The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-03-16 00:00:00

IRISH BREACH OF PROMISE.

At the Derry Assizes, Judge Keogh and a special
jury has tried an action for Breach of Promise, in
which Margaret Mableed, daughter of the postmaster
~f Day, in the county Donegal, sued John Patton, a
farmer, residing at Baliyheny, for £1,500 damages.
Margaret Malaced, the plaintiff, being called, deposed
to her becoming acquainted with the defendant. Ile fre-
quently promised her marriage, and made her many pre-
sents. At length, on the 6th of December, she thought
she ought to bring matters to an Jesse, and accordingly,
one evening, when he was at her father's house. and alone
with her, she said—" John, we have been carrying on long
enough ; it is now time some arrangements were made ;
when will we get married?' lier mamma just then entered
the P.m, and witness told her what she was saying. Her
mmuma concurred, and defendant replied that lie would
marry witness in November next. Presently Mr. Matineed
came in, upon which his wife told him to take John Patton
by the hand, as the latter was going to be his son-in-law.
Patton mid "Yes. that 05 right," and shook fiatinhs with
Mr. Malaeca. After that he re.rularly came to visit witness
for some time, but gradually his love grew cold and at last
he married another youngalady, named Starrett.
Gross-examined by Mr. Canon Wasn't your mother
anxious to catch him ?—No , she was not.
Won he your only love, Miss Malseed
Ever since you were at school ?—Yes.
Had you 110 other sweetheart except John Patton, Miss
Maimed ?-1 may have hail, but I don't know.
Have you had so many that you don't remember? You
know there is nothing wrong in a young girl having a sweet-
heart. llow many had you ?—1 don't know.
Had you six ?—1 don't know.
It is not altogether correct to say that he was your only
love 1-4 believe lie was.
Were you Mud of any perion else in your life ?—I liked
him better than any other one.
Mach better? Are you m fond of him now as ever you
were i—lndaed, no, I atm not (Laughter.)
You hate him now, don't you ?- ,No answer.)
Do you know a man called Green—Den Green 1-1 saw him
some time ago.
Did you ever see him at ycur mother's house ?—lle was
often there for letters.
Did your mother over tell you it would be a good thing if
you were brought to meet Patton at Dan Green's house 1—
No.
And than, Dan could proclaim a runaway matchi—l. never
heard of that before.
Is your father a wealthy man ?—I don't know.
How much does he claim for you ?-1.1,500.
IM you think that too much for blighted affections
don't know.
On the night of the 6th December was it arranged that
your mother should go down to you and Patton In the r.mm
—No.
Was it 'wronged that your father should come In n—No.
Dow long had yen remained in the room when that in-
tereating event happened—your settlement for life I—All the
evening.
Well, surely your father treated his son-In law on this
lumpy occasion I—Yea ; he did.
Then it was notida dry meeting. Dial you broach the subject
to Patton, or did Patton mention it first to you ?-1 men-
tioned it first.
Let me ask you this. Do you know thia man Green I was
speaking abut 1- Yes.
weDreidaY:aigrati ii,tyti!roara;,ot n
would hap,teeehn.' presence,iato "hooked'that n
before this I—No.
John Patton, the defendant, was then called, and stated
that he was not so well off as hail been thought by the
opposite side, and that he had never promised to make any
great settlement upon plaintiff. Ile did not propose mar.
liege to her on the 6th of December; in fact, he never said
he would marry her.
Cross.examined by Mr. M'Causland You never deceived
this young lady b—No ; 1 was talking to her often.
You never said you were very fond of her 4—No.
You never admired her I—Yes ; I admired her.
And you told her so ?—Nol
You never said, "I am very foul of you?" —I dini not.
She never said that to you I—She did. Laughter.)
And you said, "I don't care about you "1
—No.
What did you say ?—She asked me to marry her.
(Laughter.)
When WM that /—She asked me two or three times. (Re-
newed laughter.)
And you alwayssaid you would not I—Yes.
You never deceived her, then 1—No; never.
Is that the same dregs you usually wear 1-1 have a better

dress.- -
Is the other one not a little more spruce than that one ?
It is my Sunday dress.
Had you on your best dress when you got that photograph
(produced) taken P-1 had on another dress.
Did you put on a three-an-I-sixpenny tie which plaintiff
gave you I—l don't knew. I had not that tie on.
Where you not obliged to her, and did you not thank her
for that necktie ?—I don't think I did.
Did you ever give her any presents ?-1 gave her little
things, but! never gave her earrings.
Nor anything like earriugs?—No. I gave her alikeness.
Did you ever give her anything else 4—Some little things.
Come, now, what were they 2—l gave her some lozenges.
(Loud laughter.)
Mr. St Causland : I suppose you have heard of the
lines—
Sitting inn shady grove with my Juliana,
Lozenges' gave my love—ipecacuauha."
(Loud laughter.)
Witness: No; I did not.
Mr. kl•Causland Did you not indeed? You never gave
her an umbrella ?—I did not . 1 never gave her kid gloves.
She gave me a ring, and I gave it back to her.
To you think that Miss Malseed, and her mother and
father would come here to forswear themselves 2—They
might.
And you think they would still be respectable ?—No ; I
would think not.
Are they not as truth-telling as yourself ?—I don't know
that they are.
Do you know Thomas M'Crossan?—l do.
Did you say in his presence that the report was true, and
that you were going to get married in the month of Novem-
ber?-1 don't remember.
Will you swear you didn't 2-1 don't remember.
, The Judge summed up, remarking that, although
. something had been said about injured feelings and all
, that sort of thing, the young lady herself did not ap-
pear to be in a bad state of health, and there was no
, reason to suppose that she would not be eligible to
marry another husband if one should turn up.
; After a few minutes' deliberation, the jury returned
a verdict for the plaintiff, with £350 damages.