BREACH OF PROMISE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 26, 24 September 1912, Page 8

BREACH OF PROMISE.

A REMARKABLE CASE. YOUNG WOMAN AWARDED £250. Adelaide, September 12. In the Supreme Court the Chief Justice heard a remarkable case in which Jessie Fountain, spinster, aged 21, sued Percy Symons, 25, a storekeeper of Morgan, for £IOOO damages, for alleged I)reach of promise of marriage. The plaintiff entered the court bearing an infant in her arms.. A. number of letters from the defendant to the plaintiff were read, and His Honor said he had rarely seen correspondence showing such an uncommonly fervent devotion. The young woman was continually 'addressed in them as "My own darling Jessie," "Dearest," "Sweetheart," and "Jess, love." In one Symons wrote: "J send you my very fondest love—the whole- of

my affection, besides 10,1)00 kisses-. | Yours alone, IVrey." In another comj munication he said: "The mail has ar- ; rived and brought no letter from. you. I I can only imagine one thing, that I you arc ill. I have bad a real good cry, and must stop writing as I feel all nervy like. Yours always, in love and affection." In February last, after several months' engagement, the defendant began to show signs of waning affection, and in March tossed the plaintiff aside. When urged to state the reason he said: "Because I have taken a I violent dislike to you and all yours." The defendant, against whom an affiliation order for 7-s> 6d per week has already been obtained, stated, "I dispute nothing, but I have no money to pay damages." Mr Smith (counsel for plaintiff): He is a partner in his father's store, and 1 think he can pay a substantial verdict.

His Honor awarded £250 and remarked that it was a most d'sgraceful case. The defendant had represented himself to be a partner in a prosperous firm, and won the girl's affection by protestations of love. What made the case worse was his endeavour to take steps of a criminal character to prevent tho consequences of his conduct.