BREACH OF PROMISE-MAY AND DECEMBER:

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 10, 23 June 1864, Page 3

BREACH OF PROMISE-MA Y AND DECEMBER:

At the 'Warwick Assizes, recently, a trial for breach of promiso was heard' before Mr. Ju.sLico Blackburn; and' a special jury, in which Charlotte Emma Blackham, daughter of Mr. Blaukham, pin manufacturer, of Birmmghu.ui,- was the pl(iintilT, and Mr. Thomas Pratt; thimble maker, of the same place, was the defendant. Mr. Macaulay, ■ Q.G., Mr. Field, • Q.C., end Mr/ Weiby, wcro counsel for the plamtifl*; Mr. Serjeiiut b'Brion appeared for the defendant. The dofendant* is a WicJowci'i arid about sixty years of age, and the plaintiff an attractive young lady of twenty -three. The! defendant Was hi; the-, habit of calling at plaintiir'B house upon business. In the month of February, 1863, ho desired to have some private conversation with the plaintiff, . and after tolling her he'desired to marry her, Mrs. Blackham was consulted.' Defendant said to her that he wished to become the suitor of her eldest daughter, if there was no objection 'ou the part of her parents. He acknowledged lib Wai rather old ; but, to counterbalance that, he was a wealthy man, and was worth between £7,000 and £8,000. if. Mrs. Blackham would allow her daughter to marry him, lie would immediately retire from business, build a country residence, and keep a horse and. carriage for li is wife. The defendant, after that, was received as the suitor of the plain tilf, and continued to visit her daily, Walking her, out, and introducing her to his friends as his affianced. In the early part of Jtme, the defendant said he would give the plaintiflN2l,ooo upon the day of her wedding, and' in addition to that ho would , spend £600 oh his country residence to make her happy and comfortable. The defendant' continued to be very attentive until September, when ho requested to have an- interview with her mother. He then informed her that he should not be able ' to keep- his -promise 1 , in t;onseqU6nce of her daughter's opposition to the marriage, as she had told hmr, if he got married, she would never enter bis bouse, and she would not allow him to visit her. Mrs. Blackham remonstrated with him, and reminded him . of Ms promise. Defendant said he was very sorry, because he knew' he ' should live happily with-the plaintiff,' and then he should have beeir happy-'for the remainder of "his life. He had determined never to' marry plaintiff. ' : Mrs. -Blackh'am' was culled, and "'corroborated | the above particulars ; and in reply- to Serjeant O'Brien, she stated that the defendant did not look so old last year as he did that -day in court, •■■when the defendant, an 'oH-looking *many amidst the laughter of the court, sardy " What makes you suppose I look older now than I did- when I proposed to your daughter? " Witness : " You look years older." In answer to Serjeant O'Brien, witness stated that defendant presented his daughter with a ring in August. — Defendant (in a very excited manner) : "I never gave her a ring ; she took it from my linger." (Laughter). The judge said the defendant must be put out of court if he did not keep quiefc. The plaintiff, a welldressed young lady, here rose up and said, " That was another ring." (Renewed laughter): The learned judge : "We cannot allow either the plain- " tiff or defendant to appear in this case." Mr. Serjeant O'Brien addressed the jury in mitigation of damages,, in consequence of ther defendant's old age. The jury returned a Tqrclict of £400. for the' plaintiff. ' . . . . ; „-•..- ■ ■ j