Arizona republican., 1922-02-08
M|NGLE I { Ar s
WITH LAUGHTER
At FUNERAL Of
". D. I AYL D R
[RepubIIoan 4. p. e ,eo i.yIlsl

AOC Sts A<F-A =
ter and screams and prayers mar sed
the funeral here today of William
Desmond Taylor, murdered motion
picture director. A crowd of 10000
almost 10 times as many as could
be seated in St PaulS Episcopal
pro- cathedral - sought admittance,
and when that was denied to the
vast majority, those left on the OUT
side of the structure jammed the
streets and overflowed Pershing
square, a small downtown park, upon
which the pro-cathedral faces.
A large force of police-patrolmen
plain clothes men and mounted Of
ficers-was practically helpless in
their attempts to control the great
throng which surged back and forth
toward the pro-cathedral doors un-
til it was finally convinced that no
more could possibly squeeze inside.
Then it was led by its curiosity and
its hysteria to wait for the passing
Of the cortege to the cemetery. Out
side many women in the crowd
tainted Within the darkened pro-
cathedral only one tainted. She
was Mabel Normand, who was at
tired in deep mourning. and who is
one of the last to have seen the dead
director alive.
Given Semi Military Funeral
Another within the structure also
gave way to hysteria. This other
was Henry Peavey, negro houseman
employed by Taylor. After the sery-
ice Peavey was taken aside by
Douglas MacLean. film actor, and
neighbor of Taylor's for whispered
conversation. Its nature was not
made public, but 1t was observed that
MacIyean seemed excited.
Long before the hour set for the
services, the pro- cathedral was
crowded. The casket, draped with
the union jack and topped by Tay-
lor's army cap, stood before the al
tar. Taylor's body was dressed IN
the uniform of an officer in the
British army. with which he served
during the world war.
-Four uniformed and armed yeter-
ans of the British forces, with bowed
heads, guarded the casket which was
banked with scores OF massive flor
al pieces from friends and Fellow
workers of the dead.
Half of the seats were given over
to people of the film colony and han
to the general public.
On one side of the casket sat mem
bers of the Motion Picture Directors
association. of which Taylor had
been president. stars and producers
were scattered here and there. They
included Cecil De Mile, Thomas H.
Ince, Dustin Farnur1, Douglas Mac
Lean and Antonio Moreno.
The services opened with music on
the pipe organ.
While the Very Rev. Williom Me-
cornack. dean OF ST Paufs, was
reading the burial service and speak
ing the prayers for the dead, shouts
and laughter from the posting. hys.
terical. riotous throng without echoed
through the pro- cathedral.
Miss Normand had sat within Few
feet of the casket. During the SER
vice. she fixed her eyes upon 1t, oc-
casionally sobbing and clasptng the
hand of woman companion.
Miss Normand Gives Way
Supported on the arms OF two
women. she was the last of the long,
long line to file past the casket for
last look at the director. She gave a
quick glance at the white face. cried
out staggered a few PAGES and fell
to the floor in faint She was car
ried into the vestry room, revived
and taken home.
Peavey sat in front OF Miss Nor
mand. He wept continually and fire.
uuently audibly. He preceded Miss
Nornland, also. in the filing past the
casket. There his grief became so
violent that he was led away When
the brief burial service was concluded,
the casket was wheeled to the vesti-
bule and 1t was there the last look
was taken at the dead. In this line
were shop girls and film stars. women
in organdy and women in furs, few
negroes. many of the motion picture
world and many more from the
streets.
While the cortege moved slowly
away from the pro- cathedral, 1t was
led by group Of Scotch bagpipe
players, playing a shrill dirge. Be-
side the hearse marched squad OF
men in the British army uniform. the
honorary pail bearers. The active
pail bearers, members of the Motion
Picture Directors association, rode.
Back of the honorary pail bearers
marched about SO members of the
British overseas club, veterans of the
World war.
Later in line came 100 or more
crowded automobiles. The whole pro-
cession wound It's way with difficulty
through the downtown traffic to the
Hollywood cemetery, where traffic
was blocked by the curious.
Here the baggpipe took up their
dirgge again and the armed and uni
formed escort stepped 10 the head OF
the cortege.
There again there was a brief SER
vice and the body was placed in
vault pending decision by relatives as
90 burial