The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-27
Famous Suit for Benefits Es-
tate Withdrawn and War
rants Follow
CONSPIRACY IS CHARGED
AGAINST The WITNESSES
Warrant Also Issued for Actress Who
Brought the Suit, But Officers
Are Unable to Find Her.
Was Never Married.

Long Branch, N. j., September 26.-The
fight of Laura Biggar, the former actress,
for the fortune of Henry M. Bennett
came to a sudden and dramatic ending to-
day before Justice Wilbur A. Hesler here.
The claimant through counsel abandoned
the suit and announced she would be
satisfied with the 60 per cent of the es-
tate given her by the will. Hardly had
this been done than counsel for the heirs
opposing the Biggar claim showed they
had been more than prepared for this step
and warrants charging conspiracy were
served on Samuel Stanton, the former
Justice of the peace of Hudson county,
who testified that he had performed the
marriage ceremony between Miss Biggar
and the Pittsburg millionaire, and DIR. C.
C. Hendrick, at whose sanitarium in
Bayonne it was alleged that Miss Big
gars child was born. A search is now in
progress for Miss Biggar herself that she
may also be presented to the grand jury
to answer a similar charge Stanton and
DIR. Hendrick are now in the Jail at Free
hold.
As soon as the case had been called by
Judge Heisler, Mr.. Black announced that
as counsel for Miss Biggar he had been
instructed to withdraw the proceedings
before the court, and to announce that
Miss Biggar would rest content with the
60 per cent of the estate given her by the
terms Of the will.
Mr.. Arrowsmth, Of the heirs counsel
then addI essed the court, saying he was
not altogether surprised at the action, for
there had been conspiracy, and deep
one. He desired to say, however, that he
and his associates acquitted Mr.. Black
and his legal associates from any knowl-
edge of the conspiracy, and to assure the
court that it had been established they
had been duped.
Warrants Sworn Out.
Samuel A. Peterson, one of Mr. Arrow
smiths associates then announced that
warrants had been sworn out for the ar
rest of Miss Biggar. DR.. Hendrick and
Mr.. Stanton on complaints sworn to by
Peter ]. McNulty, one Of the principal
legatees and an executor of the will.
Hendrick and Stanton were at once ar
rested and Judge Neisley ordered the
preliminary hearing to begin at once.
Miss Biggar was not in court.
Mr.. McNulty testified to a conversation
he had with Miss Biggar 1t Pittsburg
three years subsequent to the date of the
alleged marriage and Miss Biggar had
been worried because Mr.. Bennett was
dying and had made no will and said If
he died no provision would be made for
her. She made no claim then of being
married to Mr.. Bennett. Subsequent to
the death of Mr. Bennett the witness and
A V. w. Waterson of Pittsburg with
counsel for the heirs visited DIR. Hen
drick's sanitarium where Miss Biggar
was. Hendrick, who said he was Miss
Biggar's lawyer, told them that Miss
Biggar was entitled to the entire estate
and would get 1t or he would set up the
claim she was Benefits common law
wife
John w. Hawkins of Asbury Park. who
drew the will and Is one of the exccu-
tors, testified that when the will was
drawn Bennett told him Miss Biggar was
not his wife He intended to provide for
her fully, however. After Mr.. Benefits
death witness had a talk with Miss Big
gar and she said IL she was not properly
provided for in the will she would set up
the claim of being the common law
wife of Mr.. Bennett.
Forgot to File Certificate.
Secretary Tooker. of the noboken board
Of health. testified that on Friday last
Stanton told him he had married Mr.. Ben
nett ana MISS blRRdT dDOuI TWO years
before but had forgotten to file the
tificate. Stanton, so Tooker said, wanted
him to testify that he (Stanton) called on
his a week earlier and told him that the
Wtfber woman, named as witness to the
marriage. was dead This Tooker refused
to do. The next morning, Tooker contin-
ued, Stanton called on him, accompanied
by Mr. Young, of counsel for the heirs,
who, as 1t subsequently appeared, was
arranging to entrap Stanton Stanton,
Tooker testified, asked him for blank
marriage certificate. which Tooker gave
him. and which he presently returned
filled out with the request that Tooker
testify that he found 1t in his desk. He
also asked Tooker to make an entry of
the certificate in his books Tooker said
that he turned over the certificate to Mr..
Young and that on learning of this STAN
ton declared that he had been entrapped
and begged Tooker to swear that he was
drunk when he gave him the paper The
blank identified last week as the original
certificate and which appeared to have
been altered was identified by Tooker as
one filled out by Stanton.
No other witnesses were called and
Judge Heisler then refused to admit of
bail and committed the two prisoners to
Jail.
No Surprise In Pittsburg.
Pittsburg. September 26-The sudden
and sensa tional turn of affairs today in
the contest at Long branch, N. D., Oh the
will of the late Henry M. Bennett by
Laura Biggar. did not surprise those in
Pittsburg who, with Miss Biggar, were
beneficiaries under the will
Both j. W. Piatt, one of the execu-
tors of the will, and r. M. Gulick, who
was a partner of the late Mr.. Bennett,
and both of whom were on intimate
terms with him. were much surprised at
the claim of Miss Biggar that she had
been married to Mr.. Bennett Both said
that at no time had Mr.. Bennett mem
toned to them the occurance Of such an
49, ~
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