Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-11
MISS NORMAND
DENIES HEART
BOND To TAYLOR
Film Actress in State
ment Says She Cannot
Cast Light on Tragedy
Has Another Interview
With Prosecutor Upon
Mysterious Murder.

Los Angeles, Feb. 1O.--Mabel Nor
mand, famous film comedienne. issued
a statement Friday, through her man
ager in which she declared she could
mot offer any solution whatever for
the mysterious Staying of William Des-
mond Taylor, motion picture director.
Miss Normand denied she was in love
with Taylor or had quarreled with him.
The statement was issued just before
Miss Normand went into the office OF
the district attorney to be questioned
regarding any clue she might have to
aid the officers in their search for lay
lor's slayer.
The statement follows:
mo one will ever know how | regret
the terrible tragedy l have told truth
fully everything l know and am very
sorry. indeed, / cannot offer any solu-
ton whatever as to the motive which
prompted the terrible deed have sat
isfied the Los Angeles authorities, both
police and district attorneys office.
that I know nothing about the murder
and have offered my services or
statement at any time / may be
called to help apprehend the assassin.
Not Her Night Gown
''The handkerchief and gown found
in Mr.. Taylor's. apartments have been
identified as other than mine. 1t has
love with Mr.. Taylor: that he escorted
me to my car that evening and chatted
until / drove away. when we waved |
goodbye to each other.
please tell the public that I know
absolutely nothing about this terrible
happening and that Mr.. Taylor and ]
did not quarred.'
The manager, Macarthur, said Miss
Normand came willingly TO the dis
-. Ivri
to "do her utmost" to solve the mys-
terry.
Chauffeur Will Be Heard
1t was stated that William Davis,
Miss Normand's chauffeur, would be
questioned when the officials had fin |
ished with her.
Davis. who drove the actress to the |
Taylor home the night the director
was murdered and who previously. in
statements to the police, corroborated !
her declaration that Taylor accompan- /
led her to her automobile when she Ge |
parted, accompanied Miss Normand to
the district attorneys office
Thomas Lee Woolwine, district at |
torney. had not returned from dinner |
when Miss Normand and Davis ar
rived. so that the actress, who was
reported by her physician to be Tex
tremely nervous prepared to await /
his arrival.
Ben Smith, official court stenog
wines office shortly after Miss Nor
mand was taken before the district
attorney. "..=
Underwood Connection Secuted
The arrest at Topeka of Walter
8. Underwood. wanted here on a
charge of embezzlement of funds from
the Pacific Electric railway. was at no
time regarded by officials here as of
interest in the Taylor murder investi
CATION despite belief of Topeka
authorities that Underwood might have
been Edward f. Sands, the missing
butler secretary of Taylor.
w. T. Maddox. whose name was on
Underwood's railway ticket, is the
owner Of an apartment house here in
which Underwood lived for six months
or more. Maddox said that in that
period Underwood at no time mention
ed knowledge of Taylor or Sands or
betrayed any information concerning
motion picture production or people
connected Herewith.
Il do not believe Underwood is
Sands or had any connection with the
murder of William Desmond Taylor
Maddox said. There were no activities
or interests Of his that could associ-
ate with the motion picture people
He worked punctually. did not keep
irregular hours, appeared to live an
ordinary, regular life and seemed to
live within his earnings. He mentioned
having relatives in New York and
Pennsylvania and having served in the
British navy
Underwood is sought by a bonding
company on a charge of appropriating
funds from the Pacific Electric rail
way, an interurban system company
here of which he was an employe as
collector.
He left the apartments of Maddox. |
January 1S, and registered Mt a down
town hotel. He left the hotel Sunday
night without leaving forwarding adj
dress.