The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-23 00:00:00

SECONDARIES' OFFICE.

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE—OWEN V. SHARPE.
This was an action to recover compensation for a
breach of 'promise of marriage.
Mr. CLARKSON said that the plaintiff was a milliner
in Northampton, and in the year 1831 she became
acquainted with the defendant, who was the Eon of
respectable persons who possessed some property. At
that time he avowed himself her admirer, and it was
agreed that they should he married whenever he ob-
tained a situation, or the means of supporting a wife.
Those attentions continued until the year 1637, when he
obtained a situation in the Board of Control, of
200/. a-year. He commenced a correspondence with
the plaintiff, and his letters, from the time he got
into the situation, breathed the most ardent and
sincere affection. His addresses to the plaintiff were
with the full concurrence of his family. In April, how-
ever, his letters began to assume a colder tone, and he put
off the match on the plea of ill health. Each succeeding
letter was indicative of his intention to break off the
match, and, on the 24th of July, plaintiff received the
last letter, which announced that their connection was
dissolved. This so affected her that she was obliged to
leave her situation, and go to an aunt's, where she re-
mained for three months, suffering the most poignant
mental agony, as well as bodily ill health. On the 7th of
August, subsequent to the '24th of July, the date of the
last letter, the defendant married a widow of the name
of Winch, who, as it was stated by counsel, had an an-
nuity from a former husband, and in whose house ho
lodged, in Park-street, Camden-town, some time pre-
viously. The Learned Counsel put in several letters
from the defendant, which were subsequently read.
Mrs. Prideaux, the sister of the defendant's wife, on
his letters being shown her, stated that she had never
seen him write, and therefore could not identify his
hand-writing.
Cross-examined—She only knew the defendant two
months before his marriage with her sister, who was 35
years of age ; the defendant was 29. When he married
her she was a widow with four children. She had no
annuity from her former husband, and had it not been
for the assistance she received from her friends, she
would not have been able to live. Previous to her mar-
riage with the defendant she had a furnished house ;
but the furniture was not worth much. Tile defendant
was in a very delicate state of health, and was at great
expense for doctors.
Miss Green, milliner, in Northampton, stated that
the plaintiff lived with her in the year 1837. Defen-
dant visited her as an accepted suitor, and it was with
3', so much so that de-
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plaintiff to come and see her. Plaintiff always conducted
herself with the greatest propriety. In November,
1837, defendant asked her (witness) would she come up
to London in the following month, and be present at
their marriage. Witness replied that April was the
season when she visited L.)ndon, and she could not go
until that month. Defendant then said that the mar-
riage should be put off until that time. On the plaintiff
receiving the last letter of the defendant, breaking off
the match, it so affected her that she was obliged to
leave her situation, and was not able to return to it for
three months.

Other evidence was adduced in support of the plain-
tiff's case, showing that she was uniformly well conducted.
Mr. C. JONES addressed the Jury on the part of the
defendant, and left it to them to say whether under his
state of health, and with a wife and four children, with
the prospect of an increase, his salary of 2001. a year
was adequate to support them. He hoped that they
would give such moderate damages as the peculiar cir-
cumstances of the case warranted.
The SECONDARY having summed up the evidence,
The Jury retired for ten minutes, and returned a
verdict for the plaintiff-1501. damages.