Damages £10 Print E-mail

An action for a breach of promise was heard before Mr. Justice LUSH at Leeds Assizes on Monday. The plaintiff, Agnes METCALF, is a woman 37 years old, living at Bradford, and the defendant, Mr. CALSORT, is a farmer some fifty years of age, living at Swithens, near Halifax.
 
Mr. Laurence GANE, in opening the case, said the defendant by his statement denied the promise, but he did not appear. The parties had known each other some 16 or 17 years, and in 1872 the defendant told her he was going to take a farm at Thornton, and he asked her if she would go with him as his wife. The plaintiff had had a child some years before, and the parents mentioned this. The defendant said he knew all about that, and did not think any worse of her for that. She had not another since. He intended to make her his wife, and he would do as much as he could for the boy. The defendant after this frequently visited the plaintiff, and on many occasions promised to marry her.
 
Some time last year the defendant took the present farm, and he asked her if she would keep house for him. Seeing as she was engaged to him, the plaintiff did not see anything improper in this, and, after consulting with her mother she went to his house in August last, and for some time she managed his house. During that time he seduced her and she became  pregnant. She went over to see him in October last, and told him of her condition. He told her he was already married, and that if he could marry two he would marry her. She told him she should bring an action against him for not fulfilling his promise. He said she could not, as she had no written proofs, and her mother was dead and could not come as a witness. He said he knew she could father the child upon him, but that was nothing. She asked him why he had married another woman. He replied, “Everybody must look out for themselves. I know I shall have a little to pay to you, but I shall gaim more by the other.”
 
The plaintiff had since been told that the defendant was not married. Sarah Ann McCLAIRNS, the plaintiff’s sister, corroborated her sister.
 
The Foreman of the Jury: We should like to know if she can come upon him afterwards?
 
His Lordship: She can affiliate her child upon him.
 
The jury returned a verdict for £10. His Lordship gave judgment.
 
 
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