The Washington herald., 1922-02-07
POLICE FORM new
THEORY OF MOVIE
DIRECTORS DEATH
Silk Nightgown Identified
AS Property of a :
Movie Star.

Los ANGELES, Feb. Ga new
theory of the murder Of William
Desmond Taylor. screen director,
was formed by the police Monday
night following experiments by gun
experts.
The police are inclined to discard
the theory that Taylor was shot
from ambush and died without see
ing his assaiiant. They claim that
experiments show that the gun
which killed Taylor was held with
IN a few inches Of the body. II
Is, also said that Taylor's shirt was
disarranged, indicating that he had
been forced to hold up his hands
A pale pink nightgown, of filmy
silk. positively Identified as the
property OF a certain famous movie
star whose name has already been
mentioned In connection With the
death of william Desmond Taylor.
murdered movie director. Is now in
the possession of the police and
may play a prominent part In a
solution of the mystery of Taylor's
death.
The nightgown. previously de-
scribed to the police by servants o;
the slain director. disappeared from
Taylor's apartment on the day at
ter the murder. but was found to-
day after a diligent search by the
authorities now investigating the
tragedy.
Here again the history of the FL
well case. the sensational murder in
New York which to this day is un-
solved, repeats itself. 1t will be
recalled that on the morning of the
Elwell murder young woman
called at the victims home and re-
ceived from one Of Elwell's serv-
ants certain garments described as
lingerie" which had reposed in one
of ElwelIs dresser drawers.
Laundry Mark IL Clue.
I In this case. 1t is said, the star
to whom the nightgown is believed
to belong. Is not a conhedienne.
A three-letter laundry mark was
the clue to ownership Of the dainty,
lace-trimmed garment II had been
kept in a box in one of the dresser
drawers of Taylor's bedroom. ac-
cording to Henry Peavey. negro
valet Of the director.
+ A police detective who had been
working Independently on the case
brought the garment itself into
headquarters today. with what he
declared was positive Identification
Of its owner.
Injection OF the name of this
movie star into the mystery en-
larges the field of suspects-for at
the present time the police view
every intimate friend of the women
who were known to be close asso-
ciates of Taylor as a potential en-
emy and possible murderer through
the, jealousy which Taylor's at
tachment may have aroused
Seek New York Broker.
Despite earlier denials by Capt.
David Adams, II is now known that
the police are conducting a wide
spread search for young New
York broker. reputed to be very
wealthy. who was In Los Angeles
when the crime was committed, and
for three weeks before. but who
is now missing. This man Is al
legged to have arrived here expect
ing to announce his engagement to
a well known star. The engage
ment was not announced.
He is said to have left Los Angeles
for Tia Juana and detectives are
now searching for him..
The discovery of the initiated and
laundry marked 1ightie ana its
Identification by I cayey Is now con-
sider~d the most promising clue,
following the Questioning us George
Milo, actor and former vaudeville
strong man. and Henri 8einique,
camera man. Milo was taken to
headquarters and questioned. with
Reiniquc. and later released. but not
before he was asked to reenact Tie
exit of the murderer from the Taylor
home as destf:bed by Mrs. DO Igl1s
MacLeaE.
:. May Eliminate Sands.
1t was also declared by Capt.
Adams that Edward r. Sands. the
missing Sformer secretary valet OF
Taylor, would "either have to be
charged with the murder or elimi-
natedz from the case
Another mystery in the case is
the disappearance Of the letters OF
Mabel Normand. the coincidence.
that she had written to Taylor. and
which she declares he, must have
had with his other letters from
famous women stars.
They were just josh letters in
which called him Baby" said Miss
Normand. .They were nothing 1 am
ashamed Of and ] would gladly have
them published II they can be
found"
Confirnef on pna, T,co