Coolidge v. Neat
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Contract for breach of a promise of marriage. Trial in the Superior Court, before Putnam, J., who allowed a bill of exceptions in substance as follows : The plaintiff put in evidence tending to prove that, in May 1875, she and the defendant mutually promised to marry each other; that she went to the expense of preparing certain articles of underclothing, in preparation for their marriage; and that the defendant’s attentions continued up to September 2, 1878, when he suddenly…
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Contract for breach of a promise of marriage. Trial in the Superior Court, before Putnam, J., who allowed a bill of exceptions in substance as follows : The plaintiff put in evidence tending to prove that, in May 1875, she and the defendant mutually promised to marry each other; that she went to the expense of preparing certain articles of underclothing, in preparation for their marriage; and that the defendant’s attentions continued up to September 2, 1878, when he suddenly ceased his visits to her, became engaged to another woman about the last of September or first of October, to whom he…
1Opinion of the CourtAmes, J.
The instructions given to the jury were carefully guarded, and appear to have been in exact conformity with the well-established rule in cases of this kind. The rulings requested by the defendant assume that he would have the right, without the consent of the other party to the contract, to break *150off the engagement, without the liability to make any compensation or indemnity, if he should come to the conclusion that the proposed marriage would not tend to the happiness of both parties. This proposition is equivalent to saying that the defendant has the right to recede from the contract, if he…
2Cases cited3 opinions
- Boynton v. KelloggMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1807
- Wightman v. CoatesMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1818
- Grant v. WilleyMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1869
3Cited by8 opinions
- Salchert v. ReinigWisconsin Supreme Court · 1908
- Van Houten v. MorseMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1894
- Leventhal v. LibermanNew York Court of Appeals · 1933
- Vierling v. BinderSupreme Court of Iowa · 1901
- Stratton v. Posse Normal School of GymnasticsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1928
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