Evening journal., 1910-02-12
BIGGER
TO PAY $75,OOO
Former Actress MulCted in
Large Damages in Aliena-
tiOn Suit

NEW YORK, Feb. 12-The largest
amount ever awarded by a jury in an
alienation suit yesterday was given by
a jury before Justice Crane in the Su
preme Court. Brooklyn, to Mrs. Agnes
May Hendrick. when it was decided
that Laura Biggar Bennett, the actress,
who is alleged to have alienated the
affections Of DR.. Charles c. Hendrick,
would have to pay $4,000 to the
physician's wife. Mrs. HendriclS had
sued for 100000. and the testimony
given in her side was deemed sufficient
by the jurymen to give her damages.
The only question which kept the
twelve out for four hours was the
amount Mrs Hendrick should be en-
titled 10 for the loss Of her husband,
who is now in Los Angeles, Cal, where
Mrs Bennett also is living.
When the foreman announced the
jury ha dfound for the plaintiff Mrs.
Hendriclz fell forward in a faint and
was reused from her unconsciousness
only by the cheers of the women
sympathizers who have listened to the
testimony since the trial began on
Thursday. In the trial the wife OF
the physician who was won away by
Mrs. Bennett has excited sympathy by
her recital of her plea TO the actress
to leave DR.. Hendrick. In a final ef-
fort to prove the physician and Mrs.
Hendrick lived unhappily before their
home was broken up. relatives of Dr.
Hendrick were called 10 the stand yes
terday.
"Ny son and his wife quarreled fire.
! rf4. al
ways 10 blame. I heard her call my
son vile names, and once she fired a
revolver at him.
The reason for the shooting was not
brought out I'm the cross-examination.
Laura Biggar. who is a native of VIII
mington, won considerable fame for her
beauty and talents as an actress in farce
comedy and burlesque and was the wife
of But Haverly, the minstrel, when she
met. in Pittsburg, the aged millionaire,
Henry NJ. Bennett. In 1897 she left the
stage to accept the position of secretary
and companion to Bennett. Haveriy sued
the millionolre for alienation of his wife's
affections Tho case was settled out OF
court and divorce followed. Laura Big
gar later became Benefits nurse and, as
she alleged. his wife.
Nothing more was heard Of her until
Benefits death. i'm 1902 when it was an
nounced that she had been named as chiei
beneficiary in his will and would receive
/ 3 600 from his estate. II was not sup.
posed then that there would he a contest
over the will. but the relatives denieS
that Bennett had ever married Miss Big
gar, and as a result she went TO Or
Hendricks sanitarium at Bayonne, n. J.
suffering from nervous prostration and
later sued for the entire estate of th'
dead Millionaire, setting up the CLAIM
that she was his legally welded wife an'
that posthumous child was born to he
on July 80 and died August l3.
Samuel Stanton. a Justice of the Peace
alleged at the trial that he married tn,
couple and Dr. Hendricks testified to tn
birth and death Of the child at his santa
rum.
The Importance OF these alleged occur
rences is found in the laws OF New
York. Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Il
which Benefits property is which CAV
a posthumous child not mentioned in
will two-thrds Of the estate OF a deoe
dent. Miss Biggar, as the heir Of tho dea,
child. would come I'm for that. and he
dover rights as Benefits widow woul,
give her the other third.
While the case was on hearing a sen
sation was suddenly sprung by the de
fonse which asserted that tho whole thin
was a conspiracy. that the two were nev
er married and no child was ever born
that records had been forged and fslsife
by the two men TO give a color OF truth Z
the claims and warrants we're sworn ou
for all three persons. Miss Biggar dlsap
peared and was sought by the police 70
a long time.
Finally she gave herself up and appear
ed for trial at Freehold n. J., and sfte
; much testimony was heard was acquitted
Dr. Hendricks and Stanton were, howeye
convicted and each received sentences Q
, two years and six months in prison. TIL
was in December. 1902 and Il was the
announced that Miss Biegar would agai
go on the stage. In June. 1908. Mrs. Agne
NJ Hendricks sued Miss Bggar for sio0
900 damages for alienation Of the affec
tions OF Or. Hendricks. A month pre-
vious Miss Biggar had effected settle
ment with the Bennett estate by whic
she received $4,000 and a yearly allow