Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-09-20
RICH COMES TO GRANTS
PASS FOR BlGAMY TRIAL

them TO understand that"
The above was the remark of Law
renee b. Rich to the Courier Wednes-
day evening on his arrival in the city
from klamath Falls, from which
place he had been brought by Con-
stable Randle to stand trial on a
charge of polygamy, preferred by
Miss Jessie Layton, the woman whom
he married in this city last St. Val
entine's day.
Richs voice Quavered with emo
ton when he talked, and his eyes
hooded when he was asked how he
thought Miss Layton, believing her
self married yet not wife, would
accept his statement regarding his
relations with the woman from Cali
fornia His reply to this was to re-
iterate his undying love, and to the
query he said; 81, don't know;
that's what worries me, They have
kept her away from me and l'haye
had no chance to talk to her OF 1t.
1nis trouble all comes from Jealous
woman. was not married to Miss
Cohen. though | lived with her In
California. The California law at
1.-THE time we separated three years
ago did not recognize the common
law marriage
The story of Rlch's matrimonial
entanglements as given by himself
and by his attorney, reads like an
0ppenheimer tale. The Rich and the
Cohen families, well known resi-
dents of the Jewish settlement In
San Francisco. had been friends for
years, and young Rich and Nina Co
hen grew from childhood TO manhood
and womanhood playmates and low
ers.
When the subject of matrlmony
was broached, the elder Richs and
Cohens would hear nothing of It, and
an elopement and marriage was dis
cussed by the youthful pair. But the
traditions of the Hebrew race inter-
fered, and neither would accept the
responsibility of offense to the Jewish
J AaanrHiptY 10 - igh hnuaN.
( er, they later did violate these
traditions, and the moral law as we'll
/ by living together as man and wife
, for period of nearly three years
{ Then. not agreeing, the pair separ-
t ated. Rich coming to Grants Pass In
the course of his travels, and her
e he met and loved Miss Layton
e Wishing to marry Miss Layton
Rich says that he went 10 Portland
e where he sought legal advice the at
torney telling him that at the time
, he lived with Miss Cohen the common
i law marriage was not a legallzed in
stltutlon In the southern state Ac
cepting the advice of. this attorney
e Rich returned to Grants Pass, pressed
q his suit, and on ST. Valentines da!
= OF 1912 he led Miss Layton, one o
the falrest OF the budding woman
o hood OF Grants Pass, to the altar
Then, after a few months of III,
Il IN klamath .galls, where Rich ant
his wife were received as prominen
members Of society. Rich being pro
prletor Of a prosperous shoe business
came the exposure and Rich's nigh
from the city by the lake. Of thl
chapter Of the story the Klamatl
IS Falls Evening Herald gives the fol
lowing version:
u Rich knew that Miss Cohen wa
r coming, but his dread was NOT Of her
but rather OF the wrath Of his par
n ents. orthodox Jews When Miss Co
hen declared that Rich was her lega
l. husband, Rich's only hope, according
TO his own story was that he Nigh
be able to see aud explain to his faith
'r er before Miss Cohen had an oppor
s. tunlty.
'- 1T was a race between Rich am
'e Miss Cohen from this city to Sa
III Francisco. but the young woma
d won. Rich was stopped at Dunsmul
y by officers Of the law, charged wit
u polygamy. Miss Cohen went on t
San Francisco.
I' 81 thought my dear little VIII
here would understand that wa
hurryng to my parents to explain m
predlcament. Rich IS quoted by hi
% attorney, but instead she swore on
warrant for my arrest.
Miss Layton or Mrs. Rich, as III
as former klamath Falls shoe man d,
s. clares she is, is OF a different race, {
'n different religion. and she could ne
understand the traditions whic