Yesteryear

100 years ago

A new move was made to the Laura Biggar Bennett case, against the executors of the Henry M. Bennett estate yesterday, the former actress taking the initiative. Recently Dr. C.C. Hendricks, as the counsel for Mrs. Biggar Bennett, made an application in the Monmouth County court in Freehold for a rule to show why the executors, Peter J. McNulty and John W. Platt, of Pittsburg, should not be removed, alleging gross negligence and mismanagement on the part of the executors in the management of the estate. Thursday, March 2, was set as the date for a further hearing in the matter in the former case. The application presented by Mrs. Biggar Bennett was in effect identical to the ones made by Dr. Hendricks. Judge Foster told Mrs. Biggar Bennett that she would be given a further hearing in the matter on March 9, the date set for the hearing on Dr. Hendricks’ application, which application, the court had been notified had been abandoned. She insisted that she should be heard yesterday but the court was firm and she left with the promise that she would be heard next Thursday. Mrs. Biggar Bennett came into court wearing a dark skirt, a light silk waist, light green hat and veil, and she wore a wealth of jewels. Her collar was fastened at the back with a diamond brooch. On her fingers were several rings, one of which was over an inch long, diamond shape, with about 20 large diamonds in the circle and turquoise stones in the center.

Early last Sunday morning burglars entered the station of the Central Railroad of New Jersey at Farmingdale and robbed one of the slot machines. Entrance was gained by breaking a piece of glass on the west side of the building and turning the key that fastened the lower sash. The machine was taken to the Pennsylvania Station nearby where it was demolished and the contents amounting to about five dollars in pennies were taken. An effort was also made to enter the ticket office by kicking against the door. The persons who entered also attempted to bore a hole through the office door, but did no damage inside of the building. A side door was also unlocked at Vela Bacon’s drug store and by going up a flight of stairs leading from the door that was opened. Nothing was stolen as the burglars did not enter the drug store proper.

75 years ago

Using a 12-foot roof ladder taken from a plumbing shop on South Street in Freehold, burglars last Thursday night gained access to D.V. Perrine’s Big Red Store at Main and South streets in Freehold, attempted to break open the safe and carried away goods to the value of $135.25. Entrance was gained through a skylight on a one-story addition to the store at the rear of the building. The intruders started to take a pane of glass from the transom, but discovering that the skylight was merely laid over the opening, lifted the skylight up, placed the ladder through the opening in the door and walked down. They made their exit through a rear door. Going to the second floor on Main Street, they took two suitcases valued at $24.75 each, 20 neckties valued at $1 each, three leather jackets valued at $7.50 each, two pairs of shoes valued $3 each, three shirts valued at $2 each, four sweaters valued at $4 each, six pairs of socks valued at $1.50 each, two pairs of golf stockings valued at $1 the pair, and from the South Street first floor showcases they took three Big Ben watches valued at $1.50 each. An attempt was made to break open the safe in Mr. Perrine’s office at the Main and South Street section of the store. The combination was broken off, but here the intruders were either foiled in their purpose or were frightened away, as they refrained from further mutilating the safe. Discovery of the robbery was not made until Mr. Perrine opened the store for business Friday morning. Chief of Police Cornelius DeVries and Officer Joseph Clancy made an investigation, but found few clues to work on. Corporal Schultz, fingerprint expert of the local station of the state police, was unable to secure any fingerprints from the safe or other articles handled by the intruders, leading to the belief that they were sufficiently expert to wear gloves while at work.

50 years ago

Freehold Borough on Monday night passed on final reading three ordinances which will pave the way for the construction of a quarter-million-dollar factory in Freehold Township. The ordinances, in general, earmark funds for revamping the borough water and sewer facilities, extending them into Freehold Township and making them available for the proposed plant of the Brockway Glass Company. Freehold Attorney Max Finegold, representing the Brockway Glass Company, said the plant will be in operation here next February, will employ 200 people initially, and will contribute an annual payroll of $1,500,000 to the area’s economy. Councilman Harry Sagotsky said the Brockway plant is “just the beginning” for business an employment opportunities in the Freehold area.

25 years ago

The Howell Township Board of Education is looking into several ways of obtaining community input on the issue of withdrawing from the Freehold Regional High School District. According to Board President Richard Sciria, the board will not take a definite stand on the matter until the opinion of the public has been taken into consideration. As of this week, the board had changed its position on the matter on two separate occasions. The board is presently considering plans to put the withdrawal question to the public in the form of a non-binding referendum in the upcoming Board of Education election. According to Superintendent Dr. Sidney Zaslavsky, Commissioner of Education Fred G. Burke has twice turned down requests by the Howell board to put the question to referendum, yet the school board’s attorney is studying the matter. Sciria said he feels the only way to obtain the information successfully is to conduct an informal survey of the township’s residents.

— Compiled by Dick Metzgar