A Strange Wooing.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 204, 21 May 1887, Page 6 (Supplement)

A Strange Wooing.

In the Queen's Bench Division the case of Payne v. Button came before Mr Justice Hawkins and a common jury. The plain tiff was a widower, ag-ed 07. and the defendant was a widow, and sifter of the plaintiffs late wife. The ea*o for the plaintiit was that the defendant invited him to Cavstoi, in Lincoln^lme, where she kept an ironmonger's shop, and asked him to marry her. He assented to this, bent most of his furniture to the defendant, left in her hands a promissory note for £100, and lent her £100, at iivo per cent. The action was to recover back these things, and the defence was that they wore gifts. Mr Kisch, in opening the ca>>e for the plaintiff, said that his client had for many years carried on the business of a smith, and had saved some money.but lie was now subject to fits,, and had not the vigorous use ot his mind. These things were piobably caused by his bavin 0 " received a blow on the head from a sledg° hammer. He had been Avilling to marry the defendant, and a marriage license was procured, and it was arranged that they should be married at .Stratford Church on the 3 id Fobuuvry, 18S0. On the previous day, how e\ or, the defendaut Avished him to make a will, lea^ng her a life interest in his property, with remainder to her son and daughter. She also wanted him to take her to his stockbroker, so that she might see what property he was possessed oi. He refused these request?, and thereupon the defendant refused to marry him. The plaintiff was called in support of his case. Mr Justice Hawkins suggested that in the interests of the parties some settlement should be come to. Mr. C. Jones, for the defendant, however, could not. assent to this suggestion. Later on it was arranged that there sl-ioulds 1- iould be a verdict for the plain lift" for ClOO for money lent, and for the return of the furniture or £40, its value, and with costs. Mr Justice Hawkins handed down to the plaintiffs counsel a document in which he said that the Archbishop of Canterbury called both tho plaintiff and the defendant his Avell-beloved." (Loud laughter.)