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

BREACH OF PROMISE.

The cause of Foster v Myers" has been tried in Lon ion,
and was an action of breach of promlie of marriage. The
defendant did not appear either by souusel or personally.
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In the opening statement it was said that the de-
fendant was the WO of a gentleman residing at Exeter,
soil enjoying con.iderahle property under the will
of his wife's father. The defendant and also Mr.
Foster were, in 1869, in theerervice of Moors. Hyau2s,
clothiers, of Aldgate and of Cannon-street, London.
It happened that in that year Mr. Foster fell ill,
and the defendant, calling upon him, was introduced
for the first time to his daughter. In this way com-
menced the intimacy which stem ripened into a promise
to marry. It happened that the defendant was a mem-
ber of the Hebrew faith, whilst Miss Fostor was a Pro-
testant Christian, and this gave rise to some little diffi-
culty. However, this was got over, and the engagement
was Wait in 1869, and continued for two years and a
half. In the course of the courtship a great number of
letters were written to the defendant ; but it would
not be necessary to real these long epistles through,
and it would be almost sufficient to say that they
were all very affectionate, some very slightly in-
teresting, and most of them were of the character
that might be called " epooney." (Laughter.) They
showed that the defendant was • man of affectionate
disposition, that he had ample means ot making
a wife happy, and that the connection was one
that was extremely desirable for the plaintiff. In
one the defendant said, "I am not at all surprised
at your not answering icy questions; they are very
important, and require minsideration. You do well
to consult your friends ; but I assure you I shall
be able to prove to them that I shall be able
to maintain a wife as a lady, though I must wait
until a future period." Tnis referred to his father's
death, when be would come into possession of his
property. In May, 1870, he said, "I hope you will
come to Exeter during the summer. I can assure you,
my dearest, a pleasant reception. I need not tell you
how delighted I shall be to see 300, and my father will
be delighted to receive you and make you comfortable."
On the 7th June he seat her a ring as • birthday ITS-
sent, and until August, 1171, the correspondence sm-
armed in the same affealoarste terms. The defendant
did allude to some domestic circumstance; canne.de.d
with his father's honeehold whirls rendered it desirable
that the xdsit to Exeter should not take place. The
defendant, holever, frequestly stayed at the homes of
the ii!a attire father. On one occasion he was there
for three months, and at other times for a fortnight.
In July, 1571, to the surprise and distress rif the plain-
tiff. ske reseiveil a letter from the detend nit in wlih
he said that all cotreepondence must cea.es. She
asked what ground there was for this, and the reply
abia got was:
Mr. Albert Myers. in reply to Miss Fodor's note of tke nth,
bogs to state that the cause must be known to her, and in
consequence of that cause he wishes all correspondence to
cease.

On House, Exeter.
She in consequence wrote :

Why you should required! correspondence tocesse I do not
know, and I know it is not your wish, or that you love m•
less. I would rather die than Live you up, my love. So that
being the case, I cannot and will not give up the corm.
aponete n ie. Oh, albeit, do not baeak my heat ! You kn
I would do anything in the world for you, on 1 cannot put
with you. —iielleve me now your wretched

The defendant was hard•hearted enough to reply in
in three terms: -

Mr. Albert Nl)ers, in reply to an ambiguous, Ignorant, and
badl)-spelt letter from Mies Foster, explains that the cause
was her depraved and deceptuous esnduct, and refers
her to Ma last letter.

Lion House, St. Morass.
After this the correspondence did ceaxe for a time;
but when the defendant'. birthday came round again
the plaintiff wrote wishing his. "many happy returns
of the day," and calling to hie mind how different that
letter was from the one which she had sent on his pre-
vione birthday. That note led to the correspondence
being renewed; but the defendant explained that, in
consequence of some objection on the part of hie
father, the marriage could not take place until after
his father's death. Notwithstanding this, however, in
1872 the wedding, day WWI fixed without the father
being consulted. In May of that year he said how
gratefol hews. for her is aiting for him ao I ing ; but on
the 13th June the correspondence was again and finally
broken off. On the 3rd July the defendant wrote to
Mrs. Fostor

