The Northern Guardian. — 1896-06-03 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

TEESDALE BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.  AMUSING EVIDENCE.  DOUBLE SUICIDE ARRANGED. yesterday, at a special sitting of the Barnard Castle County Court—before Judge Turner—an action for breach of promise of marriage came on for hearing. The plaintiff, Margaret Ellen Heslop, was the daughter of the regimental tailor of the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, and the defendant was NVilliarn Smith Chambers, engineer at the North-Eastern County School. Mr Piper (of the firm M Richardson and Piper) appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr H. Gawan Taylor, barrister, instructed by Mr J. H. Holmes, of Barnard Castle, defended. Damages were laid at £lOO. Mr Piper said the plaintiff was 21 years of age on the 17th May. She used to be in the laundry at the school, and Chambers asked her to walk out with him, contrary to the rules of the school. This clandestine courtship was carried on for some time, and was eventually discovered, and Miss Heslop was " carpeted " by the matron, and promised not to offend again. The love affair was continued. Soon after they qnarrelled, however. He seemed attracted by the head laundress. Six or seven months afterwards the defendant gave the plaintiff a letter. She replied to it, but he said it was no answer. He asked her if she wished to become engaged to him, as he meant every word contained in the letter, and had loved her ever since she first went to the school. She. agreed to be engaged, but asked him to see her father. He did so, and the young lady felt quite happy. On Good Friday last year she went to Newcastle with him. He asked her if she wonld like to live there, and she said she would very much like to do so. She quarrelled with defendant, about a Miss White, who, she was told, was possessed of thousands, while she had to work for all she got. Chambers said that if he could not be united to the plaintiff he would shoot himself with a revolver, which he produced, but Miss Heslop took possession of the revolver, and kept it. He afterwards suggested that they should mutually commit suicide over the fields, but neither party kept the engagement. (Laughter.) Both parties bought furniture, and made every prepare. tion for the marriage, but Chambers neglected to see Miss Heslop off to Newton-le-Willows, where at ilaydock Lodge Private Asylum she had gained a mere lucrative situation as laundress. She sent him a Christmas card with an ivy leaf, indicating that she still clung to him. Beyond that there was no correspondence. But; Miss Goodwin, now the head laundress at the aahool, wrote and told her at HiLydock Lodge that Mr Chambers had been married to Miss White, about whom they 11A quarrelled. She was much troubled, because she rosily loved Chambers. The plaintiff, a young lady of prepossessing appearance, gave evidence in support of the opening address, and was subjected to a long cross-examination. Mr Gawan Taylor, for the defence, maintained that there was no acceptance of the promise, and if there really was any acceptance the defendant was fully exonerated from the promise by the plaintiff on the 29th June last. The defendant and others having given evidence, 3 verdict was returned for plaintiff for £52 lOs and