Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-10-22


NORTHERN cIRcurr-LANcAsTER, THURSDAY.
BRE ACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.
Hall VS.. Gr,ndy-Mr BrOugham sand this
was an action brought by the plalntiff, Miss Ann
Hall. TO recover compensation in damages from
the defendant, Mr.. James Grundy, tor the injury
which she had sustained, by reason OF hlsreiusal
10 perfom promise Of marriage which he had made
her. The plaintiff was the daughter OF person
now dead, who resided at Furness, In the county
of Chester, and had amassed some property as
dealer in Goals and states. The defendant was
also man of some substance; being the owner OF
several houses and other property, OF which ne
was not slow to boast when his object was to pro-
cure the consent of Miss Hall and her relations,
to the marriage which he had proposed to her,
He was also part proprietor Of a coach from Man
chester to Buxton, which he occasionally drove.
Whether it was entirely love that prompted him
20 paw his addresses or whether it might not have
been with some view to emolument, the Jury
would Judge, when they learnt that before declar-
ing himself, he made inquiries as to the property
she was likely to have. Being informed that her
fathers property would be equally divided among
her two brothers and herself. he forthwith paid
her his addresses; and being favorably received,
it was agreed BY the parties that marriage should
take place on the Goth OF April. But whetherit
was that he had heard Of some richer bride, or
from whatever other cause his faithlessess might
arise certain it was. that when the appointed day
arrived, he refused to perform his promise; and
left the Young lady exposed to all the morthca-
ton which naturally arose from disappointment
under such circumstances. As the defendant
had taken care to put his promise of marriage IN
writing, there could be no doubt that the plainlih
would be entitled to verdict; and the only ques
ton would he the amount OF damages. On That
question they would. no doubt, hear very inge-
NOUS speech from his learned friend. Mr.. Will
! !iams) who was Council for the defendant, and
who. he must say, put as much INTO little com
pas, as any body he knew Ia laugh. lie (Mr.
Brousham, did not know VII, his learned friends
should laugh at his pra sing his learned friends
! brevity, quality for which he highly valued
( himself loud laughter. II really seemed as II
the lons-winded fellows behind him thought that
! he meant to make an attack on their bread, when
he expressed his appreciation Of hi, friends bre-
witty; but he meant no such thing. Let them be
! as long winded as they thought proper. and allow
him and his learned friend to take their own Nay
! in such matters. His learned friend would. as
ne had before observed, 40 doubt, with his accus-
! toned brevity, and his accustomed humour, at
tempt to laugh the cause out of Court and to per-
: suade the Jury, that because the defendant was
only coachman, and the plaintiff the daugh er
of man who dealt in Goals. the Jury ought not
/ to give any damages to the plaintiff. He (Mr
| RrOugham( trusted the Jury would not be wrought
upon by the humour of his learned Friend to de-
! nv the plaintiff that compensation to which she
was fairly entitled. The following witnesses
were then Called
! John Hall: am the brother of the plaintiff;
have known the defendant about two years; he
4 ~ n L L. n.,x
ton. He saws he is a man II property. In Janua-
~ last INV father died; he was coal agent; his
property was to be divided equally between his
three children; in February last was in the ha-
bit of travelling by the defendants coach, he sand
| he understood nv father had died interstate, and
that my sister would have share of the proper
"; I said II there was shilling she should have
tourpence OF it; afterwards saw the defendant
at Manchester; ne told me he was paving his adj
dresses to nv sister; he said she had nothing to
do but to hang her bonnet up his house; he took
ME through his house, to let me see that he want
ed nothing; he then took me To see some proper
ty Of his in Bridgewater streett consisted Of some
cottages and public house, called the Peveril Of
the Peak; I saw him afterwards at fuxton; he
told he was to be married to my sister on the Goth
If April, and invited me to the wedding; l pro-
missed to 20; my sisters fortune will be about a
| thousand pounds.
Cross examined bv Mr.. Williams: The defend
ant has a very red face; do not know that he
Iimps, never observed it: do not know that he
| is an old man--he may be forty or fifty, but
| really cannot tell how old he is.
What! l suppose he is passed mark of mnuth'
cannot say; do not know peoples ages by
| heir mouths.
MIR. Brouebam: Do think he is as old as
| nv friend Mr.. Wiliamss
Witness: No; think he is not a laugh.
Mr. Brougkam: Well, do YOU think he is as
old as | am?
Witness: No; am sure he is not loud laugh
| teri.
Mr. Brougham: Well, my friend has the ad-
vantage.
Mrs. Ann Hall. wife of the last witness, prov
ed that she saw the defendant leave letter at
her house, addressed to the plaintiff, and denti-
fled letter, which was produced a. the same
which she then saw.
The letter was put in and read. 1t was to the
ell