The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-06 00:00:00

ACTION FOR BREACH OF PROMISE
OF MARRIAGE.

The cause of "Hall v. Tarbox" has been tried in London,
before Baron Pollock and a Special Jury, and was an action
for breach of promise of marriage. The defendant pleaded
that the agreement to marry was rescinded by mutual con-
sent. The plaintiff replied that the was induced to rescind
the agreement in consequence of representations by the de-
fendant as to certain material facts which were untrue, as
he well knew, and also that such recission was subsequently
waived by mutual consent.
Mr. Waddy, Q.C., and Mr. H. H. S. Croft appeared for the
plaintiff; Mr. Lawrence, Q C., and Mr. P. B. Hutchins for
the defendant.
The plaintiff, Mary Esther Hall, is 24 years of age
and the daughter of a Baptist minister, residing at
Wycliffe-villa, Chippenham-gardens, Kilburn, and the
defendant, Edward W. Tarbox, was a Baptist minister
at Addlestone, in Surrey. The parties became ac-
quainted in August, 1875, when the defendant was
studying for the ministry at the Regent's.park College,
and in May following they became engaged to be mar-
ried. There was a voluminous correspondence between
them, letters passing almost daily, and matters pro-
greased happily until about the 29.;11 of June, 1878,
when the defendant wrote at great length to
the lady expressing doubts as to the propriety of
the step they were about to take. He said he was
unhappily drawn to the conclusion that his duty to
her—viz., marriage at the earliest safe period—was at
variance with his duty to his life work and the church
where he officiated, and he added, "I now see how
wise is the Church of Rome in her rule of celibacy,
and that only rich rectors ought to burden themselves
, with wives and possibly troops of children." At the
I same time he avowed that he was prepared to
fulfil his word at any risk or sacrifiae save that
of duty "if he were held to it," the last words
being underlined. Further, he represented that
he was unable to procure a house at Addlestone,
and that his income was insufficient to support
a wife, which representations it was alleged were not
justified by the facts. It was said he had a private
income, and that his father was well off. The plaintiff
immediately replied to the defendant's letter in a
communication which was relied upon as a release of
the defendant from the engagement, saying, " It is
rather cruel to systematically win the whole of one's
heart, and then say you believe in celibacy."
After the plaintiff and her father and mother had
given evidence,
Baron Pollock suggested that in a case of this kind
it would be far better if the parties could come to some
arrangement and avoid going to the jury.
With a view to a settlement the learned Judge con-
sented to see the counsel in his private room, and
Mr. Waddy, on returning into Court, said it had
been agreed that the jury should be discharged and
that the learned Judge should give judgment for a
substantial amount of damages.
Baron Pollock, in expressing his satisfaction at the
arrangement, said it was not surprising that the plain-
tiff should have wished to have an opportunity of
stating her case in open court.
The amount of damages was not publicly an-
nounced.

THE GERMANS AT THE SYDNEY
EXHIBITION.

The special correspondent of the Cologne Gazette at
Sydney, writing on October 9, sends a long account of
the Exhibition and more particularly of the German
sections of it. He allows that England, the United
States, and the British Colonies make the best display,
but the place next to them he claims for Germany.
The number of German exhibitors is 695, who show
articles in 137 out of the 566 classes of objects con-
tained in the Exhibition. No other nation, except
England has exhibits in so many classes. The de-
partments in which Germany has most distinguished
herself are optical, surgical, and scientific instruments,
school stationery, certain departments of textile manu-
factures, machinery, and especially pianos.
The price of entrance to the Exhibition or the
"Garden Palace," as it was popularly called, was
reduced to is. during four days of the week. The
building was closed on Sundays, and Saturdays were
or v, rn which the Exhibition had most visitors.
tOhlei L., Saturday before the 9th of October the
turnstiles showed that upwards of 10,000 persons paid
for admission, exhibition of sheep had just
been held. OM of the favourite shows at the Palace