The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-03
LOVE CULT

Continued from Page One)
amounted to several thousand dollars.
When he returned from a trip to Eu-
rope he lodged a forgery charge
against E. c. Sands, a former secre-
tary and valet. He declared Sands had
checks on his bank account and
charged bills for expensive lingerie
and women's clothing to the director.
An effort to locate Sands was con-
tinued for several months by the po-
lice but proved fruitless.
On December 4, last, Taylor was
robbed of about $1,000 worth of jew
elry and some gold tipped cigarets. A
week later, stub from one of the Gig
arets was found on the door step The
director told friends he believed the
robber or robbers had again returned
and been frightened away.
Later, he received letter AllaA
Jimmy v" in which the writer en-
closed pawn tickets for the jewelry,
enabling Taylor to recover his prop
erty.
The slain director was 45 years old
and born in Ireland of English par
entage. He ran away from home on
London actor. His father bought him
an interest in a ranch near Harper,
Kan, but he remained on it only
eighteen months. He returned to Eng
land and was educated at Clifton col
leGe as a technical engineer
Stage Was His Lure.
The lure of the stage was too strong
for him and he followed the foot
lights for several years in America.
He interspersed his theatrical appear
ances with three trips to Alaska.
About twelve years ago he became in
terested in motion pictures and ap-
peared as an actor in the films.
Later. he became director and has
directed such stars as Mary Pickford,
Constance Talmadge, Mary Miles Min
ter, George Beban, Wallace Reid, Dus-
tin Farnum, Kathlyn Williams. Jack
Pickford. Ethel Clayton, Elsie Fergu-
son and many others.
He served three years in the Cana
dian ranks during the World war,
having the rank of a captain when
discharged. He was one of the first
two men to enlist in Los Angeles when
the Canadian recruiting station was
opened.
He Had Daughter.
He was president of the Motion
Picture Directors association and a
leader in the fight against drastic
censorship and for clean pictures. To
some of his close friends he occasion
ally referred to daughter, Ethel, s,
believed to be in or near New York
City in school. 1t was the impression
OF some OF ms 1rlenOS, Mrs. IaNlOr
either died or went out of the direc-
tors life years ago.
He was a mar of fine intellect, of a
retiring disposition and had few
friends visit him at his home. He was
an enthusiastic motorist and spent a
great deal of his leisure time outdoors.
Jesse Lasky, first vice president of
the Famous Players Lasky corpora
ton, which employed Taylor. issued
the following statement today:
This organization proposes active
ly to enter into the plans for the de-
lection of the murderer. Resources
of time and money will be drawn upon
to accomplish this object. A man Cf
finer ideals 1 have never known"
The detectives who are working on
the mystery are concentrating their
efforts in a hunt for a man as-the
slayer. 1t was learned this morning
they have also begun a search for
clews to substantiate a belief of some
of Taylor's friends that woman may
have been the directing genius in
bringing about the directors murder.