Mrs Fostor— Madame -Taking all circumstances into se-
rious consideration, I llnd there is no possiAlity, nor pro-
bability, of my marrying your daughter, you having so
grossly deoelved me alto your position; consequently I con-
sider myself fully justified la breaking off the esgsgsment.—
Vours, rte., A. AIM/.
Au to the defendant's pecuniary position, it appeared
that the father of the plaintiff's mother died possessed
of about £140,000, of which sibs came into possession
of one-thirteenth. Upon her death one-third tif this
thirteenth vested in the plaintiff, but he would not
come into possession mail the death of his father, who
was now npwards of 70. The plaintiff al-o was enti-
tled to a further sum under a settlement, anti would
altogether be possessed, on his father's death, of be-
tween £4,000 and 25,000.

Miss Fostor, the plaintiff, was called; and she stated
that she lived at Stoke Nesvington-reen, London,
with her father and mother. The defendant lived in
Shubland-grove, Delston. The defeudaut promised
her marriage. He said he Wll,B burn a Jew, but be
must not keep to it. kle often went to church with
her. Ile visite6 her, and wrote to her very f tequently-.
When lie stayed at her father's he paid for his lodg-
ing.. She knew no reason for his breaking oft the en-
gagement.

To his Lordship: Ifer father was a tutor. Tile
defendant was 22 years ebb
Mr.. Foster, the plaintiff's mother, was called to
give corroborative evidence. She stated that the
plaintiff and defendant were engaged, aad seemed to
live on affectionate terms. The defendant asked her
consent to the marriage. Ile said he could make her
daughter a lady, and she ehouid have a carrisge to ride
in. They always acted se engaged people.
The probate of the will of the defendant's grand-
father, and some other documents were put in, and
this completed the plaintiff's cane.
The jury, after considering the matter for a few
minutes, found for the plaintiff, damages VOL

GOOD OLD STUFF.
Ow Candlemas day it was dark, and anew.
A spPll of mild weather has thence been due
By your do„Tgerel rhymes antique were told.
But theiweather has 'ince been bitterly cold.
—Pune&

SPUTTERINGS FROM "JUDY'S" PEN.

WHERE can we find a more benevolent type of man than
the glazier? Ile is always attending to the panes of others,
and. never so happy as when he is building up or fortilyieg
their frames.
TO CORREsPoNDENTS —Declined, with thanks, "Castor-oil
and Senna''A Night in the Rain ;" " Kicks and Cuffs
and Good Advice."

WHAT lehgtla ought a lady's petticoat Lobe t—A littleabove
wo feet.
WORiatifi for Bare Llte—lifaking clothes for a new baby.
WHAT comes after cheese If—Mouse.
\royals's Mialon—Sub mission. Likely!
1'1;018Rn—A thorn in the bush is worth two Intim hand.
GOOD blood alit show itself," said the old lady with the
red nose.
WHAT prevents the Thames running away I —Why, It's tide
Up.
Whom ?of course you are. stupid Egypt ls not a Mbe
land : it Is part of a continent

. _
TAW Last Thing Out—The policeman.
YOll can't do that again," said the pig to the boy who cut
his WI oil.

Goon News for 'timbal:ids—Ladies wear their rinses longer
than they used to do.
The Notes that compose Favourite Times—Baud notes ;
they make for-tunes.

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ORPHEUS' melody caused the stones to move: are we to
assume they were stepping-stow, I
THE best Comforter for Bachelors—A good wife.

Walla is the weather artful I—When Ite knowing (Ws
snowing.)

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To A ToUNG TALT.—Wby Ire you like a Polar I).2o—Be-
cause 'wire an ice creature.

WHY would a tax on tarts be objectionable at seal—Be-
cause it would be encouraging pie-raten
Eowis declares he won't believe that Angelina knows
what a kin means till he has it from her own mouth.

"THE last day of my marriage," said Jones, dropping •
tear, "wa• as happy as the first." " I beat you there, old
boy," said Itobinsen;:' mine mai happitr!"

CrITING MEN—Tallors.

" I'm full Inside," as the 'bus conductor said, in confidenee
site,. convivial evening,

ANOTHER RECIPE to Mat early—Drink from Our to
one and a hall pint of good yeast on going to bed.
—Judy.

