. An action was brought by Miss Alice Maude Harding, of Staines, Middlesex, against Edward George Bateman, of Staines, Middlesex, it being stated that the couple had been engaged for two and a balf years, and had corresponded regularly. After Bateman left Bristol and joined the London polioe force, affairs proceeded as far as fixing the wedding, arranging for the hanns, and huying the furniture and ordering the wedding cake. In letters quoted, Bateman laddre'ssled Miss Harding as "My wonderful one," and wrote, "The few hours I spent with you were, marvellous 'and you were marvellous, wonderful . . Later he wrote letters which contained the pa'ssagies: "B'eloved, I have made up my mind to marry you soon if you will have me. . . . You have got me stone cold. I am madly in love with you." Changed Attitude. When his 'attitude changed he wrote, "Please do not call me love' •or 'dear' any more, Molly. I am a most unwilling bridegroom, iand shall not he happy, but I hope you will." Later he stated he did not love her, adding. "I realise if we married it would bie a tragedy. If I were a millionaire I would give you wealth in an attempt to repay." H asisured Miss\Harding of his kind. feeli^gsi for her, ihut declared: ""I can never love you. It would he a crime to marry you. Life would be a misery for iboth of us." Damages were fixed at £101 with costs, and judgment was entered ascordingly.