(Before Mr. Justice Durfee.)
Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Bridget Slavin vs. Constantine Miner. Action to recover damages for an alleged breach of
promise of marriage, damages laid at $3,000. The plaintiff is a resident of Providence and
employed in the Valley Street Woolen Mill. The defendant is a mason, and owns the house in
which he lives, adjoining the home of the plaintiff. The parties became acquainted in 1869,
and in two weeks after the introduction the defendant was begging for marriage. The defendant
was not ready to surrender after so short siege, and asked for delay. The respite was granted,
but the defendant visited the house every day, morning, noon and night, and at each interview
told the story of his love and urged for a speedy termination of his perturbations. She yielded
at last her consent, took a week's vacation from the mill, and prepared her wedding clothes.
These were seen and admired by the defendant, but he felt too sick and poor just then to marry.
So more delay ensued, and at last the defendant said he had money enough and bade his love to
attend church and hear the banns. On the appointed day the church portals were opened and the
plaintiff was on hand, but no banns were published. She hastened home and heard the excuse that
he had forgotten to send the notice to the clergyman. She now began to hear that he was courting
another girl, but he denied the charge and when her alarm had subsided she found that he had
married the other girl, and moved into the next house. Whenever he meets her in the street he
jeers and scoffs,and the insulted plaintiff has sometimes retaliated in kind. Defence not
disclosed. Gorman and Brown for plaintiff; J. D. Thurston and J.M. Ripley for defendant.
Providence (Rhode Island) Evening Press, November 7, 1871.