The New York herald., 1922-04-24
film STARS BONDED ,
TOPROTECT MORALS
TaylOr's Murder Leads to
Insertion of Clauses in
New Contracts.
TO CLEANSE INDUSTRY
Organization Formed to
Drive All Objectionable
Persons Out of Power.
TRAGEDY's WIDE EFFECTS
1t Is Still a Mystery Despite
Search Costing 800, 1000
Victim Left $4,000.
TRAGEDY'S WIDE EFFECTS

Victim Left $4,000.
Special Dispatch to TIE New York HERALD.
Los ANGELES, April 23.-All hope of
solving the mystery surrounding the
murder Of William Desmond Taylor.
noted film director. in his apartment
on February 2, has been practically
abandoned by the police authorities
and the members Of the film colony.
Nevertheless. the case still has its in
fiuence upon that colony and seems
TO shadow many persons whose names
We're brought into prominence in the
efforts to solve the riddle.
For one thing it has been In large
measure responsible for the driving
from power of Chief of Police Evering-
ton, the conduct OF tie investigation
and the handling Of the entire problem
being sharply criticized from the out
set and reaching crescendo Of dis
approval as 1t became manifest that
many OF the most important clews had
been obliterated by the investigators
or disregarded by them.
In addition. practically all Of the per-
sons most frequently questioned in the
case have left the city or have suffered
nervous breakdowns. Henry Peavey,
negro serving man to Taylor. has fallen
upon days Of dire need. finally going to
San Francisco. where for time he at
tTacted much attention, only to slip into
tho background again, soon being lost to
general notice.
Death of Chauneur.
Harl Tiffany. former chauffeur for Tay-
Tor and one Of the most important wit
nesses Of events Immediately preceding
the tragedy. is dead from causes not yet
fully understood by the authorities.
Mabel Normand, the last friend of
Taylor's to see him before his death. has
suffered q nervous breakdown and is in
a hospital near this city. Mary Miles
Minter. another friend OF the slain man,
first suffered nervous breakdown and
then recovered sufficiently to be taken
to Hawaii for recuperaticn.
secretary
Taylor, who has been sought by State
and Federal authorities in this country.
In Canada and in Mexico. apparently has
vanished without leaving a trace Mean
while a former soldier In the Canadian
army has been arrested by the authori-
ties and later exonerated after being
questioned as to his. possible relations
with Taylor
Perhaps the most promising clew de-
vcloped In the fadeaway end Of the in
vestigation has been that brought to
light by the discovery of a body closely
resembling that Of Sands in the sand on
the beach In the vicinity Of Santa Ana,
near here. This man was former scrv.
ice man, as was Sands
The Taylor case has. entirely apart
from the question of who was the muir
derer. tremendously affected Hollywood.
IT has resulted la the introduction of
morality clauses into all contracts with
stars. In addition 1t has resulted in
a system whereby an actor, director
or other important motion picture per-
son can be bonded against defaica-
tions in virtue just as cashiers are
bonded against defalcations In money.
1t has also caused the formation of
an organization comprising virtually all
branches Of the motion picture industry,
its avowed purpose being to drive from
that Industry all persons whose conduct
in private Is such that 1t is or may
become handicap to the profession. II
also has caused. according to a well
founded estimate, the publication within
a sixty day period OF more than three
million words In various journals in this
country and Canada dealing with either
the new angles of the case or with
moral. social and professional questions
which 1t touched or was thought to
have touched
100000 spent I'm Hunt.
From the morning on which his body
was found by Peavey up to the present
time the search for Tsylor's slayer and
Investigations growing out OF the case
have cost in excess OF 100000. Yet
the net result is less than nothing. for
Taylor's identity has not even been
fully established. and no more is known
to-day than on the morning Of February
regarding his murder.
After nearly three months Of investi-
cation Taylor's murderer Is not only
not known but Taylor himself hovers
rs complete enigma in the case. And,
as II to add strangeness to the whole
affair. this man. whoever he may have
been. who was slain after receiving
during fairly long period a salary
equal to that of the President of the
United States. left an estate that
amounted to almost nothing.
Rated at first ms a millionaire. II
finally developed that his net estate
1T the time OF his death was appra ised
at close TO $4,000. Ills daughter, who
was sole heir. has never come to this
city. His other relatives have kept
bafflingly in the background. The
whole case. in other words, remains a
complete mystery.
Frank q. Schrcnkeisen OF New
Rochelle. attorney for Miss Ethel Daisy
Deane-Tanncr. and her mother, Mrs.
". l.. G. Robins OF Orienta Point.
Mamaroncck. said yesterday that the
news from Los Angeles regarding the
$4,000 appraisal of tho Taylor estate
was "A great surprise, to him Only
two weeks ago. he declared. Public Ad-
ministrator Frank Bryson OF Los An
Ageles stated In letter 10 him that the
estate totaled $4,000.
Mr.. Schrenkcisen said Miss Deanc-
Tanner had no intention at any time
OF going TO Los Angeles. as tho legal
part of the affair is being transacted
between himself and m attorney in
Los Angeles Apparently the counter
claims entered some time ago by per-
sons claiming TO be relatives or the
slain director have either been with
drawn or ignored by the authorities
in California. No ono was at home al
the Robins place Mt OrIenta Point yes
terday. although both Miss Deane-Tan-
nor and her mother arc living al that
hoiisc.