Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-20
LAURA BIGGAR ON THE STAND.
Her Testimony in the Conspirnc,
Case Against Her and Others

FREEHOLD. n. J., December 19-(Spe-
cial}-SNeakend and worried by the or
deal through which she had passed to-
day in telling her own story on the wit
ness stand, in her trial for conspiracy
to get Henry BENEFITS fortune. Laura,
Biggar collapsed as she was going TO
her hotel after the noon adjournment.
She was carried to her room
She had been on the witness stand all
morning, telling of her life and he re-
lators with Mr.. Bennett
II have been an actress ever since
was Ii years Old she told the jury j
! rose to the position of star from the hum
bic beginning Of reciting at private
entertainments My greatest hit was made
in "A Trip to Chinatown in which /
played the Widow. ! have been in road
companies, and rave travelled from
Maine to California. and from Canada
to Mexico.
When asked by the prosecuting attorney
why she had continued in her stage ca
reer after her marriage with Bennett,
she replied:
My husband was always interested
in theatrical enterprises He owned the
| Bijou Theatre in Pittsburg, and was very
anxious to see me act. and SO | remained
| in my old profession. was featured in
a performance in PittsDurg only last week
by Harry Davis.
When questioned about the beginning
of her reat with Bennett, she re-
Piled:
II received a proposal of marriage
| from him by mail Thanksgiving Day,
| 1897. Previous to that ne had correspond
ed with me regularly. I was playing in
Cincinnati when I received his letter
asking me to be his wife. The only condi-
ton he imposed was that our marriage
should be a secret as his wife had died
only q few months before.
Shortly after his proposal | lost q
good deal Of money in theatrical Ven
lures. and as l needed money badly l
agreed to marry Mr.. Bennett. | was with
a road company. which promised to pay
me d certain sum when we reached Will
| CONTINUED ON SEVENTH PAGE
mington. Del. When the money was not
forthcoming l got letter from Bennett,
who was then in New York, and he
wished me TO meet him at Marlborough
| Hotel in that city. | did So.
| At this point in her testimony Judge
| Hessley called adjournment of the case
AS Miss BiSSar stepped from the stand
| she put her hand to her heart and ex-
| claimed:
u don't believe I shall be able to go
| on this afternoon. My heart is very
! weak. =
J. W. Mcconnell. former husband OF
, day. as he said his presence tends tc
! Gisconcert his wife. He announced his
| intention of leaving tor Wisconsin with
| their son Willard. a lad of Is.
Just before Miss Biggar was called tc
! the stand DR.. Hendrick was examined
A letter was submitted to him for i1en
! toficatio prrportng to be q letter writ
| ten by DR.. Heudricll 10 Laura Biggar
/ in which he inquired solicitously after
| her condition. 1t opened with the saluta-
! ton, Dearest Love Lawyer Noonar
| jumped to his feet and objected to the
admission of the evidence. The objection
| was sustained.
When court reconvened. word came that
Miss Biggar had not sufficiently recovered
| to resume her testimony. and. in her
! stead. DR. Hendrick was recalled to the
stand He was asked concerning the fol-
| lowing letter:
| Miss l.. Biggar: Well mama. how is
the Kitten. Ha. IIa..sA Am lonely for mama,
| that's all
The letter Unassigned Charlie.
| Questioned as 60 whether he had writ
| ten the mssive, Dr. Hendrick refused to
| deny that no had.
| Late this afternoon the actress recov-
esed- sufficiently to return to court.