The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-24
Fields Story of Staying Is Con-
firmed in Part.
All Investigators of Taylor Mys-
terry Show Credence.l
BANK CLERK ADDS TO TALE
Remembers Changing $1,000
Bill Which Figures in Story.
Mabel NOrmand Seriously Ill
From Flu After Breakdown.

found in the pockets of Harry n.
Fields, Jail inmate here. prove that
he was in Los Angeles the night of
the murder of William Desmond Tay-
lor and not in Chicago, Sheriff Irv-
ing ]. Coffin said today.
Sheriff Coffin declared the receipts
almost nullified the effect of stories
that Fields had made a deposit in a
bank in Chicago February 2 and
therefore could not have been in Los
Angeles when the murder was COM
mitted
Los Angeles. Feb. 24.-The drive to
determine whether a drug ring is re-
sponsible for the murder of William
Desmond Taylor, started when Harry
n. Fields, under arrest in Detroit
gave highly circumstantfal version
of the Staying. took on fresh impetus
today. United States District Attor-
ney Thomas Green turned ever tE
District Attorney Lee Woolwine a
mass of data regarding the activities
of the drug ring at Hollywood studios
Confirm Taylor's Opposition.
These data were given Green several
months ago by Taylor, who sought his
aid in fighting the ring. Green con-
l1TnleQ lIS report LDdL Taylor Twice
visited him, the occasions being about
three weeks apart. Taylor, he gath
cred, was heart and soul in the fight
against the drug traffickers. His
aim was to save from their clutches
a woman he is said TO have loved.
Altho doubt has been thrown on
Fields's story in some particulars
some confirmation has been obtained
The chief factor throwing doubt on
the narrative of the confessed mem
Der of the drug ring lies in the devel-
opment that he was arrested in Buff
falo, n. Y. February 6.
In the story received here, he said
he went by way of Seattle and Off
GERS believe it would have been impos-
sible for him to have left here Feb
ruary and arrived in Buffalo the
9Th over that route.
Bank Clerk Remembers Bill.
On the other hand, they have found
bank clerk who recalls changing d
thousand dollar bill for a stranger
who appeared nervous and acted sus-
piciously. The authorities are wonder
ing if FIELDS obtained his information
thru the mysterious underground
channels of the drug world and altho
he was not here and the actual driver
of the death car, as claimed. has the
general outline of the murder story
in fact and not fancy.
So important has the drug ring
angle of the investigation become that
federal state, city and county officials
today were all engaged in the inquiry.
Two operators of the state board of
pharmacy Joined in the probe today,
devoting all their attention to investi-
cation of the activities of the drug
ring.
Mabel Normand Very III.
Friends OF Mabel Normand today
expressed anxiety over her condition.
She was stricken with influenza last
Monday and her condition has grown
steadily more serious since that time.
Her physicians believe she will re-
cover but are watching her condition
anXiously.
Coming so closely upon her nervous
collapse at the funeral of Taylor, her
friends say the next attack is taxing
seriously her reserve strength. Every
precaution is being taken at her new
home in the AItadena foothills to Sc
cure quiet and seclusion for the ia
nous film star who was last to see
Taylor alive.