The New York herald., 1922-02-11
Chauffeur Takes Part of
Slain Director i'm Search
of CleW.
SECRECY ABOUT INQUIRY
Mary Miles Minter Is Ques-
toned, but Nothing Is Given
Out to Public.

Los ANGELES, Feb. 1o.--Mahel Nor
mand, motion picture actress, who was
among the last persons to see William
Desmond Taylor alive, arrived at the
District Attorneys office at o'clock
tonight in response to a. summons
from that official.
With Miss Normand was William
Davis, per chauffeur. who drove the
actress to the Taylor home tho night
the director was murdered and wEo
previously. in statements to the police,
corroborated her declaration that
Taylor accompanied her to her auto
mobile when she left.
Just before Miss Normand went into
the Office of the District Attorney to
be questioned her manager issued the
following statement in her behalf:
"No one will ever know how re-
gret the terrible tragedy. I have told
truthfully everything l know and am
very sorry indeed + cannot offer any
solution whatever as to the motive
which, prompted the terrible deed.
have satisfied the Los Angeles au-
thoritles, both police and District At
torney's office, that / know nothing
about the murder and have offered my
sarpices- or a statement at any time.
may be called on to help apprchend
the assassin. flS
"The handkerchief and gown found
IN Mr.. Taylor's apartments have beer
identif1cd az ether than mine. Itahas
been established that I was not in
love Will, Mr.. Taylor, that he escorted
me to my car that evening and chatted
until I drove away. when we waved
goodby to each other.
please tell the public that know
absolutely nothing about this terrible
happening and that Mr.. Taylor and
did not quarrel"
At IL O'Clock District Attorney Wool
wine announced he had nearly finishe.
questioning Miss Normand, and had oh
tanned from her Nothing that woult
throw any further light on the case"
More Secrecy to Probe.
The investigation to-day was shroudeo
with more secrecy than has existed
heretofore. Detectives and Officers
came and went, telephones buzzed and
there was an air of great activity but
little word Of what had been discov.
cred was permitted to escape.
The scene of the discovery of Tay.
lor's body was reenacted to-day by in
vestigators under leadership Of Dis
trict Attorney Woolwine. The party
went to the Taylor house ant
with tho assistance Of the proprietor
the chauffeur OF the District At
torney was placed on the floor ir
the position which the body of Taylor
was found.
The District Attorney announced the
plans for the examination hinged upor
a consultation with detectives In the
case. In announcing that examination
of Mary Miles Minter. actress, had beer
made tuesday. Mr.. Woolwine declared
that she had divulgcd nothing TO throw
any light upon the murder
Mabel Normand was confined to heI
home and Isolated from visitors during
the forenoon. as she has been since the
funeral Of Taylor. last Tuesday. Wool
wine said tne tiinc iot Hei sAaiIhHdioi
had not been fixed. II was declared n,
tho office of Mack Sennett. who for
Years has been her director. that he was
confined TO his home III.
Mystery About Letters.
Mr.. Woolwine announced that the let.
ters found in = boot In Taylor's house
reported to include those of Miss Nor.
mand 10 Taylor. were examined by de-
tectives but had not been examined b,
his chief deputy or himself. He said he
was unable TO reveal the names OF any
writer's OF these letters. and indicated
that little significance would be attached
TO them.
A physician was called 70 the home
of Miss Normand to-day and when ques.
toned concerning reports that the ac.
Continued on Page Thirteen.