The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-20

up TO January, 1893. the date OF the alleged
/, marriage.
Il have been on the stage since then "
| she said. MIR. Bennett. my husband.
wanted TO see me act once more so he
starred me in The Queen of Chinatown"
Her story. in reply TO the questions OF her
own lawyer. was in part
| Il have always been known a. Laura
Biggar. even since my marriage, because
, that was my stage name. knew Mr.
Bennett very well. On Thanksgiving Day,
1897. he proposed marriage TO me in letter
| He said that ] had worked hard and long
enough. ] was then playing in a company
, OF my own and had been losing money. but
was Just begin ingto make some and want
! cd to I'LL an engagement on New Year : IN
wilmington, Del, because hat is my own
, town and | knew | would make money
there.
Il was TO get some money to buy some
diamonds, but on Jan. I Mr. Bennett tel
, egraphed for me to come to him at once.
! played in the afternoon to crowded
house, but left Wilmington right after the
matinee performance for New York.
went to the Marlborough Hotel
The next dav | went to the Star TheaI re-
where foui.' Mr., Bennett in the business
, Office. He said to me. Are you ready
said that ! was. and we took a carriage and
went over TO Hoboken. We stopped man
on the street there and asked him W here
we could find j ,tice of the Peace. He
were married. II was Mr.. stanton. He
gave me a certificate. We went back to
the Marlborough for a week and then went
20 live on Seventy second street in one of
Mr.. Bcnnett's houses. Welived there every
winter, spent the summers at his place
at Avon, and spring and fall at his stock
, farm in Farnin gdale
what became Of that certificate of mar
1 riage. asked Lawyer McDermott for the
| defense
About a year after our marriage" re-
| piled Miss Biggar, Il was worn out and Ill
| from nursing and caring for Mr.. Bennett.
! He had senile gangrere. At the end of
eleven weeks of a very severe strain on me
he seemed better and ] said that l would
| go out Just to got little fresh air He
| said that he wouldn't let me go out. but
said l would anyway and we had quarrel
Il went out of the room to put on my
wraps and when | returned to say good-by
he held the certificate in his hands
/ As | came in he tore il into fragments
and threw the pieces into the fire. saying
i care that for your certificate
Il went out but came back the next day"
Miss Biggar then told of the visit of her
first husband, Actor Mcconnell. to get
their boy, Willis.
said, but Mr. Bennett said he would spend
his whole fortune o keep that boy.
Q What was the result of the senie gan
= pa mdo he have a falls leg, A. Yes
for the false leg? A Mr. Otto Keet,r.
Were YOU i1'r2dqWSG ned s to Mr. Keeter,
The false leg man was on the stand him
self the other day and testified about the
same introduction.
q When did your husband. Mr.. Bennett.
9; Before ~ death did YOU try to se, a
was nmputated and ] was afraid he was
going TO die. | sent SEVERAL letters to Mr.
stanton for a certificate, but they we're re-
death. I wrote again 10 the Justice of the
peace and he sent me the certincate.
q. Did YOU know about the will? \. Yes
Mr., Bennett. said that | would be properly
aiken care Of
When asked if she had been properly taken
care Of, Miss Biggar covered her eyes with
her handkerchief and held the fan before
her face. II was several seconds before
she replied. in faltering voice:
NO, have received no money, not a cent
from the rent OF the house Mr.. Bennett
left mo, and | have not received the dia-
monds he intended me to have
But she quickly recovered her composure
and told of the birth Of the child and said
that she selected the calsket for him when
he died.
Who was the father Of your chld?.
Lawyer McDermott asked with much
gentleness.
Mr.. Bennett"
O. Did YOU take any. steps, to protect the
interest of your child! A. Yes. I hired
lawyer to have guardian appointed for him.
to have the will probated in order TO esta bsh
my honor and the legitimacy of my child.
q Was that your purpose all the time?
q. II that was your sole purpose, why
didn't you declare your marriage and your
last April instead OF waiting until Sept 10?
A. Because from previous experiences !
was not at all sure that ] could carry the
child TO successful issue.
Y But. was. your own honor not entitled
to consideration? A Yes
Then why did N2u 70, at least sd dsSe5s
me promise never TO reveal IT
I'D you receive many letters from Mr.
q Have YOU single letter in which he
refers TO you as wife or says anything that
suggests that reiatlonshlpt ., AS No.
many contracts and business documents
Tor Mr.. Bennett? \ Some.
How did you sign them' A Laura
Mr. Wilson asked the witness if she hadn't
had a dozen lawyers since Benefits death
and she awaited herself of the opportunity
10 strike back az the several lawyers who
deserted her when she claimed the whole
estate.
-Oh. I've had more than Dozen" she
said "They called themselves LAWYERS.
but they were all working for themselves,
not for me-
All the LAWYERS referred TO were in court
Q. DO YOU know Molie Deskin' 4 Yes.
q. Did YOU say to her once. "oh. NIole.
wish Pop would marry me. II he dies now
! won't get anything? A. No.
Molie Deskn is in a hotel al Freehold
She will be called in rebuttal by the prose-
cution when the trial is resumed on
Monday.
Mr.. Wilson finished his cross-examination
to-day with long series of questions to
show that Miss Biggar's physical con-
dition was such last February that it would
nave been impossible for her to have had
the child.
These questions were based on a letter
which Miss Bigear admitted having written
TO her physician.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE u. X. r,