Post by admin on Nov 30, 2009 7:02:37 GMT -5
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2003/0108/Front_page/039.html
1902 conspiracy trial
put actress in spotlight
Reporter’s Notebook
Dick Metzgar
Yesteryear strikes again. The old Freehold Transcript was covering juicy Hollywood-type supermarket tabloid stories before the advent of Hollywood and long before there were supermarkets.
The Laura Biggar story was front page stuff with scandalous undertones in late 1902, which resulted in a criminal conspiracy trial in December 1902 that sounded more like a three-ring circus.
The conclusion of the trial was unbelievable, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Laura Biggar, according to all accounts, was a dazzling stage actress of some note at the turn of the 20th century, earning about $250 per week, a lot of money at the time, according to a story in the Freehold Transcript.
It is likely that Miss Biggar might not have caught the attention of the Yesteryear column that is published each week in the News Transcript if the lady had not contested the will of the late Farmingdale millionaire Henry M. Bennett, even though that will left her the bulk of his estate.
It seems that Miss Biggar was one of the great gold diggers of her time — she wanted all — not part — of Bennett’s estate, claiming that she had been his wife, which was apparently not indicated in the will.
Little is said about Bennett’s background, or how he had amassed his fortune.
The Freehold Transcript wrote that his estate included a 400-acre stock farm in Farmingdale, 30 horses, 30 head of cattle, the Bijou Theatre block in Pittsburgh, Pa., property in Avon, five houses in New York City, $15,000 in an Asbury Park bank, $6,800 in a New York bank, and $15,000 in Pittsburgh banks. That might have made him the richest man in Farmingdale at the time.
The plot deepened when a Dr. Charles C. Hendricks and former Justice of the Peace Samuel Stanton, both of Hoboken, came forward with alleged proof that Biggar was indeed Bennett’s wife.
Hendricks claimed he had delivered a baby to Miss Biggar, listing Bennett as the father. The story in the newspaper indicated that the baby died.
Stanton produced a marriage certificate indicating that Bennett had married Miss Biggar in 1898. The catch was that a representative from a paper company in New York City later testified that the paper on which the certificate was printed was manufactured in 1902.
Subsequently, Miss Biggar, Hendricks and Stanton were charged with criminal conspiracy and bound over for trial in Freehold, which took place in early December 1902.
It says something about the times that Hendricks and Stanton awaited trial in the Monmouth County jail, while Miss Biggar was allowed to traipse around the country pursuing her acting career. As a matter of fact, the trial was postponed from Nov. 24 to Dec. 16 because Miss Biggar was appearing on stage in Pittsburgh. Apparently, the show had to go on.
Miss Biggar was allowed to surrender to local authorities at her own leisure, arriving in Freehold on a train from New York in early November to give herself up. It seems that a large crowd of Freehold residents were at the train station to greet the celebrity in style.
It was believed that all three defendants had resided in Freehold Township at one time.
At one point before the trial, Miss Biggar allegedly decided not to contest the will, but the criminal conspiracy charges had already been filed. The show must go on, so a trial was eventually convened on Dec. 16.
Miss Biggar made a late, but grand appearance on trial day, wearing a black mourning dress. According to the Freehold Transcript account, the actress refused to acknowledge her stage name, but insisted on being referred to as "Mrs. Henry Bennett."
Her charm appeared to captivate the all-male jury — even the alternates were male.
At 2 a.m. during deliberation of the charges, the jurors asked the court if they could find some of the defendants guilty and some not guilty. In the end, the jury found Hendricks and Stanton guilty of conspiracy, while Miss Biggar was acquitted of the charges.
Histrionics abounded after the verdicts were announced. Hendricks’ wife fainted and had to be carried to the Belmont Hotel just across the street at the corner of Main and South streets, all the while being consoled by Miss Biggar.
Hendricks and Stanton were later sentenced to two-and-a-half years in state prison, pending appeal to a higher court.
Ironically, the trial did not determine whether or not the actress had been married to Bennett, although testimony established that she had a steamy relationship with the millionaire.
The verdict meant the actress could obtain all of Bennett’s fortune.
One of the executors of the will summed it up best, saying, "I expect to establish the existence of a conspiracy, as it has been established in a court of law, and there is not the possibility to be as ridiculous as the Freehold jury made itself. Miss Biggar was fortunate to escape, and for my part, I will shed no tears because of her acquittal, but I wish it understood that I believe her guilty."
Stay tuned.
