Amusing Breach of Promise Case.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 246, 14 March 1888, Page 5

Amusing Breach of Promise Case.

At Liverpool, lately, Benedict Fay, a reader in a newspaper office, was the de_ fendanb in an action for breach of promise of marriage, brought by Miss Mary Mc_ Cormick, a lady about 25 years of ag«. Mr Thomas Etty, m opening the case, aaid the pn-tiea became acquainted some tiroa previous to 1884, and the defendant having obtained Mrs McCormicks permission to address her daughter, wrote on July 6th i " I indeed love you, and ever will love you," and he then went on to give what he described as a few nice verses, the firate of which was :— 41 OOrh r Mor/, do not think me false. Nor dream that I forgot Thy fair young face, thy native graoe, The day whon first wo met. My priceless pearl, my glorious girl, Thou'rt true as trutn to me, And where thou art, there throbs my howt With 10-vo alone for thco." A host of hieroglyphics appeared at th» foot of the letter, signifying " kisses fco Polly from Benedict," and there was also the following postscript: "You sent more X's (kisses) in your last letter thaayou did in the one before." In another letter the defendant spoke of their intended marriage, expressing the opinion that "th« sooner it took place the better, as it muafc take place some time." The letter concluded in the usual way with marks for kisses (laughter). In that year (1884) h* wrote: "My clearest Polly— l receive your very loving letter, and I am, iindeed, very grateful to you for your kind words*** Later the defendant's letter said t " Sweetest flower, you say you will forgive me. Only say two little words more— say you love mo also. Though you may think me a great madcap, wild as I have been, I love you a great deal more than your old sweetheart, John. Think of the time wht» I used to write a little love verso in your letters. Here is one I write now for you : — " With all my heart, and strength, and power I love no girl but thee ; Til timt t.iee to my latest hour, Oh think, dear Poll, of me." (Laughter. ) The defendant here concluded his letter by sending" his very best love— a. true lover's love— and I must not forget to send you a hundred sweet kisses, that is, if you will be good enough and kind enough to accept them from your own Benedict." The usual crosses here followed. In 1886 the defendant wrote, "Don't tease me about those other girls. lam not their sweetheart ; lam y»urs only. You ought to be pleased to see that the other girlst would like to have me— (laughter)— but they cannot, because lam yours." A letter of April 21 from him said, " I hope William Ward did not go too near the house— nob that lam jealous. Oh, dear, no. Ineednofc be jealous, for I think you love me too much to be false or unfaithful tome." A letter written somewhat later last year did nobcommence with any amatory expression, bub asked for photographs to be returned and previous letters to be destroyed, and he signed himself, "Yours respectfully, Benedict Fay." The defendant, on November 4th, finally wrote the plaintiff requesting: her not to correspond further with him, and concluded by assuring her that he bore her no malice and had nevor sought to injure her, though he had been deeply wronged. Evidence was given by the plaintiff, who said that she had sought to renew th« engagement after Fay had suddenly broken it off, bub he declined. It appeared from the evidence that the defendant had formerly lodged at the house of Mies McCormicks mother.— The jury four.d for plaintiff a verdict of £50 with coats.