BREACH OF PROMISE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2221, 2 October 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

BREACH OF PROMISE.

At the Liverpool assizes, recently, before Mr Justice Cave and a jury, an action for breach of promise of marriage was brought by Mary Appleton, a jsweller, of Liverpool, against Robert Scotter, an engineer, also of Liverpool. The plaintiff was a widow, and had tour children— two daughters and two sons— while the defendant was a widower with two sons, who were grown up, and were in busiiiess. The acquaintance began in a, somewhat unusual manner at the Manchester Central station. The plaintiff at that time lived at Liverpool, and had gone to Manchester in May, 1885, for the day. She was coming back by the half-past eight o'clock train, and entered a third-class compartment. A short time afterwards the defendant got "into the coach, when the defendant drew the plaintiff into conversation, and asked her if she had noticed him while on the platform. She said that she had not. Going to Liverpool they conversed freely, and upon reaching that city the defendant pressed the plaintiff to have some refinement. This she declined, uut subsequently entered a restaurant in the neighbourhood, whore they had some tea. The plaintiff, who at that time lived at Stanloy-road, Bootle, was about to catch a tram and was escorted to it by the defendant, who kissed her before he left her. Plaintiff was pressed by defendant that he might be allowed to write to her, and she gave her consent. As a result of a request made by him they met at the Central station, and took a walk. Alter the actinn was commenced the defendant wrote :— " In reference to the 'letter concerning the breach of promise to marry Mrs. Appleton, I say I have never promised I would marry her. Things had not reached to that point, to my knowledge ; but if Mrs. Appleton thinks she can txtort money from me under that heading, let her try, — I remain, yours respectfully, R. Scotter." The plaintiff, in examination, said that when the defendant went to Stock port he was very fond of kissing her and her daughters, whom he always seemed to like. When they reached Liverpool upon the first day they met she went to a restaurant, and there the defendant paid for a cup of tea and a bun for her. In the train he stated he was in lodgings, and he thought that his landlady was taking the feathers out of his bed and cutting up his carpets. He was not a young and foolish man, but ho was matured, and desired to pot married. Mr. Segar denied that tho defendant had ever proposed to the plaintiff, He admitted that he had kissed her, and that he had kissed the family, but if he was to marry every person he kissed where would he be ? The defendant stated that upon entering the carriage the plaintiff cotnmensed the conversation by saying "I see you are in grief, sir, like myself, by the crape around your hat." The defendant then said, " Yes ; I lost my wife in August," and she replied to the effect that she had also lost her husband. After he had given her a cup of tea and a bun he took her to the train. When she got on the step she turned round and said, "You have been very kind and I will give you a kiss" (laughter). After he left her she turned round, and, placing two fingers to her mouth, threw him a kiss. When at Stockport the plaintiff told him that an ex-mayor had been inquiring where she had been for the last two years, and he wanted to marry her an-i would drive her about in a carriage. Ho (defondant) replied, "Well, don't miss the chance, considering that trade is so bad." Mr. Segar : Did you kiss tho daughters? — I did kiss the daughters. lam not ashamed of it. lam fond of children, and like to kiss them. The jury found a vordlct for tho plaintiff damages £5.