A BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 827, 20 June 1871, Page 3

A BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

(From the N. B. " Advertiser.")

A breach of promise case, in which a middle-aged gentleman, Mr Theobald Blake, of County G-alway, possessed of landed property, bringing in £3OOO a year, besides railway shares, bank stock, mortgages on land, and other property, is defendant; in which a young lady, Miss Agnes Joyce, of good family, ia the same county, is plaintiff; and in which romantic and somewhat extraordinary love letters passed between the affianced pair, the whole ending with a challenge to a duel, brings back to the narrative of Irish life some of the halo of the romantic bygone days. The hearing of a case of this kind was commenced in Galway. The plaintiff is nineteen years of age, daughter of a gentleman of good social position, but described by his counsel as too generous and open-handed to have, allowed of his improving his pecuniary position. The defendant a widower, of 45 years of age, with several children, became acquainted with the Joyces in 1885, and although Miss Joyce was then only 13 years of age he paid her marked attention, and these attentions Sever ceased until shortly before bringing the present action, the damages claimed m which are £12,000. He followed the Joyces all over the Continent, living with them as their guest, and on their return to Ireland the same intimacy was continued. At length, in August, 1869, he proposed and was rejected. Two months later ne proposed and was accepted. It was arranged that he should settle a separate income of £450 a year on his future wife. On the 9th of September 1870, Mr Blake wrote to the plaintiff & long letter, in which he said he wished her " to reflect seriously on the matter before taking so serious a a step." He reminded her of the disparity of their ages, and that "even we children were not far from her own age." The letter concludes with an intimation that, if she still wishes ■.?.. engagementn gagement to be binding, he is w "ling to carry it out; but in that JMe he urges her papa to postpone it 10 any day she like in February. The £» was concluded a few days after. ■l°\ in charging the iury, said ho considered the defendant's Jttw of the 9th of September of tho Tf "faulting character It was plain «at Mr Blake's excuses that the want

of money prevented them from getting married were idle. Rather than have recourse to his realised capital he had Yolated the most solemn contract, and had chosen to entrust himself to a Galway jury, and to that jury he would leave him. After a thort deliberation, the jury found for the plaintiff with £SOOO damages. The announcement was received with loud applause in Court.