'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎90v] (180/1386)

before that date ne
from the defendant’s sister :—
Mr. Gardiner.—You must not come here any more. Keep away
You worry my sister, made her unite ill. I shall have some friends
to lire with us.—E. Land.
Counsel told the jury that he could not appeal to
them on sentimental grounds, but there was some
thing solid behind it. The defendant was getting on
in years and had to look to the future not like young
people, who lived always in the present.
The Undfu-Sheriff. —But all the affection was in
the past here. She had remained true to her first
love, but he did not, is not that it ?
Counsel.—He may not Jaave, but if she was true to
her first love, when she had an opportunity of entering
into a contract for the remainder of her life he backed
out of it.
The Undkf.-S uekiff.— That is after he had been
married twice before.
Counsel.— She has entered into a contract and must
pay for it.
The Under-Sheriff, —I thought ladies were
allowed a second opinion.
Counsel.—You know, sir, that if they do they have
to pay for the second.
The Under-Sheriff. —I know nothing at all
about it.
Counsel.—I am talking of you as a lawyer, not as a
lover. (laughter.) I am not suggesting for one
moment that you have been in a similar position.
(Laughter.)
Counsel suggested that the sister had played
I some part in preventing the wedding from taking
! place.
The Under-Sheriff.—T he fact that she was not
! the chosen one ; a little sisterly jealousy, eh ! You
are raising our curiosity very much, you know, to see
this Adonis.
Counsel.—1 am not suggesting that he is an Adonis ;
I he is just, an ordinary every day man.
The Under-Sheriff.— This is the fourth lady’s
heart he has broken.
Counsel.—He is not a lady-killer.
The Under-Sheriff. —He has buried two, was
engaged to another, and aroused jealousy in a fourth.
The plaintiff was called, and, explaining how the
proposal of marriage was brought about, he said the
defendant asked him if he would not like to live in the
house with her and her sister. I said, “In what
capacity or occupation? (Laughter.) Do you mean
that you wish me to be your husband?” She said,
“ Yes, that is what I mean.” So the offer of marriage
really came from her. The plaintiff added that he
parted most affectionately “ both with the defendant
and her sister.” (Laughter.)
The Under-Sheriff. —Has the defendant, as a
matter of fact, ever refused to marry you ? — I have
had no communication from them whatever. I have
written to them.
Were you going to marry both of them ? (Laughter.)
—No.
The plaintiff agreed that it was never arranged
whether the wedding should take place in London or
at Southend.
The Under-Sheriff said he had never had quite
such a curious case. It was most interesting.
The plaintiff told the Sheriff that he did not want
heavy damages. He had brought the action in
justice to himself after the dirty, shabby trick that
had been played on him.
In summing up the Under-Sheriff suggested that
the defendant had not appeared because she treated
the case with contempt. The jury awarded damages
as stated.