/AY, FEB 15, 1873.

A STEP IN ADVANCE.—Last Friday, a new
sleeping carriage, which is about to be introduced on
the North British Railway system, was run for the
fiat time on the line, • large number of the dine.
trre and officials of the North British and other rag,
way companies, wi,h • few other guests, actompan,
log it on the journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh. Tfit,
trial was declared to he in every way a mimeo, mid
great satisfaction wing expressed with the ingenuiti
I comfort, and completeness of the contrivance.

CORK JACKISTS.—In a letter to the Shipping
and Mercantile Gazelle, Mr. Harland, of Bromptea
near Scarborough, appeals to shipowners to do all in
their power to encourage seamen to provide therustives
with efficient lifebelts, either Captain Warcre or the
cork mattresi lifebeit recenoy brought under the
notice of the Admiralty by 4i:et-Admiral Ryder.
For humanity's sake, he says, IwOild suggest the
following Simple and comparative!, me.apsnsive
method of suppll ing the deficiency. Let PhiPOWLen
COMPPI the supply of s. lifeb,lt to each of tn-ir get.
men before a vessel leaves a home port for a fo.Sge
one, debiting each man with the prime cost, togethe
with a P mall additional charge for interest and
depreciation, returning the former and retaining the
latter on the ship's return to port, or otherwise compel
the purchase, in part or whole, in the first instance,
whiih latter method would be particularly applicable
to vessels in the home coasting trade. To say that the
supply of lifebelta to seamen would tend to make then
" chickemhearted," to the prejudice of their master's
interest, so far am the saving of their vesael might be
concerned, in the hour of danger, is absurd. On the
contrary, with such a powerful means of safety to fall
back upon, they could not fail to stand by their duty
with increased courage and coolness to th very lass,
The same should and would apply to paoiengers die,
and, if emigrants, the "cork mattresses" would be of
subsequent use to many of them for camping out, par.
ticularly on damp ground.

MURDER OF A HUSBAND. The Court of
Assizes of the Seine-Inferieure has tried a woman
named Ol.a,roul't aged 56, for the murder of her hus-
band. A widow, she had only six months before
married the deceased, a small farmer, 61 years of age
On the night of the 27th September last she strangled
him with a cord as he was asleep in bed, and thee
called in her neighbours, and pretended that the crime
had hen committed by robbers. No one, howesse
Leleved her story and she was arrested, and rubes!
quently confeasel after an ineffectual attempt to
commit suicide in prison. Her motive was to enjoy
immediately certain advantages assured to her by ha
marriage contract on the death of her husbanJ. She
was now condemned to hard labour for life.

THE BEIGAIeD'I3 BAFlKF.B.—Ransom.—Ploot
CASES OF LJNOEVITY.—The obituary of Ths
Times of Monlay, the 10th inst., contained some rn
markable illustrations of prolonged existence in Bevis
persons—viz., four ladies and three gentlemen. whose
united ages amounted to just 600 years, giving an
average of 8.5 years and more than eight months to
each ; of the ladies, the oldest had reached the gross
age of 93 years, the youngest being 80 yea's of age. Of
the opposite sex the oldest was 811, and the youngest
82. The ages of these seven persons were as follows:-
80, 82, 83, 85, 83, 89, and 93. In another colurou of
this paper the death, at the age of 91, was reels led of
the oldest officer of the Royal Regiment of Artillery—
viz., Captain William Gates, who died on the tith Wt.
at Plumstesel.

SEVERE SNOWSTORM AT BRAEMAR.- -OR Mon.
day the snowstorm continued with unabated severity,
and in consequence it was found expelent to supply
the deer and other cltniz.-ns of the forest with proves.
der. Previously they had not left their conies and
glens, but since the storm became so violent they have
come down to the places where the food is stored, is
large numbers. It is not anticipated that the deer and
other OM iM/1113 will suffer very greatly, as ample sr.
raiagemtnts have been made for feeding them. Os
Sunday, while a lad named Alexander Claris was clam-
ing a wild fowl on the loch at Lochgelly, he fell through
the ice. For some time he held on by the edge of the
ice, but, in consequence of the extreme cold, was cors
pelted to let go, and sank in deep water. The body
was not recovered for some time.
MEDIUMISTIC.—The "Haunted Houses" of
Tokenhouse Yard were sold the other day. It is said
that they were bought by the Spirits as a pied ,1 tun.
—Punch.

