New-York tribune., 1902-12-20
MISS BIGG4R ON STAND.
Former 4ctress mistaken IN Court
room.
DR.. HENDRICKS GIVES TESTIMONY.

DR.. HENDRICKS GIVES ESTIMONY.
Freehold N J.. Dec. 1s.-The feature Of the
fourth days session Of the trial of Laura Biggar,
Dr. Hendricks and ex-Justice Stanton for alleged
conspiracy II connection with the estate of the
late Henry NJ. Bennett the appearance on the
stand of two of the alleged conspirators-Miss Big
gar and DR.. Hendricks
There a large crowd in the court at. the
opening of the session. for the expectation that
both Miss Bggar and DR.. Hendricks would testify
had attracted even more persons than on the pre-
ceding days of the trial, and admttance was de-
MED many, owing to lack of room for their
commodation.
The first witness Willis Bggar. of Miss
Biggar by her former husband J. w. Mcconnell
an actor and theatrical manager. Young Bigzar.
who is fourteen years old, called to the stand
to prove that his father Mcconnell, from the
West to see Mr. Bennett before the latter's death
The boy exhibited photograp phs to show that he
and his father had spent tmo at Asbury
Park during the fathers visit East.
DR.. Hendricks, of the defendants. next
called to the stand He said that he had practised
medicine since 1894. He had appeared at Freehold
in June. when the Bennett Will probated. and
later at Long Branch. in the interest of Miss Big
gar. The witness told of visit to the sanatorium
of Mr.. Watterson. a Pittsburg lawyer. and P. J.
McNuity. for whom Mr.. Watterson was counsel.
They said they had come to see Miss Biggar In re-
gard TO the Bennett estate Witness said that, so
far as he could see. Miss Biggar appeared to take
a positively negative part in the proceedings
nected with the estate During the visit of Waiter
son and McNuIty some one-witness did not say
who-remarked that Miss Biggar would be very
rich woman in a few years. DR.. Hendricks said he
assured the visitors that the financial part of the
Of small interest, far as Miss Biggar
concerned, but that she would be placed In a
bad position if the will was entered.
HENDRICKS CROSS EXAMINED.
Mr. Wilson, lawyer for the State then began the
oross-examinaton of Hendricks All his efforts
however. failed to shake the testimony Of DR.. Hen
dricEs s. specfal effort was
Hendricks had spoken of the woman trial
Miss Biggar at time when she was claiming to
he Mrs. Bennett and soon to be confined. The
witness, while admitting that he had spoken of
her as Miss Biggar. said that he had done so be-
cause of her expressed wish that he should
Miss Biggar was called to the witness stand at
las When her counsel called out her name and
directed her to go to the stand there increased
interest among the spectators. and every in the
courtroom leaned forward to try to catch the tes-
timony of the witness. who spoke In a very low
tone, so that she could be heard only a few feet
away from the witness box.
In reply to questions she said she was an actress
and had followed that profession since she
fourteen years old. Recently. she said, she ap-
peared in vaudeville in Pttsburg to obtain money
for this trial. While she starring she appeared
in many cities from Maine to California. Mr. Ben
owned several theatres in Pittsburg and other
cities. and became interested in her. He wanted
her to follow the stage and he starred her in
the Queen Of Chinatown" In 1893 or 1900
Were you married fourteen fifteen years
ago TO the man, the father OF the young witness
Miss Biggars son. who appeared the stand
earlier in the daD?' counsel asked. Yes" Miss
Biggar replied.
COULDN'T REMEMBER DATE OF DIVORCE.
The witness went on explain that she had
been divorced. but she could not tell when. She
said that while playing in Cincinnati she did not
appear on New Years night, because Mr. Bennett
had sent her telegram TO come to New-York
a She had henD Corresnordine I'm for
a long time. On Thanksgiving Day. she said Mr..
Bennett proposed TO her He insisted that there
were obstacles in the way of their marriage
Letters passed between them nearly every day. and
she finally accepted him. She said she consented
to quiet marriage. because she did not want the
public TO talk about her. While her company
playing in Wilmington. Del. Mr.. Bennett urged
her to go to New-York. and she finally quit the
company and went 10 the Marlborough Hotel. IN
City She afterward appeared at tho
Star Theatre in New-York, and Mr.. Bennett was
the financial hacker of the company.
Miss Biggar said that after the marriage she and |
Mr. Bennett went TO live in a fiat in Seventy-sev-
enth-st.. Manhattan. After Mr. Bennett taken /
i'll she had been IN almost constant attendance on
him for eleven weeks and her health broke down /
and when he died she had to go to sanatorium !
a prisoner in the house, because Mr. Bennett would
her
WANTED DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE.
Stanton asking for duplicate of the marriage GER
tifcate. The original had been destroyed by her /
husband about year after their marriage. He had |
flown into q rage, not unusual thing with him. |
and torn up the document. She had finally OBJ /
tained duplicate the one offered In evidence
She said she had not received cent from the |
Bennett estate. and had money except that /
which she had herself earned. At this point she |
burst into tears and 1t feared she would coll |
lapse but she rallied. She was then taken |
the time between the death OF Bennett and the /
birth of the child.
AS to the proceedings to establish her claim
dover rights she explained that the action
simply brought 10 give her an opportunity to es-
tablish the fact that she had been married and /
that the action was abandoned as soon this was
made question of record.
Under cross examination Miss Biggar said that |
there were letters written by her to Bennett
by Bennett her In existence. far she knew.
She had signed her name after marriage Laura
Biggar" She said that she did the when she
lived with her first husband
In the cross examination Miss Bggar
fused at times. but, the whole, did well for
herself and appeared to have the sympathy of the
Jury.
The case adjourned until Monday.