The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-15
Gang of Eight BIackmailers Ar
rested in Los Angeles.
Investigators Believe New
Light on Taylor Murder Due.
MANY REWARDS ARE OFFERED
Total of $500 Goes to Solver
of the Puzzle.
Recheck of Directors Finances
Made by Detectives.

Los Angeles. Feb. 15.-WilI the ar
rest early today of a gang of eight
alleged blackhanders offer a key to
/ the solution of the mysterious murder
I two weeks ago of William Desmond
/ Taylor. famous film director? Au-
/ thorities sought an answer to this
question today thru a grilling of the
eight prisoners who were arrested att
er gun battle in which a ninth iAem-
ber of the gang was wounded but es-
capped.
! The gang is alleged to have back
mailed prominent Los Angeles busi-
ness men in the past few months out
of more than a hundred thousand dol
lars.
Had Extorted $45,O 900.
Investigators said that $4,000 hnd
| been extcrted from one citizen within
the past few weeks and when the ar
rests were made last night, 1t was thru
a plan the gang having expected 70
/ secure $25.000 from the head of a
large corporation here.
Po;Ice were close upon the trail OF
the ninth member of the gang.
/ thought to be the leader.
According to federal authorities
! who directed the raid in which the ar
rests were made, the gang operated
/ by means of blackhand letters threat
| ening death in some cases and exp Ds-
hands of investigators lead them 10
believe the band to be a part of a
| highly organized local blackhand and
| blackmailing organization.
All Are Foreigners.
The eight men arrested all wers
John Marich, Emil Cutie, Mike Kza-
sich, August Beliich, Frank Serge.
Henry Suzich. Jack Randoff and
Harry Akolza.
Meanwhile, the police, the sheriffs
| office and District Attorney Wool
j wine proceed in their efforts to solve
the mystery by the process OF elimi-
nation.
Every alleged fact SO far known in
the case is being rechecled. The Of
ficers find that they have much mis-
q, Information due to lack of CO. -ordina-
ton in the early part of the investiEa-
ton.
Today, two important matter, we're
to be gone into. In an effort to get
accurate information concerning the
financial status of Taylor, District At
torney Woolwine planned to question
Mrs. j. M. Berger, income tax expert.
who advised the director regarding his
tax return, on the afternoon before
ne was slain. She also talked to him
over the telephone less than an hour
before the fatal shot is believed 10
have been fired. Taylor was appar-
emily engaged in the task of filling
OuL the YAK pidnk Mhen Killed,
Recheck TayIor's Finances.
a recheck today on the report that
Taylor withdrew $4,000 from a bank
the day before his death and rede-
posted it the afternoon before the
murder, convinced the police that It
was erroneous. They were unable 10
find any record of the reported with
drawal and found that his deposit on
the afternoon of February 1 included
two checks, each for $500 a third
check for 5000 and some smaller ones.
The two $500 checks, they found, were
salary checks. and the source OF the
$500 check will be determined today.
The second point under investigation
today was the story of William Davis
chauffeur OF Mabel Normand, famous
screen star. who visited Taylor shortly
befoFe his murder. Davis was to be
questioned further altho officers de-
clined to indicate along what lines.
Rewards for information leading to
( the arrest and conviction Of the slayer
aggregated $4,000 today The latest
: addition to the fund was $500 Of
fered by the Famous-Lasky corpora
ton, for whom Taylor was a leading
director. A local paper had previously
offered $1,000 and the Screen Writer'S
Guild a similar sum.
The mounting reward was expected
to bring forth flood of information.
possibly held up by persons desiring
to participate in the largest possible
reward.
/ Flooded With Theories.
The district attorneys office already
has been flooded with theories. but few
facts. They hope that If any witnesses
have real facts they will now come
forward.
Woolwine gave slight credence to-
day to a published report that boot
logger" had heard a shot and saw .
woman leave the Taylor home. They
said the bootlegger had failed to keep
two appointments to tell his story
and later sent word he had no per-
sonal knowledge of the matter but
thought he could produce a man who
did. Woolwine said the alleged wit
ness has not been produced.
According to reports published here
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