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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history

From our archives, 100 years ago

It seemed like such a storybook romance.

A well-known Freeman rancher and a Kansas City woman became pen pals – and then something more. They exchanged photos and fell in love, despite the fact that they had never met. He asked for her hand in marriage. She arrived by train and two days later, they were married in Freeman.

Her first hint that all was not rosy came a few days later, when she had to go to the dentist. Her new husband refused to pay the dentist bill.

In fact, she said, he refused to pay any bill. He went to all of the store owners in Freeman and told them not to advance her any credit.

“She was led to believe that he was a man of wealth who would give a woman some of the comforts of life, and, in this belief, she came to Spokane,” said The Spokesman-Review.

Instead, she was forced to pawn all of her jewelry to pay for the “necessaries of life.”

Two weeks after the wedding day, the couple separated. The rancher made no public comment about this development. His new wife marched to the courthouse and sued him for divorce, 18 days after they first met. She asked for $4,000 in alimony.

Also on this date

From the Associated Press

1888: Mary Ann Nichols, the apparent first victim of “Jack the Ripper,” was found slain in London’s East End.