COURTSHIP COLLAPSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 752, 27 August 1929, Page 16

COURTSHIP COLLAPSES

£SO DAMAGES FOR GIRL PLAINTIFF QUARREL OVER WEDDING Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. A sum of £SO damages for breach of promise was awarded Vera Gwendoline Ormady by Mr. Justice Adams In the Supreme Court today. Plaintiff claimed from Maurice Walter Carter, motor mechanic, £250 general damages and £SO cost of trousseau for breach of promise to marry her. Defendant denied such agreement, and a further defence was that if such an agreement had been made it had been terminated by plaintiff. It was stated by plaintiff that she became engaged to Carter two or three years ago. Prior to that they had been keeping company for several years. From the date of the engagement to May 28, 1929, arrangements proceeded for the marriage, which was set down for June 19. A house had been obtained, a clergyman engaged for the ceremony, banns had been called and invitations sent out for the wedding party. Then defendant, without a word of explanation, said the marriage must be declared off. Since then plaintiff had received from Carter a registered letter demanding the return of certain articles. Evidence was given of several “tiffs” between the parties during the period of engagement. The final quarrel concerned the invitation of Carter’s relatives to the wedding and to an evening party prior to the wedding. Defendant gave evidence that he bought the engagement ring on his | 22nd birthday. He had been strongly opposed to a big wedding. At that ! time he was earning £3 14s weekly, i On several occasions there had been quarrels between plaintiff and himself. and she offered him the ring back, but he always refused. He alleged that after the final quarrel plaintiff broke off the engagement. His Honour, in awarding £SO damages, said the fact was clear that defendant had failed to keep his promise to marry the girl.