A DIAMOND RING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 136, 17 September 1910, Page 8

A DIAMOND RING.

AN INTERESTING ACTION FOR RECOVERY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Friday. The story of an engagement of marriage a.most as abrupt in its origin as in its termination was unfolded during a civil action at the Magistrate's Court to-day before Mr. W. li. Haselden, S.M. Frederick College, who described himself as a tailor's cutter, sued Sarah Cohen, stated to be a boarding-house keeper, of Wellington, for the recovery of a diamond engagement ring or its value £22 10s. In his statement of claim, plaintiff set forth that the ring had been detained by defendant since September 1. He had asked her for it on several occasions during the present month, and was each time met with a refusal. Now he had reason to believe that defendant was about to leave for England, hence the civil proceedings to recover the gift. Plaintiff was a Jew, defendant a Jewess. Mr. C. R. Dix appeared for plaintiff, Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh for the defendant.

Briefly, the evidence of- College was to the following ea'eet: He had been in New Zealand for the past eight or nine years, arid was 36 years of age. For three and a half years (he had worked with a firm in Auckland. On the occasion of a visit to Wellington, some time ago, he made the acquaintance of defendant, and about four weeks ago came to take up his residence in Wellington. While here he lived at the Albert Hotel, then stayed at the house of Mrs. Seigel, ladies' tailor, in Vivian Street, who was a friend of his, and was also related to defendant

Mr. Dix (to College): You proposed a certain transaction with Mrs. Seigel I Yes. What was the condition of the transaction coming to fruition? That I should take Miss Cohen as my

partner. The Magistrate: What a ridiculous thing. How old are you? Witness: 36.—(Laughter.) Mr. Dix: Did you become engaged to this lady? Witness: Yes, three weeks ago. ' It was just the day after my arrival. In response to further questions he said he gave defendant the engagement rings, which he purchased from Mandel, Harris and Co. for £22. A question w&s then put to witness as to why he had broke off the engagement. Witness: They (the girl's friends) , wanted me to get married in a hurry, i I got here on Thursday, and thfey wanted me to get married on Sunday. Inj fact, he said, they told him after he broke off the engagement not to go to | the shop any more. | Counsel: Had you got any money from Miss Cohen! Not a cent. To counsel for defendant, witness said that when he left Auckland he lifted the amount of his savings. Further questions elicited the fact that plaintiff, when he left Auckland, had deposited part of his savings with a man whose christian name ■he did not know, but he lived, in Ponsonby. In | consequences of this, defendant had to j pay certain boarding expenses in Hawera. His Worship: I fail to see any shadow oi legal claim this man has for the ring. I can't see how, if the man has given a present, he can sue for the, recovery of it. The whole thing has a very fishy look. Counsel for plaintiff suggested an adjournment that he might look into the legal aspects of the.claim and obtain authorities in parallel cases which could be submitted to Court. An adjournment till to-morrow morning was agreed upon.