Breach of Promise.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 85, 1 April 1914, Page 5

Breach of Promise.

AN ABANDONED WEDDING.

BARMAID AWARDED £350. In Sydney, before Mr Justice Sly and a jury of four, an action was brought by Beatrice Storey, of 128 Flinders Street, to recover from Frederick Patrick Chapman the sum of £IOOO compensation for breach of promis of marriage. There was no appearance of the defendant, who admitted the promise, but alleged that the plaintiff had released him, from it before there was any breach. The case for the plaintiff, who had been a barmaid at the Captain Cook Hotel, Moore Park, was that she met the defendant in July, 1913. He told her that he was a grazier at West Kempsey, and was in Sydney with a couple of racehorses. She became engaged to him in August, and he gave her a ring. They afterwards went to St. Barnabas’ Church, George Street West, to make arrangements for the ceremony. There he told the verger that he was a widower, that his wife had been dead 16 years, and that she was buried at West Kempsey. It was arranged that the ceremony should be performed on November 29, by Canon Chalmers, and that the wedding breakfast should take place in a marquee at her brothers’ place, Balmain. Later defendant went to Kempsey, and on his return they visited Hall’s furniture warehouse to buy the furiture. This was to cost £B6 19s 6d. He said he would live at Kensington after the marriage, and he went to that suburb to see about a house. He always told her he had any amount of money, and that ho would buy a house and settle it on her. When she became engaged she was at the Captain Cook Hotel, and she left her employment, and had since been residing with her mother. On November 28 there was a gathering at her brother’s place, when arrangements for the breakfast, the carriages, and the invitations were made. About 40 invitations were sent out. When they parted he kissed her good-bye,, and asked her not to be late for church. On the following day —the day they were to have been married—he rang her up on the ’phone and told her that the ceremany could uot take place that day. He afterwards came to see her. He told her ho had had news, that the wedding could not take place, that lie had just been informed his wife was alive. He gave plaintiff the wedding ring, and wanted to kiss her, hut she told him she did not want to liaye anything to do with him. She received a letter from him, dated March 6, 1914.

The letter was addressed from West Kempsey. In it the defendant stated that there was no occasion for plaintiff to proceed against him for breach of marriage, as it was his greatest wish to marry, her. He further stated that there was nothing to prevent him marrying her, as his wife was dead beyond doubt, and he asked her to fix a suitable date. The letter concluded: “With hast love from Fred.” Plaintiff said she received another letter from the defendant, dated November 31, 1913. The letter began : “Just a few lines to my ever dear’ Beattie,” and contained the expression, “I love the ground you walk on.” It also stated that defendant thought the information he had received was not true, and he would find out.

Plaintiff said she did not reply to the letter. She got a telegram from him when he arrived at Taree to the effect that he had won a double. To cancel the invitations to the wedding that had been sent she had despatched telegrams. v

The jury, after a brief deliberation, returned a verdict for the plaintiff for £350.