The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-08-16

Remarkable Breach OF Promise Case In
Yorkshire, England-A Woman Tilted az
ter an Engagement of Thirty years
| Two children Born TO the Lovers-A
Verdict in Favor of the Plaintiff
From the London Daily News, July 27.l
/ At the Leeds summer assizes on We'd
nesday. before Mr. Justice Lush, an
action was brought by lydia Dixon against
/ William Brearley to recover damages for
"a breach OF promise Of marriage Mr.
Digby Seymour and Mr.. Heaton Cadman
were for the plaintiff, and Mr. Waddy and
DIR. West tor the defendant In opening
the case Mr. Seymour said defendant de-
| MED the promise OF marriage and said that
sufficient time had NOT elapsed All he
Mr.. Seymour could say was that ii thirty
years courtship was not long enough he
was much mistaken. Laughter This
case was 10 some respect remarkable one.
The plaintiff was the daughter of parents
IN humble circumstances, and during many
years OF her lite in various situations near
lSouthowram, Halifax The defendent was
now a currier in SouthoWram and on the
9th of May last be married the widow of
a substantial butcher 10 that neighborhood.
de formed an acquaintance with, and pro
posed marriage to, the plaintiff when she
was only II years of age She vas now
40. Laughter And humorous as it was
10 one sense, he thought when the Jury
heard the case it would assume. as far as
the plaintiff was concerned, different as
pect. The facts show that the conduc. of
| the defendant was very heartless, and there
were incidents IN the case which led her to
trust him down to the very last. lie
had a number of letters which were
written long time ago, and which
showed that the parties commenced. at
least, with honorable intentions. They
were remarkable epistles, and showed how
religion and love fell in together aud
gave tone to the mind of the writer
The defendant began 10 the tone, he was
going to say, of the prayer book-"Deariy
beloved" Laughter He Mr. Sey-
mour was not surprised the letter began
thus, for it was written on Sunday even
ing. Renewed laughter. The letter,
which was dated April 8, 1847, went on as
follows:
Il hope you have arrived safe and well
and that you are in good health and spirits.
as 1t leaves me at present My dear, [
was much affected this morning on opeu.
ing that which you gave me on SUNDAY
night last. My heart was almost melt.
ed within me, when loI to my surprise
Remember me. | shall ever
remember you. my love, and [ hope we
shall meet again as fresh as the lily of the
valley and the rose ia May doth appear. -
= Laughter.
Which was the rose and which the liIv.
he Mr.. Seymour did not know. If he
we're the rose, it left sharp thorn behind.
and gave her very severe sting. Re-
newed laughter. Letter continuing. said
oh, only be faithful, upright, true and
chaste, and render unto me. and / will rem
der unto you, saith the Lord
Loud laughter.
Write me, love, and let the pen have
its free course, as paper is very trifing.
Your dear. affectionate lover.
WILLIAM BREARLEY.
In the next letter he sang in higher
strain. He sighed:
"oh, that had wings like dove.
would fly TO the arms of my love.
To take kiss so sweetiY."
Laughter. He then wrote:
Il hope you are still content and In good
spirits, for | am 10 excellent health and
courage, and spirits as high as the heavens,
tor wonders never cease, aud sorrow still
decreaseth for prosperity smileth, and
hope you will give me an answer for | shall
meet Mary on Sunday night it is LETT to you
alone"
The letter went on to say that prosperity
smiled on him. He Mr.. SEYMOUR hoped
that it did so still. and that he might be
able to pay the damages which might be
found against him, Laughter. From
this time down to May last defendant fire.
quently alluded to his position with regard
to the plaintiff in the presence of the mem
bers of her family, and had made her re-
peated promises of marriage, Trusting in
him, she gave way to his entreaties, and in
the year 1858 so far forgot himself as to be-
come the mother of child, daughter,
which was still alive, and which had been
affiliated on the defendant Two or three
years afterWard she gave birth to another
daughter, which was still living, but very
delicate, and which was also affiliated upon
defendant After the birth cf the children
he continued to be extremely kind to the
mother and as the children grew up he fre-
queptly asked them to call him father. "
lie made them many presents, more or
less liberal, and acted toward them In every
way becoming man who intended to be
joined in wedlock with their mother. De-
PENDANT excused himself from not. carrying
out his repeated promises by saying that
his father was living aud wanted him to
stay at home. Some tie in 1872 or 1878
he gave the plaintiff sum of ESQ for her
daughter. The evening prior to his mar
riage with the butcher widow. he called
upon plaintiff, made her a present of ESQ.
and asked whether his wishes in regard to
the other ESQ had been carried out. He
never told her anything about his intended
marriage. but led plaintiff to believe that
he was making all this provision with the
view of making her his wife. On one
occasion, when a remark was made about
plaintiff daughters, to the effect that they
were sensitive about their position, the de-
PENDANT replied. What should they be
ashamed of? [ mean to make them all
right. AS soon as the old gaffer has gone
vel all live honorably and happily to-
gether." However. be married the widow
of butcher on the 9th of May last.
Lydia Dixon, the plaintiff. gave cor
roborating evidence. She added that she
received letter from the defendant to
the following effect:
Remember. love, the night you left the
Adgill Grove, for you only are the joy OF
my heart. Remember. love. the
hours we have passed together. Excuse
my bad writing. Let neither falseheod
nor deceit abide 10 either.
Yes, thou art dear unto my heart,
More dear than words can tell
and il fault be cherished there,
IT'S loving thee too WELL"
Loud laughter.
Other witnesses having been examined,
Mr.. Waddy addressed the jury, vino ulti-
mately gave q verdict for the plaintiff