Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-02-03
MURDER OF
WILLIAM DESMOND rAYLoH

Los Angeles, Feb. 2.-Mystery tonight
surrounded the murder of William Des-
mcnd Taylor. internationally known
picture director, who was found dead at
his desk In his hons hers this morning.
The bullet which ended his life had
been fred into his neck from behind and
had ranged downward. piercing his
heart. On the desk beside his head lay
4 mass Of cancelled checks which he ap-
patiently had been inspecting when the
fatal shot was Aired
Robbery, according to the police, could
not have been the motive for nothing
was missing from the apartment al
though considerable sum of money and
jeweiry was found undisturbed near the
body.
One Of the last persons to see Taylor,
who was director-in-chief at the Famous
Players-Lasky Studios, alive was Mable
Normand, film comedlenne, who called.
| upon him early yesterday evening. She
told detectives today that she stopped at
| the apartment to return book Taylor
| had lent her and talked with him for
about half an hour. She said Taylor, had
I told her he might call at her home sew
eral blocks away, later In the evening,
and that he might telephone.
! She left the apartment about O'Clock
| she said. this statement being Scorrobor-
ated by her chauffeur. Both said Tay-
| lor walked to the car with her. She said
she had not seen or heard from him
again.
Taylor's only servant who left the
apartment at the same time as the act
ress. last night, found the body on re-
turning this morning.
The servant said both front and rear
doors of the apartment were locked when
he arrived. The front door opens upon
a court, even with the street level from
which anyone could have entered the
/ apartment II It were unlocked, with lit
tie chance of being observed. The door
has spring lock.
Most Of the early. efforts Of the inves-
Itigators today were directed to an at
4 tempt to find the former servant of Tay-
lor's against whom the motion picture
man had lodged "a complaint with the no
lice some time ago Taylor declared the
i man had stolen some Of his belongings
and forged his name to check and that
he believed a burglary Of his apartments
soma time later was committed by the
same person.
The wife of a motion picture actor liv,
ing In the same group of apartments
said that she saw a man standing at thf
door partly open and to be looking in
She described the man as short anf
i stockily built. and wearing a checked
can. This description does not tally
with that of the former servant.
Harry Peavey. Taylor's negro ser
want. told the police that he left th'
anartment according to his custom, a
about 80 o'clock last night. He sai'
that Miss Nornland was still there a
that time. having arrived while he wa
/ ne1f h Ga
fier. The police made It plain that the,
had no suspicion go far as Miss Nor
, nand was concerned. but questioned he
merely in looking for possible .ciews i
; all available quarters,
When Taylor's body was first found
It was thought that he had died from
henorrhage so slight was the wound /
his neck left by the passage of the bul
{ let. After this wound was discovered
search was begun for the pistol whic
fred the shot. but It could not be foun6
: Nothing in the apartment was disturbed
4 the slayer apparently, having fed with
d out leaving single clew behind
For several months it had been III
mored but never confirmed, that Mis-
, Normand was engaged to marry Tay
d lor.
9 Detectives expressed the belief the di
r rector was slain by man. basing thei
theory on statement made by Mrs
d Douglas MacLean, wife Of f11n actor
e and her maid that they had seen
II stranger about the Taylor apartment
both before and after neighbors hear
s shot
+ 1t was thought possible the slayer ha
gained entrance to the Taylor apar1
!, ments while the director was accompany
4 ing Miss Normand to her automobile.
II The police further advanced the tht
II ory that Taylor had been slain By
d man who was jealous Of him and efak
lie Grated this to include several possfbil
Il ties.
10 Miss Normand was said by the polio
: to have received first word of the trag,
g dy through Edna Purviance, also a M
10 ton picture actress. whose apartm ent
near that occupied by Taylor. Miss Pu
" Vance called Miss lNormand on the te
b ephone az soon as she heard the detai
- OF the shooting
La The police were said to be consfderir
the possibility that Taylor was shot I
"a the discarded suitor of some woman vii
A. whom he had been friendly; by a form
a servant he had caused to be arrested Il
b. an alleged crime and who was said
- have threatened his lifeS by q burei,
4 who was surprised when Taylor retur,
a. % from escorting Miss Normany
= her car, or possibly by a woman VII
for some unknown reason had becon
enra ged at him.
Miss Normand stated tonight there h,
heen mo affair Of the heart whateve
r between her and Mr.. Taylor.
His friendship for men was that
~ an older man for girl who liked t
- outdoor sports he liked, and who W
eager to CLEAN . little eniightment fra
= the vast storehoalse Of knowiedre
: Possessed" she added.