New-York tribune., 1922-02-12
Trap Set for
Drug User as
Taylor Slayer,
Continued from page one)

WV" P"S" WV
against him, and this is thought signifi-
cant.
A plausible new theory which came
to Woolwine's attention overnight was
that Taylor was killed because wom-
an haunted by blackmaiers had CON
tlded in him and they feared him.
inns actress, twice arrested, is said
to have paid tolls on folly for years.
and to have gone to Taylor, hoping he
could protect her. The blackmaicrs
are said to have been part Of band
of opium runners, supplying the wom-
an with drugs, and taking her money
under threat of exposing her.
The actress had been drug addict
Tor years, was in the depths, was out
OF the picture game for a time And
she made a desperate "come back"
She went to an eastern santarium and
renamed there until the luster came
back into her eyes, the tint to her
checks. tho ambition into her system.
She returned to the studios and made
smashing success in her first pic
ture
But the blackmailers and the vendors
OF narcotics kept after her, gave her
no peace. Taylor was her friend She
mad heard he was an adventurer, a
soldier. miner on the Yukon, a man
not afraid to use guns, and orc who
knew how to use them. SO, it Is
thought she told him her troubles and
ne agreed to protect her.
In this connection y may be recalled
that Taylor speaking Of blackmailers,
once SAID: The only way to get rid Of
them is to kill thcm'
Since Taylor's death, it Is said. the
victim OF the gang, nervous, lonesome.
desperate. has again taken to the drug.
Perhaps Taylor meant to give that
| 5000 he withdrew from the bank on
January 81 to the gang bounding his
friend. His checkbook shows that he
was generous with his money, that he
lent thousands Of dollars to actresses
1t is possible that suit will be begun
to recover these various sums.
Miss Gene Ross, silhouette artist,
who lives in the Ambassador Hotel
gave. this afternoon, a word silhou.
cite of the director. She had regarded
him, she says. as a man of drab per-
sonality, a camoufage man, who fitted
into the background, whose clothes
were somber, dull colorless whose
conversation was quiet. vague, sub
merged.
But on the Saturday night before his
death, she says, she noted a changed
man. He had come TO her studio in
the Ambassador Hotel with Miss
Claire Windsor.
And while Miss Windsor was looking
over the studies in black and white
Taylor paced the floor, nervous in his
manner, his walk, the tension of his
something, she says. He paid no at
tention to either herself or his com
panlon, yet he seemed to vince and
start when persons passed by the door.
Former Aid Brings Theories
LOS ANGELES, Feb. II (By The As
sociated Prcss). Ted Taylor, former
publicity man for the slain director.
accompanied by his wife, called at the
District Attorneys office late in the
afternoon and asked for a conference.
They said they wished to discuss GER
tain theories they had about the TRACE
dy. Mr. Woolwinc talked with them
for few minutes, then left them
closeted with a detective. The District
Attorney said that every ono he had
questioned about the case told "a
strai ghtforward story without hest
fancy or the slightest indication of an
attempt to conceal anything.' Mr..
Woolwinc mentioned by name Mary
Miles Minter, film actress. we'll ac
quainted with the slain director. saying
her story had been crank and straight
forward'
Mr. Woolwine said some vague sur
misses" concerning the case, but "no real
theories" had been advanced by some
of those he questioned.
"Practically every one has mentioned
the name of Edward r. Sands. Tavlor's
former secretary, who is missing the
District Attorney said. "We still be-
lieve it is a matter of great Importance
to get in touch with that man
Letters written by Miss Normand to
Taylor and found in room in his
house remained in possession of Mr.
WooIwinc to-day. but he failed to at
tach any "signifcance" to them.
"They certainly will not be published
without Miss Nornand's consent" the
District Attorney said, in reply to a
question by reporter He added that
Miss Normand had not given such con-
sent.