Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-06
How Laura Biggar, Actress,
Planned To Secure Millions

ed one OF Young & Arrowsmith's detec-
tives He was a young man, and shrewd
at HIS business. Maybe he was drinking
a glass of beer because he needed it-pos-
sibly II had something to do with his vo-
cation.
At any rate. as he stood at the bar
small, shriveled looking man came In and
bought a drink. There was nothing re-
markable I'm this. but when he rendered
500 bill in payment the detective marvel
ed.
That's funny" remarked the barkeep-
er, as the customer disappeared; that
ex-Justice of the Peace Stanton. He came
around yesterday saying that he was hun
CRY and did not know where to get meal.
/ guess he has made a raise"
The detective guessed so too. On the
following day he found that stanton, j.
p, had deposited 500 in a bank.
This led TO the discovery that Dr. Hen
bricks, Miss Biggars lawyer, had no
money. Ii led by the same path to the
trail of a mysterious fnancier, as 1t was
known that on one occasion Miss Biggar
had borrowed peck of oats for her horse,
saving that she would have some money
In a few DAYS.
Detectives In sanltarium.
Then came another phase Of this WON
derful battle of wits. Young & Arrow
smith sent a man alleged to be suffering
from an incurable disease to Dr. Hen
bricks sanitarium, where Laura Biggar
was staying. A few days later they sent
woman also and both were admitted
Day by day these two patients worked
into the confidence of the nurses and the
hospital attendants.
n IS through these employees. that the
lawyers propose 10 prove that no birth
occurred I'm the sanitarium on the day
claimed by Laura Biggar. and that Laura
Biggar did not give birth to an infant
while in the asylum. ,ft
On the Friday previous TO the trial TO
establish the marriage Of Laura Biggar
to Millionaire Bennett, the lawyers OF the
Bennett relatives were not at all sure that
Justice of the Peace Stanton would appear
in behalf of Miss Biggar and DR.. Hen
bricks.
On that afternoon. however. they re-
ceived a telegram saying that Stanton had
appeared.
Again Young and Arrowsmith set spe-
cial detective on the trail of Stanton, j.
p. He came from Long Branch, where he
had testified that Laura Biggar and Mr..
Henry NJ Bennett had been married by
him on January 2, 1898. He had produced
a certificate to that effect.
But one important detail had been over
looked. The date line of the original GER
tifcate had read "1s 3-4."' showing that
it had been printed during the past two
years.
The 's" had been clumsily erased and
an "S" substituted. t.
Health Clerk Approached
on Stantons return from Long Branch
the detectives, walking silently behind
him. saw him follow Joseph Tucker, clerk
of the board of health, as he was COM
ing out of his office.
Young & Arrowsmith declare that Stan
ton had previously asked Tucker to make
a record for a marriage-that he could
help him (Stanton) out by recording, In
1898. the marriage of a man named Ben
nett and a woman named Biggar whom
ne had married and forgotten.
Stanton. 1t is further alleged. had also
asked him If he would go in court and
swear that wnen he assumed the office
of clerk last May he found in the desk
of the former clerk this unrecorded GER
tificate, and that he had recorded it upon
discovery.
The lawyers knew that Tucker would
refuse and had no. fear I'm that quarter.
Young & Arrowsmith communicated with
Tucker and got him to take a letter from
Stanton. declaring that he had got the
clerk to enter the false marriage in the
record and that he CStanton) had seen 1t
so entered.
A few nights later Lawyer Young. ac-
companied by a detective. called on STAN
ton.
Young Calls on Stanton.
Sam, you are in trouble" said Young.
You are trapped, and / advise you to
make clean breast of IT,"
Stanton is said to have acknowledged
his guilt and admitted that he had been
trapped. -
In the meantime the detectives at the
sanitarium were watching Hendricks and
Laura Biggar. They were still working
hard to prove her wifehood
Dr. John T. Connolly had signed the
certificate of the birth of the child on
July 81. and to its death on August Is,
two weeks later.
Where the, infant came from is not
known. They made an attempt to bury
the baby I'm the same grave with the
dead millionaire, but John Hawkins, an
Asbury ParS lawyer. who had drawn the
will. refused TO let the child be buried in
the grave, on the ground that IL might
be construed as an admission of the mar
riage. He refused in spite of Miss Big
gar's piteous pleas.
However, the child was buried, and on
the plate of the little coffin the following
record was inscribed:
/: {:
I: HENRY M. BENNETT,
/: etl- Died Aug. IS 1902.
=: Aged Is days.