MARK TWAIN'S DROLLERY.—From "America
and Her Literature " in Temple Bar:—

"Mack Twain's great defect 15 that he is too firs; het
perhaps no writer in the language is more uniformly droll
Ih. digestive organs of the man who can go over relay page
of Mark's publications, without being called upon to exerehe
hie risible faculties must surely require immediate looking
after. Ilk humour, too, is always good humour, andia neve
cynical. It is thoroughly American. No foreigner le capable
of duly appreciating his quaint and characteristic sayings:
though we fancy hie works would necessarily evoke laughter
if they were translated into Cnaldee. And this power al
constraining the realer to grin in spite of himself Is not the
result of false spelling and barbarous grammar, as in US
instances of Josh Billings and A rtemus Ward It is quite
independent of any such auventitious aids. Be often uses
slang expression., because It la impossible to depict Wadden
character without resorting to such means ; but hie slang is
never diegu.tdig, and rarely offensive. ills "Jumping
Frogs" aol" Overland Sketches' introduce a class of pee.
SOUS and nomenclature unknown In polished circles, but the
dullest reader cannot fall to perceive that the author is
among them but not of them Be, even more than
Miller, seems to be reponing under the shade of his laurel
just at present; and he is right—his latest contributions to
the "Gal”y "displayed a very perceptible falling off. Be
needed rest • . and as his literary ventures have made him
p.cuniarily Independent of the world, he Is taking what lie
needed. All things considered, we believe that when the
history of American Literature comes to be written, the
name of Samuel Langhorne Omen. will be mentioned
among its founders. _ . .

.1\ ENV TOUltlitTB.—Every class of Society is
making progress. It is satiefactory to note that our
domestic servants are not insensible to the advantages
of foreign travel, but have begun to avail themselves
of the opportunity their anneal holiday affords them
of extending the area of their acquaintance with the
great world of which we are all citizens. We have
been led into these reflections by seeing advertised, is
in the pre,s, a Tour uuth Cook through Spain. We
could have wished it had been France, because of the
useful hints she might have gained from a personal
experience of the cookery of that country; but we will
hope this is a lesson Cook will learn in some future
Vacation Ramble.—Punch.

A CANNY SCOT.—OH one occasion 8 smal
laird was waited on by a neighbmr, to request his name
as an accommodation to a bit bill for I:20 at three
mouths, which led to the following characteristic
colloquy :—"Na, na, I canna dae that." "Why for
no, laird? ye hive dune the same thing for others.
"Ay, ay, Tarnmas, but there's wheels within wheels
ye ken naething shoot; I canna dae't," "It's a ems'
affair to refuse me, laird." "Wed, ye see Tammy% if
I was to pit my name tillt ye wad get the siller Ins
the bank, and when the time cam' round ye wades be
ready, and I wad hae to pay't ; sae then you and me
wad quarrel; sae we may just as weel quarrel the no,
as lang as the miller's in ma pouch."
MYSTEBIODE DEATH IN CALCUTTA.—The.
radian Daily News records the following :

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On Thurslay afternoon the body of Betio° ReSWUM
kfullick, the En-In law of the late }taboo Sham Churn
Mullick was found floating in a tank at Sealtah. it *she.
Breed the deceased was not sc.:Mentally drowned frsm the
following circumstances, lie had been to nglaud, and had
come out as a banister to practice here about three weeks
ago. When his father-in-law was ill and all hopes of reeovery
despaired of, Rmsecasse 31u11Ich was at Bombay, and • tele-
gram was sent to Min there. lie arrived in Calcutta the
morning on which his father in-law died, and sub*
fluently lift for Singapore, where it was slippiest, he
had left a lady whom he navried In Bogland. The relations
of the late Baboo Sham Churn Mullick having mason to be-
liem from various circumstances that Ressecasse Mallet
had become a Christian excommunicated him. After the
excommunication • meeting was held by the relations of
the deceased, and it was resolved that if Itneseeesse made
penance he would be reinstated into the family circle, fins
penance he had to, perform was, to IlilaYO his head, live upon
ghee for one day, bathe for a certain number of dap in the
Hooghly, and feed a number of Brahmins. The pert-inn'
&nee was to have commenced on Thi inlay, when the family
received the sad news that his body was found in a tank in
assaidah.

