Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-02-09
SEE OCCULT IN
THESLAYINGOF
FILM DIRECTOR
CContlnuod From First Page)

was seen by Investigators. convinced
the murderer was hired by a jealous
woman as an attempt to shield the
real culprit
The secrecy attitude OF the "big
guns" Of film land was believed to
have been the outcome OF the secret
closely guarded midnight meeting at
the home of Mary Miles Minter.
petite screen star whose love for
Taylor is now freely admitted.
Mabel Normand the other film
actress most prominent In the case,
has suffered an almost complete coll
lapse. Her condition was rendered
more serious by report spread that
her letters TO Taylor had been found
hidden in the toe OF one Of the slain
directors riding boots.
Miss Normand's letters and teie-
grams were found during the ni~Nt
when detectives searched ID hunga-
low in which Taylor was killed.
A flimsy silk handkerchief init
ialed M NJ. NJ was found in the
same search.
The letters and the handkerchief
were turned over to the chief deputy
district attorney w. c. Doran. by
Detectives Adams, Cahin. Cline,
Cato and Murphy who found them.
The substance OF Miss Normand's
letters was not made public.
The United Press learned that a
series of kilograms was exchanged IN
1919 when Miss Normand was film-
ing "The Slim Princess" at Culver
City, Calf, and Taylor was directing
Mary Miles Minter in anne of the
Green Gables" in the New England
States.
References were said to have been
made in these kilograms 70 a promin-
ent producer who is head Of one OF
the filmdom's largest organizations.
The District Alton ry's investlga-
ton in the Taylor case ia aid to in
clude "love cult with whose mem-
bers Taylor was said to have been
on intimate terms.
The clique. according to the in
formation available centered in Los
Angeles and attempted to steep it.
self in Oriental mysticism.
Investigators are. considering that
It had possible part In the events
leading up to the tragedy as the
rituals of the cult were said to have
affected lis devotees to the point Of
fanaticism
II was learned that among those
whom the district attorney will ques-
ton will be many stars OF flmiand.
including Mrs. Douglas MacLean,
Mabel Normand, Mary Miles Minter,
claire Windsor, Neva Gerber and
also Henry Peavey, Taylor's valet.
Mrs. MacLean was the woman
who said she saw a stranger leaving
Taylor's home about the time the
director was supposed to have been
murdered.
Miss Normand. Miss Minter, Miss
windsor and Miss Gerber were SAID
to have figured in Taylor's supposed
romances.
The district attorneys Office It
was learned did not in any way con-
meet these persons. however with
the investigation OF the alleged
"love cult"
Another theory upon which ceh-
tain OF the Investigators proceeded
today was that Taylor was shot in
the back by a woman he was en-
bracing and who had her arms
around him.
This woman. they say, burned
with fierce hatred for Taylor. who
/ had scorned her love.
The colored valet OF the murdered
director, Henry Peavey, has mo-
( told an that he could. sheriffs he.
leve and he yesterday was sub
jected to his first severe grlling.
with the police claiming they are
blocked at every turn. action I'm tn
dramatic murder case which ha
plumbed TO their depths the secre
passion OF the motion picture worl'
has slowed down to snai's pace to
day.
Due either TO interference or {
the natural slenderness OF the ira
left by the slayer developments /
the search had been retarded unit
registered like a film projected a
one seventh its normal speed.
Each detail OF the man hunt-o
woman hunt as It may prove to be
dragged in-painful obviousness unit
/ the case was robbed of the interes
aroused by the swift action an
startling developments OF the opeT
ing days-the "throwback" as the
call IL in hlmland. TO the drama {
the dead mans past and the pa
sionate story OF love OF two promir
ems actresses for Taylor.
Tod6y police, detectives and N
district Attorneys office followe
each their tortuous trail; the fir
believing a woman inspired th
deed; the second group in wide
spread manhunt for the form'
valet. Sands and District AttornC
Woolwine, leading a probe into ms
chinations OF certain interests to do
feat the ends OF justice.
h Jealous rage. depicable blackmai
or deliberate suppression OF evidenC
the trails crossed and re-crossed.
7 But n the action OF the drama q
self had slowed down. the franti
/ scurrying of Hollywood folk to cove
\ had reached its height The pitiles
searchlight OF public interest-blai
| ing this time with indignant disaI
Il prevail, was sweeping the haunts an
| homes and heart affairs OF IN
worlds heroes and heroines Of III
screen.
III The moving picture world, save
Il by a hairs breadth when Nirgni
H Rape met her death and Fat,
II Arbuckle went on trial. was IN
time under . more severe fire.
II The intrigues Of hlmiand. II
III scandals, the drug parties, the il
III describabie orgies which certa