“HE HAS been a cad and not a gentleman. He has used her as a mere tool and as likely to assist his position in life. He did not cast her aside because she would not make a good wife but because she had not reached that intellectual height he had anticipated.”

Remarkably, the subject of the barrister’s ire was a Hampshire vicar summoned to court for a jury to assess damages for his breach of promise.

The case at Preston Sheriff’s Court in 1909 had been brought by Yorkshire milliner Mary Potter, 30, who demanded £200 and costs against the Rev Thomas Edge from Ringwood.

She had ignored a threat from the minister not to take legal action against him. In a letter, he wrote: “If you threaten legal proceedings, you will ruin and degrade me in my profession with the Wesleyan body.”

Nowhere, said the prosecutor, was the slightest suggestion of sympathy or words to lessen the shock she had suffered.

He then produced further correspondence in which the vicar implored: “Let this slide over and it will be a nine days wonder.”

Undeterred, the plaintiff contacted her solicitors and Edge offered £100 to settle the case, claiming he was only paid £80 a year and had no other money. His total assets were books and a bicycle and legal proceedings would drive him to the bankruptcy court.

He could borrow £100 but repayments would cripple him for many years and civil proceedings would cost him his place in the Wesleyan ministry.

The court heard that according to Edge, Potter had voluntarily offered him his release a year ago and it was agreed that if matters did not go smoothly from that point, they would break off their engagement.

He wrote: " As God is my witness that is my best endeavour." Much to the jury’s amusement, the barrister quipped: “I think he should have kept God out of it altogether.”

The stylishly dressed Potter then stepped into the witness box, explaining how at the defendant’s wish she had tried to improve herself and learn how to become a minister’s wife. “I was willing to do anything for him.” She then related how the last time they had seen each other at Ringwood station. “I kissed him and he waved his hand until out of sight. When I got his letter, I felt ill and it nearly drove me mad.”

Though he was acutely aware of her village education, he was still wanted to be engaged. “He was quite anxious I should be able to entertain anybody, even if the Queen were to come, I ought to be able to entertain her with ease.”

Her reply was met with laughter.

After receiving the letter breaking off their engagement, she replied: “My own darling boy. Your letter to hand which I have been expecting many a day. Well, darling, I have come to the conclusion you have not much love for me evidently. As my love has increased, so yours has decreased.

“I wish to tell you plainly, dear, that if if you have no love for me, I do not want to marry you, for what happiness could there be. I little thought that was the reason you did not buy me a birthday present. Fancy a sweetheart not doing so.

“If you cannot love me as I love you, then we shall be better apart.”

Potter admitted hat that if he had parted in “a Christian way,” she would not have brought the proceeding. She knew he had been asked several times to resign from the ministry but had refused. “Had he resigned, I would not have brought this action.”

Addressing the jury in terms of mitigation, defence barrister Mr Riley remarked on the evils of a loveless marriage and quoted Lord Tennyson about the victim of such a marriage.

"He will hold thee when his passion shall have spent its novel force something better than its dog, a little lower than his horse."

He suggested the vicar’s letters had been Christian and urged them to set the damages at no more than £10, reasoning: “What will be gained by making the defendant bankrupt? John Wesley only had five silver teaspoons and £10 to bury him. while The defendant has nothing but a handful of books and a bicycle.”

However, the jury clearly took the plaintiff’s side, awarding her with £175 with in costs.