Evening star., 1922-02-05
Mabel Normand, With Detec.
tives, Visits Home of
Slain Film Director.
INQUEST SHOWS SLAYER.
SHOT WHILE RECLINING
Sands, Former Secretary, Hunted in
Los Angeles-Movements of Sew
eral Persons Checked Up.
By The Associated Press


Los ANGLES. Calf. February 4.
Miss Mabel Normand, n motion
picture actress, who was with
William Desmond Taylor shortly
before he saS shot and killed In
his home Wednesday night, tonight
snfd that a package OF letters writ
ten by her to Taylor at different
times was missing from his home.
Miss NOrmand snid the letters
were there n few weeks ago.
LOS ANGELES. February 4-The
force OF detectives investigating the
Staying of William d. Taylor, motion
picture director. formerly known as
William Cunningham Deane-Tanner,
accompanied by Miss Mabel Normand,
him actress. late today paid a visit
to the house where Taylor was shot
to death. Miss Normand, at the re-
quest of the detectives, re-enacted
the scene at the Taylor apartments
Wednesday night. when she called
there and left shortly before the time
the police say the tragedy occurred.
Miss Normand said she was in the
apartments about forty-five minutes.
all the time being passed in the liy-
ing room. where Taylor's body was
found the next morning. She pointed
out the positions of the various pieces
or furniture in the room and indi-
Gated where she and Taylor conversed.
Taylor walked with her to her auto
mobile and conversed with her chauf- :
feur and herself for a few moments.
she explained further. leaving the
front door of his apartments open.
His only servant had left about if-
teen minutes before, to be gone for
the night.
Several Persons Sought.
A check was being made tonight upon
the movements Of several persons We'd
nesday night, it was stated at police
headquarters. at least one of these be-
ing man connected with the motion
picture industry. 1t also was stated
that an important witness had been To-
Gated and might be questioned tonight.
The inquest held today lasted less
than forty-f1ve minutes and resulted in
an open verdict. the jury declaring that
Taylor came to his death from a gun
shot wound inflicted by an unknown
person with homicidal intent
Practically the only new development
In the inquest testimony was that the
bullet which ended Taylor's life ranged
upward after entering the body on the
rear Of the left side about four inches
above the hip, and lodged near the
shoulder. This indicated, according to
detectives, the slayer fired from a re-
clining position or that Taylor was
bending over when the shot was fired.
Miss Normand Only One Called.
Miss Normand was the only one of
number of motion picture actors
and actresses subpoenaed who was
called to the stand. She testified she
called upon Taylor Wednesday night,
leaving at 7:45, or about fifteen min
utes before shot was heard by the
neighbors. Mrs. Douglas MacLean,
one of those who told of hearing the
shot, was at the inquest. but was not
called to the stand A detective. how,
ever, testified Mrs. MacLean told him
that after she heard the shot she
went to her door and looked across
a court and saw a man standing at
Taylor's door.
The detectiye named two others
who. he said. told him they heard a
shot. The coroner's jury asked him
if they gave any explanation why
they made no investigation at the
time. He replied they said they
thought the sound might have been
made by an exploding tire.
The bullet which was taken from
Taylor's body was produced at the in
quest, then returned to detectives, who
were endeavoring to learn its history.
The bullet was declared to be of
unusual type, distinguishing feature
being a groove around its circumfer-
ence near the base. Funeral services
for Taylor will be held Tuesday after
noon in a local church, the Motion
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