UNHAPPY LIFE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 12 June 1929, Page 5

UNHAPPY LIFE

ACTRESS AND ACTOR THE LAWRENCEBENNISON TRAGEDY DISCLOSURES BY FRIENDS fUnited Praa Association-By Eleotrlc TGietjrauh---Copyright) (Australian Press Association) NEW YORK, 10th June. (While there is not a single scintilla of further fact to explain the deaths of Margaret Lawrence, the actress, and Louis Bennison, the actor, investigations have just revealed that considerable interest was aroused by the disclosures of friends of the victims concerning their lives together in the city. A toxicologist has confirmed the fact that both had consumed a large quantity of liquor, ami a medical examiner confirmed the original view that "Lawrence's death came by homicidal shooting and that Bennison's death was due to suicide. While Lawrence was 40 years old, and was the mother of two children by her first husband, and Bennison-was in his fifties, both aspired to continue stellar parts in the theatrical world. Lawrence expressed disappointment recently over her failure to secure go<xl parts, and only a week ago consulted her attorney asking his advice whether she should enter the talking movies. Less recently, Lawrence incurred, ill-favour with the Actors' Association here when she failed to appear for a scheduled performance, and it is rumoured that hen failure was due to intoxication. Her attorney said that monetary difficulties could not enter into the tragedy, since she had considerable property- and was to nave received a half-share of the. estate ol her second husband, Wallace Eddingia. Bennison, who had played at one time in western films, is believed to have had difficulties in securing a movie contract, and it is reported he was to have appeared in a plav here to-night, but was asked to withdraw last week, without explanation. A short time ago they appeared &■ ■gether in a vaudeville sketch which was a failure. '. ~£ Various friends stated that their lite, together was a morose and unhappy one, with much heavy drinking. Beninson is said to have been insanely Various members of the Lambs' Club here stated that Bennison, during drinkin°- spells, would talk wildly and usually" brandish two revolvers reminiscent of his cinema roles. The whole affair appears extremely sombre, and newspapers, on the basis of their own investigations, present many lurid details allegedly responsible for the undoing of the pair. It will probadly be some cunt; before the accurate facts will be known.