The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-02-08
tBy Associated Press)

LOS ANGELES, Calf, Feb. 8-Lo-
cation of Mabel Normand;s and Mary
Miles Minter's letters to William Des-
mond Taylor, murdered film director,
the possibility of the issuance of a
complaint charging murder against
Edward F. Sands, Taylor's missing
former butler-secretary, and renewed
activity of detectives toward declara-
lions that the sweetheart Of a screen
actress was, seen near the Taylor
apartments the night of the murder,
were angles early today of the police
investigation into the motion picture
mystery.
The letters written to Taylor by
Miss Normand and for which she
searched his apartments vainly two
days after his murder have been re-
turned to her, according to three de-
tectives working on the case.
The return was made, it was de-
clared after man connected with the
film world, who had taken them for
some unknown purpose during the
confusion surrounding the finding of
Taylor's body, had been threatened
with a grand jury investigation. Who
made this alleged threat was not
stated. A representative of Miss Nor
mand said the letters had not been
given back to her.
Deny Seeing Them
Captain of Detectives David L.
Adams stated the police never had
been in possession of Miss Normands
letters nor of those written by Miss
Minter to Taylor although the latter
also, according to Captain Adams,
have been returned to the writer.
Miss Minter has guards around her
house to keep away unlimited callers,
as she is i'll, it is reported. Her at
torney however. denied she had re-
ceived the letters
William c. Doran. chief deputy dis
Atrict attorney, stated a complaint
charging Sands or Edward Fitz Strath-
more. as he also is known, with the
murder of Taylor, might be issued to-
day, depending upon developments.
Detective Sergeant Edward King, as
signed to duty at the District Attor-
ney's office previously had made a
similar statement.
Another Clue.
It was reported also that more in
formation had been given to the po-
lice to the effect that man in love
with a screen actress, who did moi
return his love, but who was believed
10 have had affection for Taylor. had
been seen near the Taylor apartments
before the murder.
A story told by Howard Fellows,
chauffeur for Taylor that about 8: 15
o'clock the night of the murder he
returned to the apartments with Tay-
lor's car, was said by the police to
have satisfied them that it was he
who was seen by Mrs. Douglas Nc
Lean, wife of a film actor, and her
maid
Fellows said he rung the bell sew
eral times but received no answer.
Finally, as there was light in the
apartments he concluded Taylor did
not wish to be disturbed, so he pro-
ceeded to place the car in the garage.
Defends Film Colony
A reply to criticisms of the motion
picture colony here resulting from the
murder of Taylor, has been issued by
Mayor George E. Cryer.
THE attacks being made. particu-
larly in outside cities, against the
morals of the so-called motion picture
colony in Los Anfeles, are unfair, and
due, l believe, to hastily formed con-
illusions by people not familiar with
real facts" he said.
The Arbuckle case and the Staying
tklf TAYLOR were indeed unfortunate al
fairs, but it is not just to criticise an
entire group of people such as engag
ed in the motion picture industry foi
incidents, many of them not true as
TO fact, which have been published
broadcast lately.
LOS Angeles is proud of the fac
that it is the motion picture capita
of the world. While my acquaintance
ship with the personnel of the mel
and women engaged in this industr!
is not large l am persuaded tina
there are hundreds of clean, law-abid
ing men and women engaged in thu