The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-03-04
MYSTERY.IS
PROBABLY
SOLVED
Six Drug Peddlers Are
Caught in Raid on q
Los Angeles House
-Housekeeper Says
They Killed Movie
Man


Los Angeles Feb. 2S.-The
mystery Of the Hur0cr OF William
Desmond Taylor tilm director, Is
solved il the story tcid by Afs
John Elpp in connection With the
arrest here today of six drug ped
dlerS is correct tonight declared
Detective Sergt. Herman Cline. one
OF .he police squad assigned to the
case
When Scrgt Cline, head of he
police homicide squad. made this;
statement Mrs. Rupp. who told the
police She had kept house" for the
men. had been rigidly questioned
by TWO detectives OF the disnicr at
torney's Office. Officers said they
would check up every detail Of her
statement.
Another witness. new in tho
Ease. and whose exact connection
with il. and whose name was. not
made public officially, was taken
before District Attorney Woolwine,
10 whom he was SAID TO have told
very important story" This Wit
ness is called '.F'renchy George By
The detectives, who decline further
| information.
French Georges" story, how
ever. was believed 20 relate 70 the
| arrests OF the six men, who We're
accused Of having sold drugs and
liquor to motion picture actors and
actresses and others in the Holly
wood district.
The six men in custo " were
caught in n raid at Mrs. Rnpp,.
homo. They gave their Names as
William East. thirty-six;; Walter
Kir3y. twenty-three; John Herkey
twenty-five: Ray Lynch. twenty
six: George Calvert, twenty-five,
and Harry Amorhei,n, wenty-sev-
en-. Police were holding them in
communicate tonight.
According 10 the police, Mrs.
! Pupp directly charged two Of the
men With the murder OF Taylor.
The officers quoted her as saying
KIRBY and Calvert had made threats
asa.nst Taylor in her house, assert
ing that the director had injured
their business" She declared they
! showed nervousness the night OF
| February /, when Taylor was mur-
dered: were away from her home
for time early that night, and,
returning stayed up all night.
The police stated Kirby ;na
Shortly before Taylor was slain.
according 10 the police re. tal"ment
OF Mrs. Pupp's story. three OF the
six men returned to her home. and
| tod her:
''ie double-crosscd us: wouldn't
pay for the booze We broils:rt him.
Wen get the We re soing
To kill him.
The name of the director, WAS not
spoken, however, ii WIS stated.
| Mrs. pupp said she dismissed the
threat from her mind until the day
after the murder. Then. She said.
| while she and the TWO men were
at dinner. she suddenly cried out
10 one OF them:
You are thc man who killed
Taylor
He turned perfectly white and
Saggcd in his chair" Mrs. Rupp
was quoted Then he said: Good
God. don, say that again Don't
eyer mention that again.
y never did Mrs. Bupp Was
said TO have continued, but dur
ING the next two weeks, one man
would frequently come running
/ into the house ana hide in his
room. Once he said 10 ne. 'rhe
! bulls are after me- Help me hide. :
/; Mrs Hupp was said 10 have
given the police the name of an
alleged boo,legger tro,n whom the
six men were repo.Ied TO haze OBJ
. tanned the liquor they were
charged with having sold. The Of
!icers were said 10 be searching
For this man
+; The arrests today revived the
theory brought forward several
times and as often said TO have
been discarded. that TAYLOR was
slain because OF his alleged aciivi-
ties ayainS; Il narcotic ring. Il
was even declared that the officers
had practically proved the director
once engaged in Il physical eucoan-
,er with 4 drug peddier he caught
! negotiating with an actress friend->
! y detective attached 10 the dis
! tr!ct attorneys oiiice said officers
would pay another visit 10 Mabel
F; Eormaaa .ilns actress, who is re-
covering from what her physicians
/ announced rs 4 severe attack o.
Influenza. ana rer> olts breakdown.
Los Angeles. March i.-Furlhaf
questioning OF the six alleged drug
pcddlcrs and bootlcsScrS as -
5! ,heir knowledge Of the Taylor nnr-
der is planned today by the police
and district attorneys Office. The
F.; arrest followed 4 quarrel betwecn
one OF ;hem and Jheir houseleep-
er. Mrs. John Rupp.