The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-09
ROMANCE 0F
LAURA B|GGBR
ViCiSSitudeS in the Life of the
Noted Actress.
SHE DENIES AVARlCE
Declares That She Wants Her
Name Cleared.
SHE DENIES AVARlCE

Herald says:
Laura Biggar, after her retirement from
tho stage several years ago. lived with
aged Henry Bennett. millionaire, acting
as his nurse and companion. Upon hi
death he left her nearly one half Of his
fortune She pat IN a widows claim
FOR the entire estate. claiming that theS
had been secretly married She produced
child, which she averred had been born
shortly after his death. In the legal con
tfoversy which followed she was charged
with conspiracy, and the doctor who at
/ tended her and the justice OF the pesee
who atiested to her marriage were placed
under arrest Warrants we're issued for
her also. She has nor yet surrendered
herself. but she says she viii do so II
indicted by the grand jury.
Dramatic indeed is the true. strange
story OF one Woman's LIE" In the
beginning it was a romance. Ike all 9th
es, Tor II began with love. II began with
love and found loves old. end-despair
death. even worse. II begun years sgo liz
4 baby's cradle al Wilmington. Del,
ana its scene changed from the simple
Quaker homestead-Wher strife was shut
out and love shut into the Friends
school. to every towN AID city in the
United States and Gnslly tc = hsrre in
New York. where woman waits in hour
~ expectation for q sur-7roRs 10 prison.
II is a strange and UNUSUAL story 81
a woman who risked a fortune BY a sin
sic throw in this game of chance and To.
fer WHAT "For vlsdication" says
Laura Biggar-B Bennett And this is her
own story:
I have been called a conspirator." saia
Laura Biggar- Bennett. half recklessly.
half sadly, and / am waiting waiting
for my Indictment by the grand jury;
then / shall deliver myself up to the au-
thorities
Although she spoke gayly vivaeiously,
there was ring OF bravado about H. al
though Mrs. Henry NJ Bennett has thu
priceless gift OF seeing the bright side Of
life
Gay as she was. vivacious as she tried
10 be. under il ali were the signs OF tears.
which refused to be concealed even by
the greatest weapon that = woman can
wield-pride. Her tawny hair framed
kindly. smiling face. Her eyes were
tlue, earnest. sympathetic. They darken
ed when she became interested. until they
appeared almost as dark rs their lashes.
She had q perfect taste II dress; she wore
a quiet appropriate sarb in keeping vita
her seclusion.
Aside from her experience OF the stage
and aside from the prominence which she
courts have brought to her. hers IS ali
Interesting personality.
i do wish il wsre finished she con-
tinued YEARLY Il am so tired-so tired.
AS everybody knows, I was born in
Wilmington. Del" she continued. NY
mother wes a Quaker and very strongly
objected 70 my public ambitions. Indeed.
she always encouraged me to avoid the
vanities OF life. and very early sent me
70 the Friends school. IN Wilmington.
because I became toe unresneg eahie FOR
my governess was the only child and.
OF course was allowed 20 rule thos. who
had a great affection for me. especially
my mother OF whim / was exceedingly
fond
~All the JOY went out 81 ny life Vflen
she died, ten years ago. for, all my
friends she was the only one who under
stood and really loved me. She VAS an
xsous for me TO cultivate ny mind but
discouraged ostentatious display Music
and the languages -he insisted upon ard
when I was PLACED r. the Friends school
her first adnonition was.
Laura. thee NUT follow the WAYS
OF thy mother and not give VI 10 the
wicked pomps Of life.
But the dramatic wus ny earliest and
most natural inclination. fostcred frori
my first visit "a a circus. 90 which NY
mother would not take ne. She ever co.'s
sidered Il sacrilegious 70 read The posters.
It VAS always ny delieht 70 PLAY fhestri-
calls with ny Blsymatss ard Ehsn
graduated az the age q fourteen year,
gave dramatic readings 81 a ccacert
company for church benefits
AT that tiHe , vas sent 20 Philaeel-
phia 10 study under Professor Everest.
my voice IN preparation for ? more tech
meal training with Narch~si. On Paris.
But fate v-iled it otherwise. Z made q
visit to New York. ana vas persuaded 20
have my voice tried ~ an operstic CONF
pany. Perhaps would have gone on th-
stage ;hen. bot my mother - thi- Poirt
inferfsred and took nc ho-e
Then began the days and nishts ~ ar
xioas pl.aalnSs 10 BE- ail-wed ~ Eifc
tcnt e the gc1.us vhlch ] knew pos-
sszsed. ard finally ore DAY ] read n
New YORK paper the following e1rertlss-
snent. Wanted-Amataur actress. zith
money. to star Wlth sifA III known
star etc.
Il felt that this was ny opportunity.
and urged mother 70 allow ne n sasWsr
Il az course she tried 70 6lssuade me
but / eoaxed ard ccaxed urfI IRE decided
70 let me meet ths Peznless slsr.
The tour The comraaE w-nt upon con
tinued trree ~ four months. ans then
~ uo1her lsft ne AFTER gaining the
manage promise % ssad re bone 81
tao wtess
'Of c1r--- the rsd5e- defsrnzinaf.cn =
ny nscshsr 20 tske zn4 or fas stsxs was
blew 20 III ambition. ant affair 80
EFF conads1 ~ t-outles g TIE iesdiag
man Il se-=ea hard that rzs 70 erlsh
NY career in 5ust tzo zeszs. re -sn-
soisd re - ssyins
~ yru marry re SOC neednr - hack
- you- -athe- I'D take yoa - Cali
f1r-s sn1 rake stsr - yel
Thst vas haETs idea- - ;he-ra--
su5 gfFat satzsF ~rct- r. S-stzsr ~ ~
iate-fon RI - narrsr1 r 80 woe't
eo-eert us ~eI- ~ Witnesses Ns1l-
:eaa. ard ] haa. ~ fhosxHt seTr-st
ti-ne e. al answer fre- nv -elh-- -
.ar IRE d1fs Sc Pr .h- usgsl-~ r1fes
--r1t.ezrlv sra - fh= 1sss ez--1 r-e-
sslezs - tHe DELAY sd s9Ez - tee
rash s1-fsr Ez- 80 ~ TIE Erzt -