The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-04
film BOSS
PLAY Ed 7
LIFE ROLES
eTaylor" Was Tanner Art
Expert, Who Left Wife When
! Long Trail Beckoned.

GNPOt ~ WIN 1S'e '''S ''
! Long Trail Beckoned.
NEW YORK, Feb. Amazing
chapters in the life of mystery of
William Desmond Taylor, the mo-
ton picture director who was slain
In Los Angeles last Wednesday
night, were revealed today.
Although he had become nation
ally famous as film director and
was popular among his associates
among the film folk in Hollywood,
It was often remarked that he had
few intimates and that there was
some shadow over his past that he
never discussed.
Taylor Was Alias.
Taylor was we'll known in New
York prior to about 1908 as William
Deane Tanner, a cultured art con-
noisseur. At that time he was the
manager Of a prominent Fifth ave-
nue. firm of art and antique furni-
ture dealers. His profession brought
him into contact with wealthy art
and bric-a-bac enthusiasts and he
had a wide circle of friends.
In 1901 he had secretly married
Miss Ethel May Harrison, member
Of the original FiorOdOra company,
and they had one child, girl, now
fourteen.
One day, in 1908. Tanners friends
: and business associates were star
tied by his sudden and mysterious
disappearance. His wife could give
no clue to his probable whereabouts
nor ascrtbe any reason for his &C
ton.
At the Fifth avenue firm with
which he was associated an examina-
ton of his books and business af-
fairs showed everything to be in
perfect order. An extensive search
by the police and private detectives
failed to yield any trace of where or
why he had gone, and his family and
friends finally set 1t down as an I'M
solved mystery.
It Is understood that several years
later his wife obtained divorce and
has since remarked a prominent and
wealthy New York merchant.
Shanghaied, He Declared.
About two years later some ac-
uuaintances of Tanner, who were
then living in Los Angeles, were
startled one day when he suddenly
called ON them.
In response to their astonished
queries about his disappearance from
New York, he related that he had
been shanghaied at night in lower
Broadway, taken aboard sailing
vessel bound around Cape Horn, and
kAN
he reached some port on the Pacific
Northwest coast.
He said he had gone to work in
n clerical capacity on the transcon-
tinental railroad that was being built
through Canada to Prince Port
Rupert on the British Columbia
coast. He said that subsequently he
had been working in the office Of
q mine in one of the Pacific Coast
States and from there had gone to
Los Angeles, where he happened to
learn Of the presence Of these
friends.
Tanner, however, showed a
strange reticence in discussing some
portions Of his adventures during
the two years since he vanished
from New York and did not explain
why he had not returned to his
family and friends.
Friends Did Not Get Facts.
The acquaintances whom he had
Bought out had known him in New
York as a man of high ideals, excel
lent reputation and unusual culture,
and they did not press him on this
point. Nor did he ever clear up the
mystery for them.
Tanner remained in Los Angeles
for several months following his
sudden appearance there and made
q number of friends, who were
charmed by his quiet, agreeable,
well-mannered personality. He con-
versed fluently on art and literature
and disclosed a considerable knowl-
edge of the drama.
Without ever fully explaining his
reason for doing so, he now had
adopted the name Of Taylor, and
never was known as Tanner I'm Los
Angeles. That was in the winter
of 1910. when the motion picture
industry was in its infancy in
southern California.
Tanner. now Taylor, unexpectedly
told his friends in the spring of
1p11 that he had decided to return
TO Prince Rupert and resume his
railroad position there. During his
stay In Los Angeles he apparently
had not been in good financial cir
Ctimstances, and II was assumed
that he was returning to British
Columbia because his funds were
Turning low.
At any rate, he left for the North,