The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-11-25 00:00:00

BREACH OF PROMISE DAMAGES £250.

In London, the canoe of "Target r. Vincent, jun.," has
been heard, and was an action for breach of promise of
marriage. The defendant pleaded the usual pleas
Mr. chambers, (ft., am( Mr. Verey were CI 1111 l sel for the
plaintiff . Mr. Lay and Mr. Hall scro counsel for the
defendant.
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The plaintif in this ease. who was 19 years of age in
February last, was the daughter of a market gardener
at Parson's-green, and the defendant, who was about
22 years of age, was ~suun of a chemist, and who
was also postmaster, a-I—S% aTham-green. The parties •
haul been bug known to each other, from the plaintiff
making purchases at the father's shop, where the
defindant acted as his assistant. The plaintiff, who
stated she resided with her parents in Elysian.
cottage, Param's-green, said she attended the same
church as the defendant, and on a Sunday
evening in August, on their coming out of church,
the defendant aulressed her, and . they walked home
together. The intbnacy contintled, and in October
they formed two of a party of four on a visit to the
Polytechnic. On November 9, he obtained her parents'
consent to pay his attentions to her. The match was dis-
tasteful to the defendant's father, and in consequence he
left his home, and obtained a situation as assistant at a
chemist's shop in Churton-street, Belgrave-road, at £4O
per annum, where he remained six months. He also in-
sured his life for 1:500. Alter he left his situation he
returned home, and he continued to visit her until
September last, when he formally broke the match off,
in consequence of his father's continued dislike to the
engagement. He presented her with an engaged ring
and a locket, and, as the learned counsel stated, a huge
bundle of lettershad passed between them, all couched
in the most affectionate terms. The first letter included
the following verses :
A humid seal of soft affection,
Tenderest pledge of future bliss
Dearest tic of young connection,
Love's first looked for happiness.
Speaking, silent, dumb confession,
Passion's birth, and Infant's play
Iswelike fondness, chaste cooks:don,
Glowing town of brighter dsys.
sorrowing, joy, adieu', last action.
When lingering lips no mire may join
What words can ever speak affection.
So thrilling and sincere as thine ?

The above had been written in invisible ink, and from
itB colour was dillislilt to mad in court. In a postscript
to the name letter, written in ordinary ink, plaintiff
stated, 'As I had to leave while I was writing on the
other side, if there are any mistakes I hope you will
excuse them .. As the ink invisible, it is impossible
to tind out where psi leave off. If you pass a hot iron
over the two sides id the paper, :you will find the
writing will turn blue, and then brown." In another
letter he spoke of having sent off seventy messages that
slay, and that tomorrow he had 200 dozen pills to
make up and send out. (Laughter.)
In cross-examination, plaintiff said she had never
been formally introduced to the defendant's father,
, and that she discontinued visiting the ship as soon as

they were engaged.
Mr. Day: The defendant is a very young man, is
he not?
Plaintiff : lie is 22 years of age.
Mr. Day : Well, is not that a young man?
Plaintiff: Quite old enough for him not to do wrong
by deceiving a young woman. (Laughter.)
The defendant called no witnesses.
Mr. Day, in addressing the jury in mitigation of
damages, remarked on the nature .4 the engagement,
and the fact that the parents had never met, and that
the plaintiff hail not been introduced to thedefendant's
family. It was an engagement of a precarious if
not perilous nature, and he wa.-i happy to state there
was not the slightest imputation on the plaintiffs
character. It was idle to expects young man to marry
on 1.:40 per annum. It was a case 111 which the balms
should be prohibited in the interests of the dis-
tressed mtejayers id the metropolis. (Laughter.) It
was far better fok the lady that Ow match should be
broken la than linger on in anticipation of the defen-
dant being in a more prosperous pecuniary position,
because it left her free to receive the attentions of
some more eligible gentleman residing in the neigh-
bourhood of Elysian-villa, Parson's-green.
The jury ultimately returned a verdict for the plain-
tiff— damages £2.50.