The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-26
BnRAOra OF PROMISE.
An English Baptist Clergyman Whs
Admired the Wisdom OF So. Pnul.

An English Baptist Clergyman who
Admlred the wisdom OF So. Paul.
London Newal
In the Exchequer Division on Decem-
Der LIST, before Baron Pollock and a
special jury, the case of Hall against
Tarbox, an action for breach Of promise
of marriage, was tried.
The defendant denied the alleged
promise, and said that it had been re-
scinded by mutual consent. The plaintiff
replied that if she had ever consented to
rescission she had done so owing to GER
tain misrepresentation Of the defendant,
and that the defendant himself had
waived his rescission of the contract.
Mr.. Waddy, @. c., and Mr.. Croft ap-
peared for the plaintiff, and Mr.. Law
renee, @. O., and Mr.. Hutchins repre-
sented the defendant
Mr.. Waddy opened the case very briefly,
stating that he hoped the jury would
award his client substantial damages, as
the defendant was the only son of gen.
tleman of great wealth.
Miss Mary Esther Hall, the plaintiff,
said she was the daughter of Baptist
minister at Kilburn, and lived at Wyck-
life Villa, Chippenham Gardens, Kill
burn. She became acquainted with the
defendant when he was living at No. s
College Crescent, and was student at
Kilburn College for preparation for the
Baptist ministry. The defendant was
member of her fathers congregation,
and was introduced to her in August,
1875, by some mutual friends. She was
received by the defendants parents as
his betrothed after they became engaged
in July, 1875. So.
On the Both of June, 1878, the de-
fendant wrote to her from Addlestone,
in Surrey, where he was minister, saying
that he had then found how unwise and
rash he had been in getting engaged un-
til he was able to fulfill his promise +;
that he was unable to find house to
suit them; but that his duty to God was
to stop and work where he was; that he
had found how wise the Church of Rome
was in her rule of celibacy, for none but
rich rectors ought to burden themselves
with wives, and, probably, troops of
children; that she had no rival in the
world; that he was very fastidious and
strange man, and did not realize the idea
Of a minister's wife in the plaintiff; nor
considered any woman was fit for that
post; that he admired the wisdom of
Paul, who said that minister might
marry, but to abstain in toto was best of
all; that as, however, he was engaged,
he would, be ready to fulfill his promise
if he were held to it. The last words
were underlined.
She replied to that letter by saying
that she could not marry man who did
not love her we'll enough to wish to make
her his wife-it was rather cruel to win
the whole of ones heart and then wish
for celibacy. She had remarked that his
. letters had been cold lately, and she had
not therefore been able to open her heart
to him as she used to do; but as his let
ter was simply request for release, since
he wished it, she would grant it. and
would return his gifts. The defendant
wrote in answer to the effect that he ha(
asked for advice, and she had sent him
release. He had expected an income 0
ESQ or 4200, but had only received 8aQ
and when he had referred for advice t
the girl he loved in his trouble, sht
cruelty flung him of. She wrote in an
swer saying that the defendants letter
q had induced her to come to the conclu
sion that he wished her to break it of
but she would be ready to wait for him
and signed herself "Your Own Mary
The defendant, after the letter, still
treated her as affectionately and kindl,
as before. In November, when the de
, fendant was at her fathers house, he
. mother found them sitting together, tn
, defendant having his arm round he
waist. That was the last visit he paid II
her fathers house, and the last letter sh
! received was in December.
3 Before that date, however,. the de
= fendant wrote that he was "comfortabl,
' settled" and afterward that he was "al
. altered being" as his head had at las
n conquered his heart, and his conscienc
t was clear. In answer to another lette
; from her, the defendant said that he di'
; not wish to have an interview with hel
, because the sight of her face and SCUM
of her voice would revive feeling
i which would not be safe, and anger wa
! useless and unseemly upon the subject
+ She subsequently wrote, asking him t
e forget the apparent coldness she ha
! shown to him and his parents, as under
5 meath there was great intensity of affet
9 tion, and hoping he would let the er
0 gagement stand for six months. The dt
, fendants father was retired law sts
e toner and publisher, and the defendan
: told her that he had private means {
: his own, and that his father lived COZ
i siderably within his means. The d.
# fendant was still the Baptist minister Q
!. Addlestone, in Surrey.
j In cross-examination the plaintiff sal
3 that on the 3Oth of August the engage
!. ment still held good, but she thought tn
\ defendant wished it to be known tbs
: he would not be able to marry her {
It soon as he had intended. On the 18th {
e September the defendant wrote lette
;; in which he said that fretting or waitin