Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-05
Have No Clue to the Iden-
tity Of the Person Who
Slew William Desmond
Taylor in Los Angeles,
BULLET WHICH ENDED
MANS LIFE Is FOUND
Coroner's Jury Returns a
Verdict That He Came to
His Death at the Hands
of a Person Unknown.

Los Angeles, Calf Feb, 4,-The
entire force of detectives investi'
eating the staying of William Des-
mond Deane-Tanner, was sent out
today on mission, the nature Of
which was not divulged at police
headquarters.
Up to this time the Investigators
said they were still unable to eX-
press an opinion concerning the
identity of the person who shot the
director Wednesday night in the
living room of his apartments In
an exclusive residential section
near Westlake Park.
The inquest, held today, lasted
less than forty-five minutes and
resulted in an open verdict, the
jury declaring Taylor came to his
death from a gunshot wound in7
flicted by an unknown person with
homicidal intent
Course of Bullet.
Practically the only new devel-
ment in the inquest testimony was
that the bullet which ended Tay-
lor's life ranged upward after en-
lllB TIC bbuN VII Nllb lCtll VI INV
left side about four inches above
the hip and lodged near the
shoulder. This indicated, accord
ing to detectives, the slayer fire /
from a reclining position or that
Taylor was bending over when the
shot was fired.
Miss Mabel Normand was the
only one of a number of motion
picture actors and actresses sub
poenaed who was called to the
stand. She testified she called
upon Taylor Wednesday night,
leaving at 7:45. or about fifteen
minutes before shot was heard
by neighbors. Mrs. Douglas Mac
Lean. one Of those who told of
hearing the shot, was at the in
quest but was not called TO the
stand. A detective, however. tes.
fled Mrs. MacLean told him that
after she heard the shot she went
to her door and looked across n
court and saw man standing at
Tayleris door.
Two Others Heard Shot.
The detective named two others
who, he said, told him they had
heard a shot. The coroner asked
him if they gave any explanation
why they made no investigation at
tho time. He replied they said
they thought the sound might have
been made by an exploding tire.
The deceased was referred to as
Taylor" throughout the inquest.
Search for the person described
by Mrs. MacLean and for Edward
F. Sands, former butler and Sec
retary for Taylor. continued and
the police ran down numerous
fruitless clues. 1t was admitted for
the first time by the investigators
that Sands is believed to be in or
near Los Angeles. He had been
eought for several months on a
grand larceny charge made by Tay-
lor, who alleged Sands stole some
OF his effects and disappeared, In
vestigators said they had the word
OF a witness they believed impeach-
able that Sands was in this city last
Tuesday
The detectives said the statement
of Sands would be an important
element" in the case if he had one
to make in the interest of narrow
ing the scope of the investigation.
Subject of Motive.
The investigation today, it was
said, was devoted largely to the
subject of motive. The police have
been from the beginning of the
opinion that Taylor was slain for
revenge but it was admitted that
up to late today it had not been
determined that any one entertain
ed any animoslty for Taylor of
such q degree that would appear to
be an incentive to murder. The
possibility that jealousy might have
been the cause of the Staying was
still receiving attention, it was de-
clared.
The discovery that Taylor had
once gone by another name was
received by the police with much
interest and 1t was said that this
might prove an important element
in the case.
Inspection of the Taylor resi-
dence was completed by finger
print experts who announced that
they had found impressions or
other clues.
Bullet Is Produced.
The bullet which was taken from
Taylor's body was produced at the
inquest, then returned to detectives
who were endeavoring to learn its
history The missile was found
intact and retained its
original shape, due, County Autop-
sy Surgeon A. f. Wagner said, to
its not having struck a bone during
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