The Washington herald., 1922-02-06
POLICE SECRETLY
QUESTION ACTOR In
TAYLOR: MURDER
Former Valet of Director
Reported to Have Been
Taken Into Custody.

Los ANGELES. Feb. 6.-Four
clues exist TO a solution of the most
amazing murder mystery that has
ever engaged the attention Of the
Los Angeles motion picture colony.
Each of these clues to the possible
murder-of William Desmond Taylor.
movie director. is being investigated
to its last detail. and before the
detectives have finished their task.
the complete life history OF the
murdered principal will have been
laid bare.
Outstanding developments today
were:
1t is rumored that Edward +.
Sands. former secretary and valet
to Taylor, has already been taken
into custody for questioning by the
police and a secret investigator OF
his connection with the murdered di-
rector 1t is already known that
sands was accused of having stolen
thousands of dollars from his for
mer employer while Taylor was
abroad. Police refused 20 confirm
this phase of the case. but IL is
known that they are looking for
a former wife of Sands.
Noted Actor Questioned.
A big figure in the screen world.
an actor whose rise TO movie fame
has been phenomenal. but whose
name the police are jesbously guard
ing. is now linked among the pos
sibilities. 1t is known that he had
paid marked attention to an ac-
tress who has been one OF Taylor's
most intimate friends. He answers
the description of a man whom Mrs.
Douglas MacLcan. a neighbor. saw
running from Taylors apartment
shortly after the shooting is be
lieved to have taken place.
Later developments show that the
man himself had appeared before
the police and voluntarily given a.r
account of his own movements on
the night of the murder. He also
has been called upon 10 explain a
telephone conversation he held with
the murdered director two days be-
fore the tragedy.
The actress mentioned in this cor
nection processes complete igno-
rance both of motive and of the
facts in the crime.
Old Type Bullet Used.
The bullet that ended Taylor's life
has been examined. 1t is an cid
type bullet and could have been
used only in an Old model revolver
They are now searching every arms
shop in the city to discover the pur-
chaser of such a weapon.
The police as well are checking
the history of "Dapper Don" Collins.
head Of an Eastern gang Of Ques-
tionable characters, who is known to
have been in the movie colony for
he sa
no direct evidence TO connect Col
line with the crime Collins came
here directly after his flight from
New York following a near-tragedy
in a Bronx apartment.
Investigation into the past history
OF Taylor has revealed a picturesque
and somewhat romantic career.
Had Varied Career.
As william Dean Tanner - his
rightful name-Taylor worked as ho-
tel clerk. laborer and mine book
keeper in various parts OF the coun-
try. Under his right name. he be-
came a captain in the Canadian ex-
peditionary forces and fought through
the world war.
Under his right name, too. he mar
ried Ethel May Harrison. a member
OA luC lhol wi dNOi a NliOiNS DNN
he disappeared suddenly in October,
1908, without apparent reason, and
never again took up his residence
with his wife and daughter. Ethel
Daisy Tanner. who Is now on her way
to the Coast. As a strange coinci-
rdence, his brother, Dennis Dean-Tan-
ner. also disappeared from New York.
deserting a wife and several children.
Mrs. William Dean Tanner OBJ
tanned a divorce and married Ed
ward L. C. Robins. owner of Del
monico's and a chain OF New Cork
restaurants. She and her daughter
are known to have communicated
with him recently.
VIII BE Buried In Uniform.
The poi>ce arc now digging into
the interval between Tsylors DIS
appearance from New York and his
rise to fame as one of the foremost
directors In the movie world. Elm
mating the world war. in which his
Oostissed on PAGE Etahs