The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-01-09
A Breach Of
Promise Case
BY +. A. mitchell

my daughter" said Judge Leadbet-
ter to Mr.. Ralph flaming, ''since send
ing you to me to ask for her haAd has
changed her mind. Not as to her feel
1ngs toward you. but she has decided
to pursue the profession she has been
studying under my tutelage. We are
u 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 a legal career"
1T seems to me. Judge, that this Is q
case Of breach Of promise. l, too, have
inherited legal instincts from long
line Of jurists. My great grandfather
was an associate United States justice,
my grandfather was an eminent crimi-
nal law. err
Enough. You enter charge against
my daughter Of breach Of promise.
You shall have an opportunity to sub
stantiate it and she to plead"
The judge called 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.
"My DEAR" said her father, "Mr.
Tanning charges you with breach of
promise. l do not understand that it
is for the purpose of claiming dam
ages, but cannot allow you to treat
any one unfairly. What have you to
say to the charge of accepting him and
then throwing him over?"
II plead not guilty"
Every well. Now, Tanning, you may
proceed to state your case"
MY attentions to Miss Margaret
have been noticeable and noticed by
our mutual friends for months. She
has accepted various trifles from me,
gifts Of flowers, indicating
that my attentions were agreeable to
her. Last evening called upon her.
We were sitting in cozy room in this
house beforea fire Of blazing logs. An
aroma Of the last lot of cut flowers I
sent her, arranged In a Dresden vase
by her own shapely hands. pervaded
the apartment. +. The CHEEKY freight
contrasted delightfully."- with the winter
gloom without. We sat ode by side
on a large
Il objectw cried tho lady.
THE objection Il not sustained.' rul-
ed the Judge.
Nevertheless I prefer TO respect the
defendants Wishes" said the plaintiff.
Il will omit the rest Of what happened
except % far a. It pertains % tho law
Of contracts. / then and there asked
your daughter to be my wife. Her
head sank
Il object again. cried the lady.
The plaintiff states In one breath that
be will omit what happened except g
to q contract he claims to have been
made and in tho next breaks his prom.
49," .S.t.z g
II beg the Defendants pardon" COO.
tinusd Mr.. Tanning. "What occurred
was the delight Of my ME. Iwas IN 4
whlrl of5oy"-
"Yes, yes" Interrupted the juage.
The court understands ill that He
has been there hDmsslf. though many
years ago. Please conflns yourself to
the contract"
"Your daughter. her beautiful face
buried against my breast whispered
Yes"
There were a few moments Of silence,
when the judge announced to bis
daughter that he was ready to hear
her defense.
"Your honor" she began-"I aean
paps-I base my defense upon that law
which has protected many q minor In
an Inheritance. the law against exert
Ing undue influence upon q testator.
Mr. Tanning sought 10 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.
"Will you protect meT' cried the girl,
appealing to her father.
Another such interruption" said the
Judge sternly to Tanning. "and I will
nne you for contempt"
II claim" the defendant proceeded,
that Mr.. Tanning took advantage Of
these surroundings to unduly influence
me to bequeath myself to him instead
Of my natural heir, the law
"And claim" urged the plaintiff,
that in giving herself to the law the
defendant disinherits her natural heirs.
4 husband and children, besides wreck
ing the life of myself, the plaintiff in
this case"
A silence followed these words, which
were spoken with great depth of feel
ing. 1t was broken by the Judge, who
asked Of Tanning:
do you desire to enter any rebuttal
Of my daughters statement"
'"No, your honor. I rest my case,
which l have summed up in, my last
words-that If the contract Is broken
It will result in, the wrecking of my
life"
II reserve my decision" said the