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ITALIAN COAL.—Mr. John Brunton, CE. of
Great George street, Westminster, writow t ) the Pali
Mall Gaelic : In your Occasi,nal Note in yesterday's
issue you remark on the large and incresoing Con-
sumption of English coal in Italy, reported on by
Consul Brown; you also express a hope that until the
great fuel question in this country is placed upon
more satisfactory footing Italy will have the kindness
to ec000m;z1 her consumption. Thin sentimmt will
find a hearty response at the fireside of every British
home at the preoent moment. It may be of interest to
your numerous readers to loam that the late discovery
of a coal-field in Italy will bring about a reduction of
our erporta to that country in a very short time. I am
able to speak authoritatively upon this point, having
during last month paid a profassion I visit to the
locality, and con csrtify both to the high qualiy 1 the
coal and to the large a-ea of the deposit.

•
SCENE IN • MeriAosris.—A letter from Tiffin
stetes that a scene of great excitement was witneee
a few days ago at the menagerie in the Piazzi
M. Bide!, a taco-rot wild beast., had been &crust -mei
to collect lions, lioneests, bears, and hyreoas in the
same den with a lamb, and to make them caress Vie
latter without doing it any injury. Do this occasien
be had thrust the head of the lttle animal into the
mouth of the lion, when suddenly the king of beasts
was neon to close its jaws, from which blood at once
flowed in abundence. The spectators were in consteri
nation, and uttered loud cries, supposing that the ex.
hihitor himself would be devoured the next moment
Itidel, however, struck the beast a smart blow on the
head with his cloned hand, and the deal body of the
lamb fell from its mou.h. The lion roared, lint at the
order of the tamer went sullenly to lie down in a corner
of the cage. At that moment a lioness) rushed Nt the
exhibitor, but fortunately only tore the sleeve of Ida
shirt. Niel then retreated to another corner, mid
ordered by a gesture Ms terrible pupils to withdraw
into another compartment. They all obeyed, and
the man then profited by that moine.it to twilio his
escape from the cage.
TELEGRA PHING THE ILAAL SPEECH. —The
transmission of the Queen'm Speech by telegraph on
Thursday was among the fastest on record (ens the
Scotsman). The Speech contained 858 words, lei,'
graphieally speaking, and it was tr&nnmittedti Virk
by \Vheatstones automatic instrument in six and a half
minutes, or at a speed of 132 words • minute. To Bit'
mingharn, Manchester, and Liverpool it was trace.
milted by the eatne means in seven and a half minutes
to Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds, and Newcastle hi
seven and three-quarter minutes, and to Bradt ed ci
eight minutes. The quickest of the hand-sending .i,-
cnits was that to Reading, where the Speech we
finished in 18 and a half minutes, the epeed twhig 40
words a minute. Then follow Brighton, Si' mtharepioa,
and Peterborough in respectively 19, 22i, ant 20
minutes. In the three last-mentioned cases the opt-
retire were young ladies. Of the more distant stenos
for which the automatic instrument was used, Glogoi
finished first—viz., in In mines' es, Edinburgh next in
13 and a half minutes, or at 2 24 p.m; whi.e Belfast
Dohliu fi lobed 0t229.nd 2 30 p.m. respectively.
It Nati foul iispAsible to work to Dundee and Aber.
&en on Thursday by the automatic system, BO thst
hanitsending had to be resorted to, the finish being at
23, and 2•37 p.m. respectively. The lest Wheatstone
circuit to finish was that to Cork, at 247 p.m., acid tir
la t hail vnit that tsi Bury St. tdmuet., at 207
p.m. The traneinission from the central station W"
witnessed by Mr. Seudamore and several of the jlndli*
cipal officers of the Deportment.