The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-13
TAYLOR s
.SERVAN 7
EXAMINED
Los Angeles Police Think He
May Be Able to Give
Solution of Staying.
BY ELLIS H. MARTIN.
International News Service.

LOS ANGELES. Feb. 13.-Does
Henry Peavey, negro servant OF
William Desmond Taylor, slain
movie director. hold the kew to
the most battling murder mystery
that has ever come to the atten-
tion Of the local police?
QuizIed Three Times.
A considerable number Of the in
vestigators, who have been working
on the situation, have reached this
co ..cfusfbS Tliiee the yaiet-hoasst
man has been questioned. AT ths
coroner's inquest he burst into hys
terical laughter. He has come
through each of the other rigorous
interrogations smilingly. But he has
made remarks, which lead the in
vestigators to believe that event
ually he may supply the start
ing point" for the unraveling of the
tangled skeins OF the tragedy,
One Of these remarks made out
side the official investigation is
the reported declaration that
Peavey had feared for his employ
er's safety and would not have
been surprised to have found Tay'
lor murdered at the time the Tay'
lor bungalow was robbed recently
Harold Freeman, a milk man. gave
this information to the police.
To Be Questioned Again.
Peavey will be questioned from
time to time until every scrap OF
information he may have Is Sc
cured, Captain of Detectives Adams
said today.
Another starting point" sought
by Investigators is the revolver
with which Taylor was slain. The
weapon has not been found. De-
tectives are still seeking the re-
volver reported found in an alley
way in the Wiltshire district the
morning the murder was discoV'
cred.
1t was Peavey who discovered the
slain director. In all OF his inter.
rogations, detectives and attaches oi
the district attorneys office have
endeavored to learn II he had any
knowledge of the presence OF q
weapon near the body which might
have been spirited away.
Police admit they were handi'
capped from the start due to the
fact that considerable time had
elapsed after the body was found be-
fore they called.
A third starting point" which
CAPTAIN Of Detectives Adams insists
is vital, is the finding of Edward f.
Sands, valet-secretary Of Taylor.
Still Seeking Sands.
1--WE must know what Sands
knows" he said, and the nationwide
search for Sands will continue.
Sands disappeared several days be-
fore Taylor returned from Europe,
August / last. Official reports have
Sands in Los Angeles the latter part
of November and early in December
II was in December the Taylor home
was robbed Of valuables amounting
to $1,000. A few days after the rob
berry stubs of gold tipped cigarettes
stolen from Taylor were found on the
door step, indicating that the burglar
had returned.
The latest angle of the search for
Sands is an attempt to find a
woman with whom he is reported to
have been friendly. Expensive lin
gerie purchased by Sands and
charged to Taylor's account during
his absence Is also being traced.
Detectives hope thus to gam definite
information as to when Sands was
last here and possibly clue 10 MS
present address.
Admittedly aftere twelve days in.
vestigation no real starting point
has been developed. Many hy-
potheses have been advanced, but
In each instance the basis In evil
dence is lacking.
Scores of theories have been set
aside because salient facts had not
been developed.
The chief result OF the investiga.
ton, so far, has apparently been to
give clean bills OF health to persons
whose names have been banded
about in rumor and gossip.
One promising lead, slightly
blood. stained cap, found in the pos
session of a man arrested on a bur-
glary charge, has apparently re-
suited in nothing. Police are seek.
ing the owner of the cap. but on q