Irish Law Intelligence.
The Times, 1824-12-11T00:00:00

fihe U;TilEDP JUSTICE having shortlv atter ten o'clock taken his seat on tbe bench, and a special jury, swamrn the day before, having resumed their seats in the box, the adjourned case of " MIaddock v. Elizabeth Nolan and 30ha Jo Iahon, executors of the late James O'Flanagan," was called on. This action was to recover the sum of 2,0001., &c. from thc (lefendants, as representatives of thc late S1r. O'Flanagan, which sum it was alleged he had promised should be setled on his grand-niece, the daughter of a Mrs. Cocking, should the former be married to the plaintiff. The marriage did take place. The plaintiff rested his case, which was stated by Mir. Sergeant Goold on Mf onday, principally on a letter from AMr. O'Flanagan to Mlrs. Cocking, in answer toaletter orlettersofhers, datedf rom Bath, the 1Ith of January, 1815, stating that the plaintiff had paid his addresses to ber daughter, praising him in strong terms, and re- questing his assistance to consummate the match between the plain- tiffand her daughter. It appearod that Mlrs. Cocking oan that occa- sion entreated her uncle, Mr. O'Flanagan, to write her a letter ex- pressive of his acquiescence in hier wishes, stating the fortune her daughter was to expect from him, and respecting other things which she pointed out; which letter was to be shovm to the plaintiff. as he had previously inquired from her (Milrs. Cocking) as to her daugh. ter's expectations from her family, &. Mlr. O'CoNNELL, for the defendants, animadverteg with con. siderable severity on Airs. Cocking's letter or letters. They were a combination of maudling sentiment,wild affectation,and meanness. Ohl ! if she could accorplish her views respecting her dear AMary Anne, sie would think of nothing after but her God. She would not indulge herself with a drop of wine-he (the plaintiff). slie said, would bring her daughter to Dublin Castle. He was "a sWeet young,"' " good young man," charming young-she represented him as possessing property; also, tbat be was of te " first fashion" his father of great respectability in London * and he, too, a near relative of " a nobleman's wife in Bath, a Lady. Young." (Lauglhter.) This was all done (said Mr. O'Connell) to flat- ter the prejudices and the Connaught pride of the old Alilesian M3r. O'Flanaggn; and she stated, amongst other things, in a letter to Airs. Nolan, beginniag with "M My beloved Sister,-TheseEng- lislimen are odd people; they wish to think the ladies love them (laughter); and she, after all these expressions. asks this O'Flana gan, living in the wilds of Connaught, to write to her in " the lov- ing, kind, and elegant manner he used always to do." Mr. O'CoR. nei, after commenting for a lengtl of time on these epistles, stated that they contained gross misrepresentations in various respects. The marriage between the plaintiff and Mliss Cocking took olace on 1 the 7th of March, at the house of Colonel Nelly, at Bath. Co- lonel NeDly receIved a letter fronm Mr. O'Flanagan on the 5th of MIarch, dated the 27th of February, begging of him (Colonel Nel- ly) to look into the plaintiff's circumstances, and if they were not better than. he (the plaintiff') had represen ted them,he would wash his hands out of the business. Colonel Nell proved that he commu- nicated the contents of this letter tothe ptaintiff on the morning of the marriage; be, however, added, that had the match been then broken- off, the younglady's character wvouhl have been destroyed. She could not live in Bith, nor come to her native cocntry without thr finger of scorn being pointed to her, for the marriage bans had been previoaslv published, and he (the plaintiff) had even lived in the same hotel with Aiss Cocking and her mother, as a person that was soon to be the former's husband. Mlr. O'Connell, how%ever, urged. that even if the first letter containcd any contract, thesubse- quent one to Colonel Nelly before the rnairiaze was a retractation. About five o'clock the Jury retired, and, aftera few minutes' ab- sence, brought in a verdict for the plaintiff, of 2,4801. (including in- terest), and 6d. tests. Mr. O'CoNeELt, stated a number of objections against the learned Judge'.. charge, which, with his Lordship's permission, lie would reserve for a case, and place on the record. His Lordship assented. IRISH LA ITV lArLLIGEAfCE. COURT OF KICNG'S BENCH. Dvrmmv. DEc. 7. BREACH OF PROIXlSE OF SETTLEMtENT.