The evening Republican., 1902-09-27


the sensations in the hearing yestel
day before Supreme Court Judge
Heisley, in Long Branch, N. j.,
when Laura Biggar, former act
ress, tried to prove her claim to the
estate of the late H8nry NJ. Bennett
a millionaire. Probably the most
sensational testimony was that given
by Joseph Tucker, clerk in the Bu
reau of Vital Statistics, in Hobo
ken. He was the star witness for
counsel for the legatees, and testl'
fed that former Justice Samuel Stan
ton, of Hoboken, had asked him tC
file q fraudulent marriage certificate
in order that Miss .Biggar might sub
stantiate her claim to the Bennett
estate.
! At the conclusion of the testimony
of several witnesses Judge Heisley
decided to hold Stanton and DR..
Hendricks in $4,000 bail ach for the
October grand jury. He said that
the alleged conspiracy involv ed
thousands of dollars and throe per-
SONS were concerned in it, and he
could not see his way clear under
the circumstances to reduce the bail
He said it appeared very strange to
him that Miss Biggar, notwithstand-
ing the fact that she alleged that a
child had been born, insisted on the
probate of tho will, although il a
child had been born she would have
gotten the whole estate He said he
was strongly inclined to tho belief
that the marriage certificate pro-
duced was not genuine.
There is no parallel to this case
since Eva Mann and Josh Mann
,blackmailed the unfortunate Ray
Hamilton and finally attempted to
, pass on him u child Of his own.
Hamilton came to q violent and
mysterious death in the wiltls Of
Montana.
Under the torms of the will of
-ir. Bennett, Laura Biggar was en-
titled to 80 per cent. of his estate,
amounting to $1,250, 900. This was
left to her in consideration of the
care she had bestowed upon him
before and during his last illness.
She entered claim for two-thirds of
the estate Us the widow, and for the
third that would ha We gone to the
child.
Before Miss Biggar's lawyer had
finished, John S. Ferguson Of Pitts
burg, representing Peter McNulty,
an heir, was ON his feet.
''Just a moment, Your Honor"
he said. Warrants have been
secured for Laura Biggar, Dr..
Hendricks, her counsel, and Samuel
justice Of the peace, who
testified hero last week, charging
them with conspiracy. Miss Biggar
is not here, but the other two are
and the warrant will be served at
once.
II notify Your Honor Of this in
order that you may fix bail.
''These warrants were secured in
order that we could unmask this
conspiracy of greed and deceit.
II demand that this case be
thrown out of court"
Sensation followed sensation from
The moment Judge Heisley resumed
the hearing today on motion to
'et aside the probate of Bennett's
will. When the case was called the ,
counsel for Miss Biggar addressing :
he judge said that his client desir-
I'd to withdraw from the suit; that .
he was satisfied with the provision !.
made for her in the will Of Mr.. Ben :,
lett. J.
Counsel for the opposing side i'm '
arose and told the Judge .
hat warrants had been issued for
'rrest Of Miss Biygar, DR.. Hen ),
tricks, one Of her lawyers, and also '.
ler physician and Mr.. Stanton. =
The two latter were in court, and :
we're Immediately arrested on the ,
barge of conspiracy. Judge Heis- ~
sy held them in $4,000 for examina- !. u
ion, while the constable armed =
nth warrant for Miss B'ggar was =. =.
ent to Bayonne, where Miss Biggar y :,
'as staying at santitarium. I
Counsel. for the legatees put sew :,
raj witnesses on the stand, the "
urden Of whose testimony was
hat Miss Biggar and DR.. Hendricks "
nd practically admitted since Mr.. 3
ennett's death that there had been u
o marriage between Mr.. Bennett eI
nd Miss Biggar. The lawyers for ct
le legatees declared that it had al
cen proved that Miss Biggar's suit
as conspiracy, while those for W
[iss Biggar urged that the other IL
de had not proved what they said m
Icy would. aE
Counsel for the legatees put Joseph III
ucker on the stand as their star Ct
ltness He 10 the clerk OF the Blu. W.
au Of Vital Statistics. connected in
lth the Board of Health In Hobo. 81
10, and has been employ ed In that b.