The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-29
LAURA BIGGAR MoNEY-MAD.
Burt HnverIy, Who Acted With Her,
Tells of Her Meeting with Ben


Tells of Her Meeting With Ben
nett.
From the New York World.
Burt Hayerly, the actor, who was
long associated with Laura Biggar on
the stage, yesterday tersely explained
why she was not content with the
| handsome fortune Bennett bequeatha ed
to her. but reached after all his estate
She's money-mad." said Haverly.
That's what she is, money mad: crazy
after money"
Haverly positively denied that he
was ever married to Miss Biggar, as
has been published so widely.
II never married Laura Biggar."
said Haverly emphatically, "conse-
quently 1T is impossible that I was di-
vorced from her or she from me- Yet
the newspapers have married me to
her and divorced u.s.
Haverly is the husband of Mime.
bowling" well known as a theatrical
costumer. and they live at No. 217 West
Thirty eighth street. Yesterday he re-
lated Laura Biggar's life history as he
has CLEANED 1t.
Laura Biggar is about SO years old"
he said. She is the daughter of the
late Joseph F. Biggar, and was born
and passed her earlier years in her
fathers fine house in Wilmington, Del.
Mr.. Biggar was we'll to-do, and owned
a ranch at Ocean Side, in Southern
California. Laura was we'll brought
up and well educated In Wilmlngtons
public schools and Normal School She
was vivacious and bright as a girl |
have been told. After leaving school
she was a belle in the best society Of
Wilmington.
But she got 'stage-struck.' Moth
ing would do but that she must go on
the stage.
When she was less than 20 years
old, handsome girl with a superb fig
ure, she induced her father to let her
become an actress. At first she played
small parts in road companies in cheap
theatres. In 1884 she was in Winnipeg
IN a company in which was one Mr..
Connell, who was good fellow, al
though never distinguished as an ac-
tor. They fell in love with each other.
or thought they did, and married.
I'm couple of years a son was born
to them and named Willis j. McCon-
nell. The boy is now sixteen years
old. Soon after his birth Laura Bigger
divorced herself from Mcconnell
I'm 1889 or 1890 William A. Brady
saw her act in Baltimore. Impressed
by her Brady put her on as leading
woman In After Dark Then she APP
peared as liza in The Clemenceau
Case and created profound sensa ton
in 1t. The critics were all polite
enough to say she was admirably fitted
to appear in the act that distinguished
the play.
Then Miss Biggar appeared in Hen
derson's spectacles and farces i'm Chi
cago." Hayerly continued. "She made
a hit as the leading women in All Ba-
ba.' In 1888 Frank Mckee engaged her
10 play the Widow In Hayt e. Thomass
Trip 10 Chinatown. and the critics
unanimously said she was a most at
tractive widow
II was leading man OF the company
aud Miss Biggar and I acted together
for tHO years. Then we made a mar
rnngement with BOyt Thomas by
which We played A Trip 20 Chinatown
AL over the country. but only Ia the
small towns. We made money, az that
I'm 1885 We landed Ia New York
again ana played 90 the Star T'heatef.
nennfff then owned the fheafeF and Il
was there { believe he 1rst mef Miss
liiRgar lie aas extremely attentive A.
Der. Ninea and diued her bus ~
course. that Haf n0nc ~ mF AFFAIR A.
told yQu, khf aaF not mF site nnd
ihg published staifmenis tAat aasg