Cupid Goes Astray

A Breach of Promise in Ballinasloe

All I ask

‘All That I Ask is Love”

Cupid Goes Astray

Widower Sued For Breach of Promise

Cash down and he’d take the Woman

A Rapid Thaw

Did he ever kiss you?  He did, several times.  Are you sure it wasn’t you kissed him?

The hearing of a Breach of Promise case in Ballinasloe, attracted about a score of ladies to the local court on today (Friday).

There was very little romance attached to the case, and as Dr.Comyn who appeared for the plaintiff, said there was very little poetry, most of it being prose.  Thrown in along with this was a fairly good supply of “canoodling and philandering” (laughter) the defendant was a man called Treacy, who was married twice previously and resided near Loughrea.  He wrote several letters to the plaintiff and promised her marriage, but changed his mind, and didn’t do so.  In the course of one of his defendant’s letters that he wrote he became poetical, said Dr. Comyn, and wound up his letter by saying: –

“Let your joys be as deep as the ocean,
And your sorrows as light as the foam”
(loud laughter).

Continuing, Dr. Comyn said that the plaintiff was a farmer’s daughter residing at Springfield, Kiltormer, living with her brother.  She accepted Treacy’s offer of marriage, but that gentleman didn’t carry it out.  He understood the defence of the defendant was that he was to be handed £30 with the girl, and it was rumoured that when he didn’t get this he broke off the match.

Mr. McCormack B.L. (instructed by Mr. Milcair, who appeared for the defendant), said it was a money affair all the time on Kelly’s side.

Miss Nora Kelly (the plaintiff) gave evidence of getting two offers of marriage from the defendant, and accepting him.  There was £30 arranged on between her brother and the defendant.  She explained to the defendant on the occasion of her brother giving £10 about the money, and he said it made no difference at all: all he wanted was herself (laughter).  The defendant said that his hand might fall off him and his heart do something else if he didn’t carry out his promise (loud laughter).  When she met him in Ballinasloe for the first time as arranged, when parting he kissed her (laughter).  He wanted to marry her on Thursday, two days after meeting her for the first time (laughter).  She could not agree to this, but settled a later time for the marriage.  The day after the £10 was paid, he wired saying his son was ill and postponing the marriage.  He afterwards wrote a letter on the following day sending back the £10 and postponing the marriage again.

Dr. Comyn- This was a very rapid thaw (laughter).

Mr. McCormack- A rapid frost (loud laughter).

Continuing, the witness said she never saw the defendant since that night until she saw him in court.  In cross-examination by Mr. McCormack, she said that she never promised money, and (that it was between her brother and Treacy the money was arranged).  When the defendant was paid £10 he said he didn’t bother about the money.  All he wanted was her-self.

Mr. McCormack- Did he ever kiss you?

Witness – He did, several times.

Mr. McCormack- Are you sure it wasn’t you kissed him?

His Honour- I think you are getting too anxious now, isn’t it better leave it as mutual? (loud laughter).

John Daly gave evidence in meeting the defendant who asked him to get a woman for him (laughter).  He brought them together, and the matter was arranged.  The only thing that troubled the defendant was to get the comfort of a woman, and when the £10 was paid, he said it didn’t matter, that all he wanted was Mrs. Kelly.  This was in August.

His Honour- According to the lady’s evidence at the time he was what they called “hot” (roars of laughter in court).

Continuing, the witness said that the defendant said to complainant when parting in Ballinasloe that if she married him on Thursday, it didn’t matter about the money.  When parting they kissed (loud laughter).

Dr. Comyn – Very nice (laughter)

Witness continuing, said that the defendant said that in any event he would have to give £10 for a servant, and that he would rather have the comfort of his own woman (laughter).  It didn’t matter about the money.

Dr. Comyn – “All that I ask is love” (loud laughter).

In cross-examination, he said that Kelly paid the £10 to Treacy, and that Treacy said that all he wanted was the woman (laughter).

Pat Kelly, brother of complainant, said that Treacy wanted to marry his sister two days after meeting her, and said that the money didn’t matter.

Defendant gave evidence and said that he was willing to marry her all the time if he got the money £30.  He would not agree to sign over one of his farms to her as they wanted him to do.

His Honour gave a decree for £30.

From the East Galway Democrat Saturday, 1 April 1916

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