MARRIAGES AND MONEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 4 June 1907, Page 4

MARRIAGES AND MONEY.

LADY'S I'XKrCCESSFUL CLAIM. An action was in tin' First t'ivil Court, Melbourne last week. oelore .Mr .lustice u'lieckelt. by l.etitia Nipiii.i \Vcl»!>, of Ycndon, spinster. again.' '. lli. l executors of the will of William (ir.ilmui, deceased. The statement of elaim net out tlial in .March, l'.lmi, plaiiitilf and William tiralmm verbally agreed that in eon. 'deration of plaint ill' iiiarryiii" (iridium he should pay to her file sum of £201)0, and a further sum of ,C2 ItJs per week during her life, anil further that, he should forthwith transfer to her 300 shares in the l.lanlierris Mining Company. On April 17. 1!10(>. William tiraham died without having pel formed the agreement or any part of il. Defendants refused to be Inamd by or to perform the agreement. I'lainlill' ili 'iviore claimed Llloti'l a-> damages. Defendanl- denied I lie agreement, and said tin; alleged |.romi:,e by (iriiliani to pay the muus mined. or any of them.

was a statemeui nf a future intention t.nly by (ii'iilum in the event of marriage. i'i.iinlill in evidenee slated that -ilit" liv-i i.r.ibnin at a restaurant in liallarai. nitd alierwards lie made fit' tjUoiil appointments with her. She was !7 years of age. and lived with a sister who kept an hotel at Yendon. (iruham told her lie had been twice married, lmt both wives had died, lie was very lonely. ;rml eventually asked plaintilV to marry hint. She refused to give an au'swer. as she did not care for him as she might Have for a younger mail. Jle pressed her. and eventually promised that if she would aeeept him he would give him £2OOO in cash ami £2 10s pev week for life, and transfer 300 shares 1o her. She agreed to marry him, and he gave her. ail engagement ring. Thev arranged to meet at a solicitor's on April 2oth. She kept the appointment at the solicitor's, but Graham did not. She subsequently learned that lie had been taken ill. She never saw him

agaiu. His Honor said he was satisfied on the evidence given by plaintiff that deceased had intended to make nil immediate gift of £2OOO to her., and make a further settlement. However, plaintiff had brought an action based on a dry legal claim that could uot be sustained in the circumstances. Defendants should | not press for costs. The latter refused | to waive any rights, and His Honor then | dismissed the case, with costs against phintilF.