July 30, 1926: Expensive romance revealed

-Former Washington man regains possession of valuable lands given to woman whom he expected to wed

SAN FRANCISCO - A futile and expensive romance of John R. Cole, formerly of Inchelium, was revealed here today in a decision of the state supreme court affirming Cole's possession of valuable land holdings in Canada, Idaho and California which he had given to the woman whom he expected to marry.

Court records show that in 1910, when Cole was living in Inchelium, he saw an advertisement in a matrimonial agency circular published in Los Angeles. As a result, Cole entered into extended correspondence with Mrs. Effie T. Manning, a resident of southern California city. Cole said Mrs. Manning ultimately visited him in Inchelium and that he paid her expense and that she subsequently accompanied him on a trip to California after promising to become his wife. It was upon this promise, Cole asserted, that he deeded over Mrs. Manning valuable property in Canada and Idaho, a $12,000 ranch near Santa Rosa, Calif., and that he gave her the income from some of this property. Cole charged that he repeatedly asked Mrs. Manning to become his bride and that Mrs. Manning as repeatedly postponed the nuptials.

Cole finally appealed to the courts, asserting he had given Mrs. Manning the property and money because he thought she would be his wife.

The state court upheld the lower court in returning the property to Cole on the ground that "admittedly any contract which violates morals and public policies is illegal and void."