The Washington herald., 1922-02-04
SHADOWL AND ROYALTYPLAY
STAR ROLES IN REAL MURDER.
Mabel Normand, Mary Miles Minter and
MacLeans Testify at Taylor Inquest.

director ruled: Henry Peavey, the
scared colored servant of the vic
tim. and William Davis. Miss Nor
mand's chauffeur
There will be no need for tae
glycerine bottle for the actresses
are shedding real tears in telling
of their affection and regard for
the man, of mystery" director,
Whose picturesque career as a Klon-
dixie gold hunter. soldier. actor. and
leader in the picture world have
thrown around him more romance
than he could ever cram into one
of his screen thrillers. and around
the coffin will be seated scores of
famous players. all of whom were
friends of Taylor.
Cloak of Mystery.
An effort will be made at the
inquest to unraveI the mystery that
has to this slime blocked the best
detectives.
The robbery theory has not been
dismissed. although Taylor's person
was not robbed. A careful check
of HE property is being made. 1t
is believed that au ultra clever thief
might have Intentionally overlook ed
THIS to throw SceEt off the. real
motlve-to get away with the large
sum in stocks and bonds Taylor is
believed to have kept in the house
/ Attention is also being concen-
trated on the possibility of the MUIR
der being a Jealous tower of one or
the dead mans many women friends.
or. perhaps. woman herself.
search is being made for a young
New York broker the friend OF n
prominent actress. who is known
to have arrived here and who ha.
disappeared. The police have quietly
spread net for him. 1t is limited
lhat his identity may be revealed
at the inquest
Scout Woman Theory,
The possibility of a woman being
the motive OF the murder Is decried
oy every actor and actress in the
picture colony. Taylor was a digni-
hcd friend of everyone, they declare.
ana had no affairs outside of platonic
friendship. But his reticence the
mystery with which he cloaked his
aHalrs, has led detectives to probe
this angle to the end.
TAYLOR was married twice. His
Irlenos "ere surprised to learn this.
he had kept it a secret. Scores of
beautiful women are known to have
oeen madly In love with him. II Is
THIS that Is causing the Investigation
OF his recent friendships: the women
VINO have called on him, with whom
ne has appeared Mt the gay Los An
geles resorts; and whom he knew in
his work. -
mary Miles Minter wept hysteric-
any When asked about her friend
snip with the fated director,
he was one of my dearest friends"
sne SAID. Il was never engaged to
MT Taylor, I regret to say. He
uloht nave an enemy in the world
mat l know of. He was too fine
everyone admired and respected him.
! could use every adjective in the
Ehghsh language and stin not ex-
Plain my admiration for him"
Miss Normnnd weeps.
Mabel Normand was equally as
.ouched and she retold the story of
now she called on him. chatted a few
minutes and left his house as he
escorted her to her car. chatting with
her ON her tests in literature,
one had just bought Police Ga
books Nv
MRS. Douglas MacLean. wife of
the actor. is expected to tell the
most significant story at the in
quest.
She said today that she heard a
shot at 1850 o'clock the night of
the murder. and went to a window
She saw man go out of a door
OF the Taylor home. 1t was NOT
the former secretary. .who is now
Delng sought. she said He%wore n
TAN vest, muffler, cap, and dark
suit, she said
The police are trying to connect
This description with a man under
suspicion.
Ihe entire movie industry is al
most at standstill becduse of the
tragedy. Scores of actors stopped
work to talk of 1t, to helm the de-
tectives working on the case. or
I" sympathize with the young wop-
en- who are mentioned in the events
leading up to the murder.