Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-08
LAUGHTER, SCREAMS,
PRAYERS AT FUNERAL

Los Angeles, Calf, Feb T.
| Laughter and screams and PRAYERS
marked the funeral here today of
William Desmond Taylor, murder
| ed motion picture director,
crowd Of 30,000--almost ten
times as many as could be seated in
st. Paul's Episcopal pro-cathedraI
sought admittance, and when that
was denied to the vast majority,
| those left on the outside of the
structure iamme3 the streets and
oVertlowed Pershing square, a
small downtown park which the
pro-cathedral faces.
A large force of police-patrol-
men, plain clothes men and mount
ed officers--was practically helm
less in their attempts to control the
great throng which surged back
and forth toward the pro-cathedral
doors until finally convinced that
no more could possibly squeeze
inside. Then it was led by its
curiosity and its hysteria to wait
for the passing of the cortege to
the cemetery.
Outside many women In the
crowd tainted. Within the dark
ened pro-cathedral only one faint
ed. She was Mabel Normand, who
was attired in deep mourning, and
who is one Of the last to have seen
the dead director alive.
Another within the structure
also gave way to hvsteria. This
other was Henry Peavey. negro
houseman employed by Taylor.
After the service Peavey was taken
aside by Douglas MacLean, film
actor, and a neighbor of Taylor's,
for a whispered conversation. It's
nature was not made public, but 1t
was observed that MacLean seemed
excited. Long before the hour set
for the services the pro-cathedral
was crowded. The casket, draped
with the Union Jack and topped by
Taylor's army cap, stood before the
altar. Taylor's body was dressed in
the uniform of an officer in the
British army, with which he served
during the world war.
Four uniformed and armed vet |
erans of the British forces, with |
bowed heads. guarded the casket, |
which was banked with scores of |
massive floral pieces from friends
and fellow workers of the dead.
Half of the seats were given over |
to people of the film colony and
half to the general public.
On one side of the casket sat
members of the Motion Picture Di-
rectors' ASSOCIATION, of which Tay-
lor had been president. Stars and |
producers were scattered here and
there. These included Cecil de
Mile. Thomas TT. Tnce. Dustin !,
Farnum, Douglas MacL.ean and
Antonio Moreno.
The services opened with music
on the pipe organ.
While the Very Rev. William Nc
Cormack, dean Of ST. Paul's was
reading the burial service and
the prayers for the dead,
shouts and laughter from the iost-
ling, hysterical, riotous throng
without echoed through the pro-
Miss Normand had sat within O
few feet Of the casket. During the
service she fixed her eyes upon 1t,
occasionally sobbing and clasping
the hand Of a woman companion.
Supported on the arms of two
women she was the last of the long,
long line to file past the casket for
4 last look Mt the director. She
gave a quick glance at the white
'ace, cried out, staggered q few
PAGES and fell to the floor in a
faint. She was carried into the
testry room, revived and taken
nome.
Peavey sat in front of Miss Nor
nand. He wept continuously and
audibly. He preceded |.
Miss Normand, also, in the filing
Continued on Page Two.) Is