The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-01-17
"A Breach Of
Promise Case
By F. A. mitchell

ingS toward you, but she has decided
to pursue the profession she has been
studyiDg under my tutelagc. We are
IL race Of lawyers, and my daughter in
herits the family inclination. After
giving an affirmative answer to your
suit she fell to considering that mar
rage would necessarily prevent her
following 4 legal career"
1T GEMS to nc. judge, that this is u
case of breach of promise. l, too, have
inherited legal instincts from a long
line of %jurists. My great grandfather
was an associate United States justice,
my grandfather was an eminent crini-
nal law.er:-
Enough. You enter Il charge against
my daughter. OF brench OF promise.
Aou shall have an opportunity to sub
stantiate it and she to plead"
The judge called Il maid and told her
to ask Miss Margaret to step into his
study. The lady came in, somewhat
surprised to see Mr.. Tanning there and
curious to know why she had been
summoned.
<. NY uCtl, I e SltuCI NIL.
flaming charges you With breach Of
promise. do not understand that it
is for the purpose of claiming dam
ages. but l cannot allow you to treat
any one unfairly. What have you to
say to the charge of accepting him and
then. throwing him overY
Il plead no guilty"
Very well. Now, Tanning, you may
proceed to state your case"
My attentions to Miss Margaret
have been noticeable and noticed b.
our mutual friends for months. She
has accepted various tritles from me.
especially gifts of flowers. indicating
that my attentions We're agreeable to
her. Last evening I called upon her.
We were sitting in u cozy room in this
house before a fire of blazing logs. An
aroma Of the last lot of cut flowers l
sent her, arranged in a Dresden vase
by her own shapely hands. peryaded
the apartment. The CHEEKY freight
|c%ontrasted delightfully."- with the winter
| gloom without. We sat side by side
on Il large
II obiect!' cried the lady.
1.-The objection is not sustained rul-
ed the judge.
Nevertheless l prefer to respect the
defendants Wishes" said the plaintiff.
Il will omit the rest OF what happened
except 50 far as it pertains to the law
Of contracts. l then and there asked
your daughter to be my wife. Her
head sank
II object again." cried the lady.
::.The plaintiff states in II breath that
he will omit what happened except as
to a.contract he claims to have been
made and in the next breaks his prom
ise."
II beg the defendants pardon" con-
timed Mr.. Tanning. "What occurred
was the delight of my life. was in a
whirl: of joy
Eyes, YES" interrupted the judge.
| The court understands all that. He
has been there himself, though many
years ago. Please contine yourself to
tLe.cOntract."
N!"Your daughter, her beautiful face
buried against my breast. whispered
Yes"
There We're a few moments of silence.
when the judge announced to his
daughter that he was ready to hear
her defense.
"sYour HONOR" she began-'I mean
papa-I base my defense upon that law
which has protected many a minor in
I'M inheritance, the law against exert
ing undue influence upon a testator.
! Mr.. Tanning sought to deprive the no
bic profession of the law of my life's
services. He took advantage of our
pleasant surroundings. the cheerful
! freight. the aroma of flowers, the lux
urious sofa
CHAIR" interrupted the plaintiff.
Twill you protect me?' cried the girl.
appealing to her father.
Another such interruption" said the
Judge sternly to Tanning. land ! will
fine you for contempt"
II claim" the defendant proceeded.
that MI. Tanning took advantage Of
these surroundings to unduly influence.
me to bequeath myself to him instead
Of my natural heir, the law"
And l claim" urged the plaintiff.
that in giving herself to the law the
defendant disinherits her natural heirs.
I husband and children, besides wreck
ing the life Of myself. the plaintiff in
'his case"
A silence followed these words, which
were spoken with great depth of feel
Ing. It was broken by the Judge. who
asked Of Tanning:
"D0 you desire to enter any rebuttal
Of. my daughters statement"
"No, your honor. ! rest my case,
which 1 have summed up In my last
words-that IL the contract Is broken
It will result in the wrecking Of my
iife."
81 reserve my decision" said the
Judge: .sThe court will take a recess
TOR half an hour. at the end Of which
Itimeythe DECISIONS / be handed down.
Hesrehred from the room, leaving the
plaintif and defendant together. In
exactay half an hour he returned and.
seating himself. appeared to be franz
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