Monte Vista’s Interlude.
Here is an interesting story of Nob Hill you might not have heard. In 1908, the Sulzer family (who homesteaded what is now Monte Vista), deeded the house, out buildings and 5 acres to a Mrs. H.M. Bennett for $3,500. Mrs. H.M. Bennett, also known as Laura Beggar Bennett, had notoriety as a famous theater actress and for an ongoing list of scandals involving numerous husbands, lovers, and copious sums of money. Her 1902 trial for conspiracy to collect around $2M from deceased theater owner H.M. Bennett continued to make headlines for 15 years.
Drama Mama
Laura’s drama in Albuquerque began around 1908, when her son’s health demanded a dryer climate. She purchased the Albuquerque Evening Sun with her convicted co-conspirator, Dr. C.C. Hendricks of New Jersey. The newspaper failed within a few months. Many lawsuits resulted against Laura including a $100,000 suit for abandonment from Hendricks’ wife. It seemed like everyone wanted in on Bennett’s estate.
It was around this time, that Laura acquired the Sulzer’s family home, known as “Nuestra Casa.” Despite her recent inheritance from her alleged husband, H.M. Bennet, which granted her $600,000 plus a monthly allowance, she took out a mortgage of $4,000 to purchase the house and 5 acres and transferred the property to a trust, naming her son, James W. McConnell, as trustee.
In the Headlines
During Laura’s short stint as the editor of Albuquerque Evening Sun, Marcus Kelly served as the business manager. Perhaps seeing the opportunity to make some quick money, or perhaps he legitimately suffered undue injury, Kelly filed two lawsuits against Bennett. On March 31, 1909, the Albuquerque Journal reported on the trial of Marcus Kelly against Ms. H.M. Bennett. Kelly stated he had informed Bennett that the paper would lose money for 2 years at $5,000/yr and that Dr. Hendrick’s (her lover) articles were causing readers to be antagonistic toward paper. Bennett claimed to be tied to Hendricks and he appeared in court as her counsel. On April 1, 1909, the jury awarded Kelly $375 for breach of contract. Apparently, this debt was paid through a sheriff’s sale of Laura’s household property, which included a piano and multiple dining room tables, in August of that same year.
The day after the jury decision on the first lawsuit, the Albuquerque Journal reported that Kelly filed a Suit for Libel. Kelly sought a $10,000 in compensation, stating the Sun published an article accusing him of illegal voting in 1906 while he still a British citizen. Apparently, Kelly did not receive his due compensation, as, in October 1909, he filed lis pendens on the 5-acre Sulzer estate.
Exit Stage Left
Apparently, all this “drama” left a sour taste for Albuquerque, and Ms. Beggar Bennet announced she was returning to the stage and moved to Los Angeles. During this time, Laura was named in several other lawsuits in other states, including one by Ms. Agnes Mary Hendrix for $100,000 for breaking up a happy marriage, and $60,000 for breach of contract in the sale of New Jersey Theater. By this point, Laura was no stranger to lawsuits – even her lover, Dr. C.C. Hendrix sued her in 1906 for “unpaid medical services” in the oddly specific amount of $299,980 (a figure of approximately half of what Laura received in 1902 from the Bennett estate).
As far as the libel lawsuit, Kelly remained persistent in collecting his damages. For the next year, he continued to claim his damages. It is unclear how the debt was finally settled, but, in May of 1910, Laura’s son signed the warranty deed on the 5 acres to Ms. Lucy Wooton for $1 and Kelly dropped the lis pendins.
Final Plot Twist?
However, that was not the grand finale for the 5 acres that would become part of Monte Vista. Before returning to the Sulzers in 1923, the land ended up in the hands of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Maybe, at one time, there was hope that a Monte Vista Parish would see its name in lights.
©️ 2026 Michelle Allison
