BREACH OF PROMISE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1926, Page 15

BREACH OF PROMISE

NURSE SECURES DAMAGES THE GIFT OF A RING MADE. PARTY TO CELEBRATE EVENT. Wanganui, Nov. 19. The sum of £2OO damages was awarded to a qualified nurse, Louise Kathleen Scanlon, in the Supreme Court today, in a breach of promise action which she brought against Alexander Hanuay, of Palmerston North. She claimed £2009. The plaintiff, who had seen war service as a qualified nurse, said that during last December she had met defendant, and they had been out a good deal together. He made frequent visits to Wanganui to see her, and he asked her to marry him in February, the engagement being finalised by the gift of a ring, which was produced in Court. Plaintiff said that although she had accepted the ring she had not been too enthusiastic ewer the proposal, as defendant was a widower with three children. The engagement was celebrated at a tea-party at Foster’s Hotel. Defendant had informed her that ho was manager for Manson and Barr, Ltd., Palrerston North, and was receiving £lO9O a year. He remained in his own district, while she continued her profession at Wanganui. They were together at most week-ends, and regular correspondence was established, as well as constant communications over the telephone, Plamtiff did not keep all the letters, but the majority of them were couched in affectionate terms, such as one produced dated March 9 and starting, “My Darling Louise.” She said she had heard something about him, but he denied the allegations when she asked for an explanation, and his denial was accepted by her in all good faith. In his next letter he said he felt he was not good enough for her. To her the statement was rather vague, and seemed to have something at the back of it, so she decided to investigate, and took a friend with her. He again denied that there was any cause why the engagement should not proceed, but he said he had been worried over the business. With the development of correspondence, proceed plaintiff, she had received a letter saying: “Yes, let the engagement be off.” She had in the meantime prepared her trousseau, and all her friends knew that she had been preparing for marriage. Defendant had, according to hie own statement, informed his friends that Miss Scanlon had rejected him. His Honour- said he could not discuss the trousseau unless details of the cost were submitted. Plaintiff admitted that there had been no demonstration of affection when he had ouered her marriage. The event occurred in February, on the occasion of the Wanganui races, and the acceptance was made when they were in a car together. Counsel for defendant suggested that defendant and complainant had been getting on well together and that he gave her a ring with the understanding that if they continued their courtship, and decided to get married, he would give her a proper ring. This witness emphatically denied. She said the ring was too large, and ho said that when they were married he would give her another ring. Counsel for defendant said the case was not one in which a young girl had been led astray. There had only been a short engagement, with apparently no feelings between the parties. The plaintiff had not suffered to any great extent, except for pained feelings as a result of the broken engagement. The defendant was not now in the employ of Mason and Barr at £l9OO a year, although he was still a shareholder. His Honour awarded £2OO damages, with costs on the lower scale.