The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-04-28
Former Reporter of
Hilo Paper Involved
In Taylor Mystery
ASSOCIATED PRESS


SAN FRANCISCO, April 27-H. C.
Connette, who was employed on the
stan OF the Hilo Tribune for some time
until recently was arrested here Tues
day on request of Los Angeles authori-
ties as he stepped off the steamer
Maui His arrest came as the result
oil an article, purported to have been
written by him concerning the mur-
der of William Desmond TAYLOR, the
motion picture director Detectives
said the article indicated that Con
nette possessed valuable information
concering the case. Connette de-
MED that he had any knowledge of
tne murder and characterized the
mysterious letter purporting to link
hlm with the Taylor murder as a
plant by rival newspapermen of
Hllo arising out of the keen rivalry
OF the papers there. He said: 81 had
never seen the letter until it was
SHOWN me by detective sergeant j. A.
Wynne OF the Los Angeles police
force"
Connette said a newcomer in Hilo
is target for either fair or unfair
treatment and that he stirred up con-
siderable animosity owing to the news
paper rivalry there. He added 81
suppose | drank bit and said things
while under the influence of liquor up-
on which the preposterous situation in
whlch l am now placed could have
been built"
Prepares Long Statement
Conette stad with Sergeant
Wynne at hotel here awaiting Los
Angeles instructions. He made a IL
page typewriter statement in reply
to the question by Wynne and consent
ed to remain in detention at the hotel
pending the arrival of instruction from
WoolWlne, the prosecuting attorney of
Los Angeles. Wynne asked Connette
point blank if he had any connection
with the murder and Connette replied.
no, and said that his written state
ment was in no ways a confession.
Wynne said that Connette had told
MN that he had been drinking heavi-
ly since the death of his mother on
January llth and if he had any con-
nection with the Staying he does not
remember it.
Connette went to Hawaii from Pasa-
dena about two months ago where he
had been working on a newspaper
shortly after the Taylor murder. He
attempted to secure work with the
Honolulu papers, but, failing, went to
Hilo where he worked on the Hilo
tribune about a month. 1t was there
he attracted attention by his FREQUENT
references to the Taylor murder
mystery which was reported to Attor-
ney General Harry Irwin who in turn
laid 1t before the Los Angeles authori-
ties Connette is about 40 years old
and unmarried.
Goes to Los Angeles
Yesterday Connette left voluntarily
Tor Los Angeles to face Woolwine. He
declared he knew nothing about the
Taylor Staying except that which is
common knowledge. He also declared
that he knew nothing of letter which
begins my Dear Gareth."
Connette said The letter, typewrit-
ten and unsigned, is apparently based
upon things | said in a moment of
leVity while in the presence of rival
newspapermen in Hilo." The letter
outlined certain things that the writer
and addressee should do. Continuing
Connette said Il did what any other
person would have done if they had
any red British blood in them"
The letter also referred to a myster-
ious man who was apparently trailing
the writer