The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-15 00:00:00

IRISH BREACH OP PROMISE CASE.

IM Friday, in the Irish Court of Common Pleas, the case of
'Cormack r..Nlatthews " was heard. It was an action to
recover damages, which were laid at £2,000, for an alleged
breach of promise of marriage. The plaintiff wee the
daughter of a publican In Dunleer, county Louth; and the
defendant is an extensive farmer residing in the same neigh-
bourboJd.

Margaret M'Cormack, the plaintiff, a young lady o
prepossessing appearame, stated that she was twenty
years of age. Lived with her father in Dunleer. Knew
the defendant, who lived on his farm about a quarter
or half a mile from Dunleer. He was the landlord of
her father's house. Witness had known him seven or
eight years, and they attended at the same chapeL
rhe defendant commenced paying his addressee to her
about four years ago. About three years ago he asked
her if she would go and get married to him privately,
unknown to any of their friends. She replied that it
was time enough. He again asked her two years ago.

-
Examination resumed : On the sth July the defend-
ant asked witness to go with him and get privately
married—that Father Murphy knew him, and would
do whatever he wanted. He met her on the stairs
of her Wheels house on that day, and asked her into
a room to speak to her. It was in the room he asked
her to go and get married. She agreed to do so on
that occasion; and he said. "Would you like to go
to Dublin, and bring your niece with you, and get
married there?" She :said she would leave it to him-
self, and he said he would rather go to Dublin. Her
sister, Mrs. M`Mahon, who had come up from Drog-
heda that slay to assist in the shop, it being the fair
day of Dunker. came into the room where they
were Hitting. The defendant then in the presence
of her sister, asked witness would she marry him, and
she said she would. Mrs. M'alethon then told him that
Maggie (the plaintiff) would have a fortune of £lOO,
and he replied that that was very good with Meg. He
came backwards and forwards to them after that.
Recollected the 26th of November, when he again asked
her would she go with him. She said she would, and
he then said, " Won't you come to-night?" but she
refused. He then Raid, "Well, I will never ask you
again." Ile asked her to name another night to go
with him, and she said, "Mention it yourself." He
then mentioned Thursday night afterwards, and on
Thursday morning lie came and asked witness
if she was going to do what they bad been speak-
ing about, and she told him not. The defendant re-
plies!, "Very well, perhaps it it better to leave it to
another time." He came ba,k in the evening, about
five o'clock, and said, "You don't seem willing to
Come away with me, but we never can get married
unless you do." He then went away, and returned
about nine or ten o'clock, and asked if she would thee
0 with him, as she had promised. Witness aaid she
would not, and be replied, "You must come," and he
called her sister, a girl of about seventeen years
of age, and told her to bring her shawl and hat.
He then caught her by the hand, and pulled her out
of the house, saying that they would go to Bran-
nigan'is, his sister's. He changed his mind about
where they would go, and they went to the house of a
neighbour name I Torist. The defendant knocked at
the door, and told Mr. Torist that be had a partner
with him, and wanted to come in. They were let in,
and Torist's two daughters lit a fire. Mr. Torist gave
the defendant and witness some whisky. They sliest
down at the kitchen fire, and Miss Toriat cooked tea
and beefsteaks. The defendant, at six o'clock, went
away, saying that he would be back at dark, Thin
was on Sunday m irning. He did not come back, and
she never saw him since.
Eventually the jury awarded the plaintiff £5OO.

Tie London Correspondent of the Birmingham
Gazette writes :—An instance of the hardship of the Lmem-
ing Act MO just come under my notice. A gentleman on
Sunday morning, in Berkshire, was summoned to join hie
ship for Chien on Monday. lie had to go the Sussex, 1111,i
started on Sunday morning, and on preaenting himself be-
tween eleven and one at a railway station in London was rie
tweed refreeheuent hecansa he was not a traveller (he had

no railway ticket, havum to wait wine hours), but he was at
once put up to. method M eluding the " Take • third-
Mama ticket to the tint station on the line, and you can have
anything you Übe