Evening star., 1922-02-04
Movie Directors Affairs of
Heart Continue to Be Lead
ing Subject of Probe.
RIGHT NAME DECLARED
WILLIAM DEANE TANNER
Mabel Normand, Mary Miles Min
ter and Neva Gerber, Actresses,
Involved in Investigation.
BY the Associated Press.

| by the Associated Press.
| Los ANGEL ES Calf, February A.
Famous stars of filmdom were sum-
moned as witnesses today at the in
quest into the death Of William Des-
mond Taylor. motion picture director
soldier and adventurer, whose true
name may be William Deane Tanner
slain by bullet in the back. at his
residence here Wednesday night.
| The police investigation of the crime
had revealed by today a maze OF
complexities in the life of Taylor or
Tanner. The directors reported af-
fairs of the heart continued to be
the leading subject of inquiry
! Actress Center of Probe.
| Mabel Nordmand. Mary Miles Mintel
and NeVa Gerber are three of the mo-
| ton picture actresses involved in the
police investigation Reports have
come to the police. they say. that a
| love affair at one time or another ex-
isteu between each of these and the
slain director.
| Police. say. without mentioning the
| Eame. that 4 motion picture actress is
the center of their investigation. A
| theory OF revenge" motive, with
jealousy as the possible direct Cd IS !.
is being analyzed. they say.
| Edna Purviance and Mrs. Douglas
MacLean, the former an actress and
| the latter the wife of an actor. are
incidental witnesses in the case
| These five figures in the motion pic
J ture world and others, actresses. di-
| rectors and employees. are scheduled
to appear here today in the inquest.
| Had Adventurous Career.
| The chequered and adventurous ca
/ reer of the slain director, actor, engl-
| neer. klondike pioneer. soldier and
| student of psychology. known for
years to his most intimate friends
here as bachelor living alone in a
| luxuriously furnished dwelling place
! and often visited by actresses, today
| reveals that he has been living under
| changed name. has a daughter thir-
teen years of age. was divorced and
possibly had been married and di-
vorced second time. He was for
! merly known as Tanner, according to
the deserted wife Of his brother, Mrs
| Ada Deane Tanner of Monrovia, near
| here. who announced last night that
the slain man had supported her by
| sending checks of $50 monthly for the
last six years.
| Police are continuing their search
| FOR Edward F.. Sands, reported also
to be known as Edward Fitz Starth-
| more. the missing butler of Taylor,
|
following which Taylor filed with the
police charges Of grand larceny
| against him. While most intimate te
| friends in the film world of Taylor
| did not know of his previous mar
r!age. this butler did. for he used
| in pawning, at Fresno, articles stolen
| from Taylor.
Had PremOnitiOn of Death.
| A life in fear. of death, during the
! last few days of his existence, adds
| to the dramatic mystery Of the dual
| existence Of Taylor. He mentioned
to at least one person. police say
! that he had premonition Of death.
! The latest motion picture actress to
| be drawn into the investigation. said
at one time to have been intimately
| associated with Taylor. was said to
| be out of the city, but the police gave
no intimation as to the whereabouts
linked with hers in the stories told
! the detectives by a number of per-
| sons at an inquiry extending over
several hours.
| Miss Normand is said to have ad-
| mitted, as did Neva Gerber. another
J been engaged to her. while Miss
! Minter also is said to have enjoyed
the directors close friendship at one
| time. 1t was only week before his
death, however, according to Claire
| Windsor's mother, that the latter took
her first automobile ride and dinner
| with Taylor. The police plan to in
| terview Miss Windsor as they have
| the other actresses in their search
| for possible clues as soon as she re-
turns from a trip into the country
! where she Is said to be "on location
| with Marshall Neilan. director.
Large Automobile Sought.
Many stories have been brought to
the police by neighbors of Taylor and
by his former employees concerning
the neighborhood happenings the
night of the crime and the directors
recent comings and goings. friends
and associates, telephone calls and
various social activities.
The Motion Picture Directors Asso-
| citation, of which Taylor was elected
president three times, has formed a
! special investigating committee to
help the police in every possible way
! to solve the mystery of the directors
death. Maj. Maurice Campbell was
! chosen head of the committee.
| What was said to be a large auto
! mobile of striking appearance, seen
near the Taylor apartments the night
/ of the Staying, Is understood to be re-
| ceiving some attention from the de-
| tectives.
Another point is whether blackmail
had been an element in the crime. II
| is said to be considered possible the
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