The daily Republican., 1902-12-26
BICCAR VERDICT
TALK OF COUNTRY
Belief That Their knowledge
Of Law Convicted Hen
drick and Stanton,

~ ciiOot tAC IiO-l lculdIhd vi
verdicts ever rendered by a Jury
Miss Laura Biggar has been free
from the charge of conspiring t,
seize by fraud the estate of Henr,
Il M. Bennett, while DR.. Charles c..
1 Hendrick and Samuel Stanton, in.
! dicted jointly with the actress OF
the same charge, were found guilty
| Not even the members of the
jury were able afterward to explain
by what form of reasoning they had
arrived at this conclusion. All who
were willing to discuss the matter
at all denied that they had been
actuated by sympathy fer tho
woman in the case or ,hat the
verdict was purely compromise in
order that they might go home for
Christmas.
Even Miss Biggar, who has every
reason to rejoice at the verdict, is
far from satisfied with it, rightly
declaring that if sho, is innocent the
others, who presumably had only
a modicum of interest in the result
of the alleged conspiracy compared
With hers, certainly are equally
innocent She also feels that the
verdict leaves much to be desired
SO far as vindicating her good name
is concerned, for if Stanton did not
perform the marriage of Mr.. Ben
nett and herself, and If Hendrick
did not otficiate at the birth Of "a
child to her at his sanitariuln, she
finds herself freed. while the men
upon the truth of whose testimony
she relied to prove her innocence,
are declared guilty.
? So deeply, was she impressed with
this view of the case that she de-
clared she would use every effort
IN her power to free Hendrick and
Stanton Before next Tuesday, the
legal limit, writ of error will be
filed and an appeal will be taken to
the Supreme Court.
LAURA BIGGAR's CLAIM.
Miss Biggar laid claim to the en-
tire estate of Bennett, who died
recently, leaving large fortune,
as his wife, and as the heir of a
child Of Bennett. which she said
was born to her after his death and
soon died, DR.. Hendrick was her
physician and the proprietor of IL
sanitarium in which the child was
said to have been born. Stanton
said he had united Miss Biggar and
Bennett i'll marriage, and a mar
I age certificate signed by him
= aged an important part in the
case, The claim of Miss Biggar
was contested by persons who laid
claim to being the rightful heirs
of Bennett, and they made the i
charge of conspiracy. Under the
will Miss Biggar was bequeathed 60 |
per cent of the estate.
The verdict of the jury is the talk
OF the country. !"t
From u reliable source last night
it was learned that the Jury took
into consideration the fact that few
but lawyers know that will that
does not provide for posthumous
children is invalid. 1t was said that
The jurymen reasoned that Dr.
Hendricl and Stanton knew this.
md while Miss Biggar might have.
hey gave her the benefit of the
loubl,
Judge Heisley has set January ?,
leXt, as the date when he will sen.
ence the convicted man. The maxi
mum sentence is $1,000 fine and
n rap y-neps' in,
Miss Blggar entertained the little
on Of DR.. Hendricl with Christ
mas tree at tho Hotel Belmont
Freehold yesterday morning. Tho /
est of the day she spent quietly in
ler room, where her Christmas din
Ter was served. Her son Willis has
oft her to join his father in Wis.
onsin. A reconciliation of the
ouple IS current rllmOr.
She has received many congrat- ]
latory kilograms from friends |
throughout the country. She is
apidly recovering her accustomed
ivacity after the ordeal of the
.ial. She continues her 10y atty to
II, Hendrick, and, with Mrs Hen
rick, spent the evening at the Jail.
An appeal has been filed in behalf
f the doctor and Stanton, which l
ill be heard in the Supreme Court {
! February, The verdict is said {
} be a great surprise to the execu- I
rs OF tho Bennett estate, who had !
expected 4 conviction of !
| three. l
The future course Of the execu- /
rs OF the Bennett estate regarding /
ISIS Biggar's interest, it is said has I
1t been determined, but it is re- z
'rted that they are considering t
stituting suit to ascertain
neither her atte npt to have the I
Ill set aside was in violation of $
ause in it, cutting off any bene- I
iary who contested.
Dr. Hendrick spent yesterday "
lietly in his cell. He says he is a
ntident of the result of the appeal. o
anton takes the matter With stolid .
"