The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-10
NORMAND GIRL
To Be CHILLED
BYPROSECUTOR

Continued from First PageJ
of an early solution of the murder
mystery.
Hunt Mystery Woman.
Delving into the information that
mystery woman" visited Taylor
the night Of the murder preceding
the visit Of Mabel NOrmand,, officials
hope today to bring the identity of
this woman to light and learn the
reason for her call, which SO briefly
preceded the staying.
1t was reported that the district
attorney was especially anxious to
know II Miss Normand was aware of
this caller and what knowledge she
had, II any, Of her mission.
- Concerted efforts are to be made
today to obtain more details of this
early evening visit. Officials feel the
wOman's call may have had a direct
connection with the murder that Oc.
Cured a short. time later.
At the same time II became
positively known that Taylor. the
day before he was shot down, had
withdrawn $4,000 from a bank. The
afternoon before he was killed the
director returned to the bank and
redeposited the money.
See Blackmailer As Slayer.
From this discovery investigators
have given serious consideration to
a theory that Taylor's staying may
have been the Outgrowth of a black.
mail plot. AS the crime Is recon.
structed on the basis Of this theory,
officers say that the director may
have drawn the money from the
bank for the purpose Of acceding to
some blackmailer's demands. Later,
they believe. he may have decided to
refuse the demand.
Upon making this refusal. Off
GERS say, the intruder probably
quarreled with Taylor and the fatal
shooting followed.
Officers today are making a close
investigation Of the story told by
Walter Underwood. who was ar
rested yesterday at Topeka, Kan,
charged with absconding with 81. 100
from the Pacific Electric railway.
by which he was employed as
cashier until a few days ago.
Denies knowledge Of Crime.
According to telegraphic informa-
ton received here, Underwood. first
claiming his name was Walter, Mad
dox, told officers who questioned
him that he iSpew both Taylor and
his former valet. Edward +. Sands.
and that he had been on several
wild parties" with the latter.
Officers were interested in the
mans statement, but declined TO com.
ment on II until he has been re-
turned to Los Angeles and local of.
ha1 " m.
question him regarding the persons
involved in the sensational murder
mystery.
1t was first reported here that I'm.
derwood was Sands travelling under
an assumed name. The sheriffs Of
flee announced that II holds a war
rant for Underwood's arrest on a
charge of absconding with company
funds.
Said He Aided Sands.
Local Investigations today lis
closed that the man had been in
moderate circumstances here. which
appears to preclude any possibility
Of his having moved in circle
where he would have had an
opportunity to make the acqueint-
ance OF Taylor.
Underwood told Topeka officers
that he had been with Sands the
night Taylor was slain. He vas
further reported as having said that
he took the money from the In
terurban Railway Company in order
that he and Sands might leave Los
Angeles.
Mrs. Douglas MacLean. wifs Of
the screen star, cleared up an i'm
portant point when she said the
man she saw leaving the Taylor
home a few minutes after a shot
had been heard was not Sands.
Howard Fellows, chauffeur, told
the police that he had called at the
house a few minutes after 8 o'clock
the evening the murder was COM
mitted and that he rang the door
bell several times with no response.
Mrs. MacLean reiterated her
statement that the man she saw
walking away from the Taylor
bungalow stepped out Of the door,
looked back into the lighted room,
closed the door and then hurried
away.
Not Fellows Either.
She was positive in her asser-
ton that this person was neither
Sands nor Fellows.
Attaches of the District Attorneys
office said today that although the
inquiry had been made as thor.
ough as possible so far they have
uncoveredS nothing tending actually
to connect with the murder any one
to whom Their attention has been
drawn
Those who were questioned at
length late yesterday and last
night were Charles Eyton, general
manager Of the Famous Players.
Lasky Company: Douglas MacLean,
screen star, and his wife; Charles
Maigne, director for Laskey, and
Capt. w. A. Robertson and Arthur
Hoyt. friends of the murdered man.