Staff writer Dick Metzgar compiles the Yesteryear column that is published each week in the News Transcript.
1902 conspiracy trial
put actress in spotlight
Reporter’s Notebook
Dick Metzgar
Yesteryear strikes again. The old Freehold Transcript was covering juicy Hollywood-type supermarket tabloid stories before the advent of Hollywood and long before there were supermarkets.
The Laura Biggar story was front page stuff with scandalous undertones in late 1902, which resulted in a criminal conspiracy trial in December 1902 that sounded more like a three-ring circus.
The conclusion of the trial was unbelievable, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Laura Biggar, according to all accounts, was a dazzling stage actress of some note at the turn of the 20th century, earning about $250 per week, a lot of money at the time, according to a story in the Freehold Transcript.
It is likely that Miss Biggar might not have caught the attention of the Yesteryear column that is published each week in the News Transcript if the lady had not contested the will of the late Farmingdale millionaire Henry M. Bennett, even though that will left her the bulk of his estate.
It seems that Miss Biggar was one of the great gold diggers of her time — she wanted all — not part — of Bennett’s estate, claiming that she had been his wife, which was apparently not indicated in the will.
Little is said about Bennett’s background, or how he had amassed his fortune.
The Freehold Transcript wrote that his estate included a 400-acre stock farm in Farmingdale, 30 horses, 30 head of cattle, the Bijou Theatre block in Pittsburgh, Pa., property in Avon, five houses in New York City, $15,000 in an Asbury Park bank, $6,800 in a New York bank, and $15,000 in Pittsburgh banks. That might have made him the richest man in Farmingdale at the time.
The plot deepened when a Dr. Charles C. Hendricks and former Justice of the Peace Samuel Stanton, both of Hoboken, came forward with alleged proof that Biggar was indeed Bennett’s wife.
Hendricks claimed he had delivered a baby to Miss Biggar, listing Bennett as the father. The story in the newspaper indicated that the baby died.
Stanton produced a marriage certificate indicating that Bennett had married Miss Biggar in 1898. The catch was that a representative from a paper company in New York City later testified that the paper on which the certificate was printed was manufactured in 1902.
Subsequently, Miss Biggar, Hendricks and Stanton were charged with criminal conspiracy and bound over for trial in Freehold, which took place in early December 1902.
It says something about the times that Hendricks and Stanton awaited trial in the Monmouth County jail, while Miss Biggar was allowed to traipse around the country pursuing her acting career. As a matter of fact, the trial was postponed from Nov. 24 to Dec. 16 because Miss Biggar was appearing on stage in Pittsburgh. Apparently, the show had to go on.
Miss Biggar was allowed to surrender to local authorities at her own leisure, arriving in Freehold on a train from New York in early November to give herself up. It seems that a large crowd of Freehold residents were at the train station to greet the celebrity in style.
It was believed that all three defendants had resided in Freehold Township at one time.
At one point before the trial, Miss Biggar allegedly decided not to contest the will, but the criminal conspiracy charges had already been filed. The show must go on, so a trial was eventually convened on Dec. 16.
Miss Biggar made a late, but grand appearance on trial day, wearing a black mourning dress. According to the Freehold Transcript account, the actress refused to acknowledge her stage name, but insisted on being referred to as "Mrs. Henry Bennett."
Her charm appeared to captivate the all-male jury — even the alternates were male.
At 2 a.m. during deliberation of the charges, the jurors asked the court if they could find some of the defendants guilty and some not guilty. In the end, the jury found Hendricks and Stanton guilty of conspiracy, while Miss Biggar was acquitted of the charges.
Histrionics abounded after the verdicts were announced. Hendricks’ wife fainted and had to be carried to the Belmont Hotel just across the street at the corner of Main and South streets, all the while being consoled by Miss Biggar.
Hendricks and Stanton were later sentenced to two-and-a-half years in state prison, pending appeal to a higher court.
Ironically, the trial did not determine whether or not the actress had been married to Bennett, although testimony established that she had a steamy relationship with the millionaire.
The verdict meant the actress could obtain all of Bennett’s fortune.
One of the executors of the will summed it up best, saying, "I expect to establish the existence of a conspiracy, as it has been established in a court of law, and there is not the possibility to be as ridiculous as the Freehold jury made itself. Miss Biggar was fortunate to escape, and for my part, I will shed no tears because of her acquittal, but I wish it understood that I believe her guilty."
Stay tuned.
Staff writer Dick Metzgar compiles the Yesteryear column that is published each week in the News Transcript.