Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-25
MISS BlGeAR's STAR PART.
The Actress..the Centre of Attraction at the
Conspiracy Trial.

Conspiracy Trial.
Freehold, N. j., Dec. 20.--Laura
Biggar held the centre of the stage
as the star of the performance in the
Monmouth County Court yesterday.
That she was drawing card, too, was
manifested in the large audience that
watched her minutest movement and
drank in her testimony like the gaping
crowd in front of thrilling mslo-
drama. Miss Biggar insisted that she
is Mrs. Bennett widow of Henry NJ.
Bennett, and, as such, not guilty of
the charge of conspiracy laid against
her and DR.. Hendricks and former
Justice of the Peace Stanton. She was
not at all theatrical in the witness
chair, but gave her testimony in a
manner that produced favorable i'm
preston upon her critical audience.
With the greatest composure she had a
quiet emphasis that was soothing to
her attorneys.
Miss Biggar said she had been an
actress for IA years. She began, she
said, by singing in church concerts, and
later went on the stage. She became
member OF stock company, and subse-
quently she was the star in Called
Back" and "a Trip to Chinatown. =,
Recently, she said, she appeared in
vaudeville in Pittsburg to obtain
money for this trial. While she was
starring she appeared in many cities.
from Maine TO California. Mr. Bennett
owned several theatres in Pittsburg
and other cities, and became interested
in her. She said he wanted her to fol-
low the stage, and he starred her in
1899 or 1900.
s.Were you married IA or 10 years
ago to the father of the young witness
who appeared on the stand this morn
ine?,i asked counsel.
"Yes.''
The witness went on to explain that
she and her husband had been di-
vorced. She said that while playing
in Cincinnati she did not appear on
New Years night because Mr.. Bennett
had sent her telegram to come to
New York at once. She. had been cor
responding with him for long time
On Thanksgiving Day, she said, Mr..
Bennett proposed to her. He insisted
that there we're no obstacles in the way
of her marriage, she said. Letters
passed between them nearly every day,
she said, and she finally accepted him.
She said she consented to a quiet
marriage because she .did not want
While her company was playing In
Wilmington, Dell, Mr.. Bennett urged
her to 20 to New York, Miss Biggar
assented, and she finally left the COM
pany and went to the Marlborough
Hotel, in New York City. She after
ward appeared at the Star Theatre, in
New York, and Mr.. Bennett was the
financial backer of the company.
The first witness of the day was
Willis Biggar, son of Miss Biggar by
her former husband, j. w. Mcdonnell.
Young Biggar, who is IA years old,
was Jcatied to the stand to prove that
hisffatliSr, MCDONNELL, came from the
West TO see Mr.. Bennett before the
latter's death. The boy exhibited
photographs to show that he and his
| father had spent some time at Asbury
Park during the father's visit.
2. j. McNulty, nephew of Mr..
Bennett and one Of the heirs, testified
to his part in employing detective OF
Pittsburg to assist in unearthing the
alleged conspiracy.
Df. Hendricks, one of the de-
PENDANTS, was next called to the stand.
He testified that the first time Stanton
called at his sanitarium in Bayonne.
be loaned the justice $50. Stanton
called again at the sanitarium. This
| time he was accompanied by the law
yers, Black and Frankenstein. repre-
senting Miss Biggar's interests. DR..
Hendricks appeared at F'rsehnld in
June, when the Bennett will was pro
bated and later at Long Branch in the
| interests OF Miss Biggar.
Lawyer McDermott uf the defence,
| Immediately proceeded to get at the
| main issue OF the trial so far as DIR.
Hendricks is concerned by asking the
| defendant: sDo you remember any
| thing that happened In July last?"
MRS. Bennett gave birth to child
| in my sanitarium on July Both.
s.Who was in attendance at the
birthf''
ssDr. Connolly and myself. -
Then in long description DR.. Hend-
ricks explained that it was male
child. He said that the date of the
child's death was August 18th.
pr. Hendricks then discussed the
conversation at the sanitarinm in Sep
| tember between kim and McNulty, Pat
| terson and Wilson. At this meeting
| DR.. Hendricks affirms that Laura Big
gar refused to see the men, and sent
word from her room that her position
toward the will was absolutely mega
| tive. DR.. Hendricks also told his visi-
| tors, he says, that Miss Biggar would
not begin to draw any income from the
estate for II years. Mr.. McNulty holds
a lease on must of the real estate for
this length of time.
In the cross examination OF Heud-
ricks special effort was made to prove
| that he had spoken of the woman on
trial as Miss Biggar' at time when
sine was claiming to be Mrs. Bennett.
While admitting that he had spoken of
her as Miss Biggar, the doctor said
| that he had done so because of her ex-
pressed wish that ne should. Mr.. Viii
son introduced letter addressed to
Miss L. Biggar, written by Hend-
ricks at Freehold, on June 19th last,
Miss Biggar being then at Bsyonne.
The letter related to application to
have Mr.. Bennett's will set aside.
Hendricks said he knew that Miss
Biggar was the wife of II. NJ. Bennett,
although he addressed the letter to
"Miss L. Biggar."
That Miss Biggar and her first hus-
band, James Willis Mcconnell, have
resumed friendly relations is admitted
by both of them, though neither will
say whether there is Likelihood of re-
marriage.