Whitby - Old Court Cases

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4th March 1885

Queen's Bench Division Barrick v Murray

This was an action for breach of promise of marriage. The plaintiff was the daughter of a gentleman formerly residing in Whitby, afterwards at Stamford-hill, and at present at Maidstone. The defendant was said to be a gentleman of independent means residing at Whitby.

The parties were introduced by a friend of the plaintiff's family in 1882, and the defendant at once began to pay the plaintiff attentions, and presently accompanied her and her friends on an excursion to France, in the course of which they became engaged. The defendant subsequently made the acquaitance of the plaintiff's brother, with whom he had a disagreement, terminating in a County Court action, in which he (defendant) was defeated. After this his relations with the plaintiff became cooler, and on her remonstrating with him he wrote denying that his attitude towards her had ever been anything more than that of a friend.

Mr.Murphy, Q.C., (who with Mr.Reginald Brown appeared for the plaintiff), having opened these facts, called the plaintiff, who had not proceeded far with her evidence when her counsel asked his Lordship's permission to confer with her privately in consequence of negotiations which were passing between the representatives of the parties. After a short interval, it was announced that a verdict for the plaintiff for £200 would be taken by consent; and judgement was given for the plaintiff accordingly. Mr.Lockwood, Q.C., and Mr.Thompson were counsel for the defendant.

26 November 1894

Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division Harrowing v Harrowing, M'calla, Monson, and Garratt This was an action by Henry Harrowing, a ship broker at Whitby, for dissolution of his marriage with the respondent on the grounds of adultery with the three co-respondents, damages being claimed against Garratt. The respondent denied the charges against her and made counter charges of cruelty and adultery against the petitioner, which he denied. The co-respondent Garratt denied the charge against him, but the other co-respondents did not appear. (I won't go in to the details of his case but the salient points about those involved are - The petitioner and the defendant were married in 1885 at Penge, and then lived at Tunerdale Hall, near Whitby (Actually Ruswarp). They had two children. Garratt was Robert Henry Garrat, who lived, with his wife at Whitby. The two families were acquainted. M'Calla was James M'Calla. The Garratts were married in 1887. The divorce was granted and Garratt was to pay damages of £200.)