BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1679, 17 March 1886, Page 2

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

! An action for bi-eaob of promise to \ • marry was recently tried in Dublin. \ \ The 'plaintiff, Miss Theresa Atkins, I daughter of a County Wexford farmer, j sought to recover £1,000 damages ' j from Dr. Metge, a district dispensary i doctor. From the counsel's opening j I statement, it appeared that the defen- j j clant attended the plaintiffs father I j professionally, and a week afterwards j : beeurue engaged to the plaintiff. The j promise was subsequently broken, and tho plaintiff suffered in health, being I in consequence laid up with an attack j lof fever. The defendant pleaded that I the contract was mutually rescinded ; j but that was denied. TS»e plaintiff, a ! lady about 35 years of ago, was exaiu» j ined. She said that when the defendant visited her father, he complaiued to her of being lonely. He w^s a i widower with sons. He asked her to I marry him, but she told him she ] I would not listen to the proposal while j i her father lay ill. Afterwards he spoke j } to her father, who thought defendant j ! tooold. She, however, wished it, and her j father then consented. The defendant said he was worth £700, besides his professional income. After the engagement the defendant insured his iife for €100, and showed witness a house he proposed to take for them. He sub3eqneutly broke off the engagement. In I cross-examination, the plaintiff said ! t'i£ defend int was an old gentleman 166 years of age. Her father urged i her to bring this action, or she would not have done so. The Rev. Mr Conroy, parish priest, said the defendant told him he was going to marry Miss Atkins, but subsequently he said his means Were not sufficient, Counsel for the defendant maintained that very small damages would compensate the plaintiff, The defendant was put in the witness-box, and in cross-exami-nation said he thought he must be an old fool to act as he did. The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff, damages £100.