FILM STAR’S LIVES

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1929, Page 6

FILM STAR’S LIVES

THE. NEW YORK TRAGEDY

.‘United Press Association -By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

NEAV YORK. June 10

There is not yet a single scientilla of further fact to explain the Law-rence-Betmison killings. AA’iiile there are no further facts to explain the tragedy investigations have just revealed that considerable interest has been aroused by the disclosures of friends of the victims concerning their-lives together in the citv.

•,A toxicologist has confirmed the fact that both had consumed a large quantity of liquor, and a medical examiner has confirmed the original view that “Aliss Lawrence came by her death by homicidal shooting, and that Benuison’s death was due to suicide.”

AVhile Miss Lawrence was forty years 1 old, and was the mother of two children by her first- husband, and Bennison was in His fit ties, both of them had aspired to continue stellar parts in the theatrical world. Miss Lawrence had expressed disappointment recently over her failure to secure good parts, and only a week ago she consulted her attorney, asking lvis advice as to whether she should cuter the talking movies. Loss recently, Aliss Lawrence had incurred ill-favour with the Actor’s Association hero, when she failed to appear for a scheduled performance and it is rumoured that her failure was due to intoxication.

Her attorney said that money difficulties could not outer into the tragedy, since she had considerable property and she was to have received half a share of tlie estate of her second husband, AVallace Eddinger. . Bennison, who had played at one time in Western films, is believed to have had difficulties in securing n movie contract, and it is lepoitod that lie was to have appeared In a play hero to-night, but lie was asked to withdraw last week without an explanation. A short time ago they appeared together in a vaudeville sketch, which was a failure.

Various friends stated that their life together was a morose and unhappy one, with much heavy drinking. Bennison is said to have been insanely jealous. ALarious members of the Lambs’ Club here stated that Bennison, during his drinking spells, would talk wildly and usually would brandidi two (revolvers, reminiscent of his cinema roles. ' The whole affair appears to he extremely sombre, and the newspapers, on the basis of their own investigations, are presenting many lim'd details that allegedly were responsible for the undoing of the pair. It will probably be some time before tlie accurate facts will be known.