Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-04
MOTION PICTURE
DIRECTOR FOUND.
SHOT To DEATH
Mystery Surrounds the
Death of w. D. Taylor,
Los Angeles; Cigaret Stubs
MAY Furnish a CIeW.
Csy The Associated Pressl


HIy The Associated Press1
Los Angeles, Calf, Feb. ga
half dozen cigarette stubs offer "A
key to a mystery which for TWEEN
ty-four hours has been deeper than
any developed in his work by Des-
mond Taylor, noted motion pic
ture director, veiling his death
Wednesday night at his home here
from slayers bullet, according to
investigators. These half-smoked
remains found near the backdoor
of his luxuriously appointed resi-
dence, gave mute evidence that
some man apparently waited ner-
vously there on the evening OF the
murder.
They link with statements by
Mrs. Douglas MacLean, wife of d
motion picture actor. that on the
evening of the murder she heard
n shot fired, and looking from the
window of her home, which over
looks that of Taylor, she saw a
man, stranger to her, emerge from
the front door OF Taylor's home.
look back through and apparently
speak, close the door and depart.
Stranger Boards Car.
Another link is a statement by
employees at an oil station nearby
that within an hour prior to that
time a stranger, whom they de-
scribed similarly, asked them
where w. D. Taylor lived and they
directed him to the place where
the murder later occurred. The
crew of a street car add Informal
-tion that at time closely CORE
spending to that which Mrs. Mac
Lean gives as of the departure of
the mystery man from Taylor's
house, a stranger boarded the car
at a street close by from which
passengers rarely board a car.
They describe him similarly.
These revelations only served to
deepen the mystery. for Mrs, Mac
Lean, who knew the former serV-
ant Of Taylor for whom the police
are seeking and who Taylor re-
as having stolen property and
money from him. said that the
stranger was not his servant. The
porch light of Taylor's home WIS
on, and Mrs MacLean observed
him in its full glow.
The movements of this stranger
coincide with the visit % Mabel
Normand. motion picture actress,
to Taylor's home on the evening of
the murder. Taylor escorted Miss
Normand to her motor car and
talked a few minutes with her
there. The front door Of his home
was open.
Investigators suggest that the
stranger who had been nervnusly
smoking cigarettes while waiting
for an opportunity to get at Taylor
apparently entered the apartment
while the door was open and Tay-
lor was out talking to Miss Nor
mand.
The time Miss Normand fixed as
that of her departure clearly cor
responds to the time Mrs. Mac
lean fixes as having heard the
shot an indication. investigators
say. that the stranger shot Taylo.'
Immediately after Taylor returned
to the house and seated himself
before his desk to continue work
on his income tax statement.
Miss Edna Purviance, motion
/ picture actress who occupies n
two-story bungalow similar to that
Of Taylor in the same court or
group of buildings, informed polica
that she returned home about mid
night Wednesday and observed
lights burning in Taylors home
She said she thought nothing of it.
as she knew Taylor to be a deeD
reader who often remained up late
She said she was awakened tho
following morning by screams OF
i Taylor's negro valet, who. upor
reporting for work at Tavlor's
house, discovered the body of his
employer and fled shrieking dowr
the court.
Search For Sands.
/ The search by police fer Edward
SANDS, former valet secretary ot
Taylor, for whom warrants OF
charges of grand larceny were OBJ.
tanned by Taylor several weeks ago
extends to Fresno and Sacramento
according to the police. although
, Sands was known to have beer
: here recently.
Jewelry stolen from Taylor's res
idence was pawned in Fresno ant
, Sacramento and the pawn tickets
with Christmas and New Year
greetings were returned by mail I,
Taylor. Taylor, in reporting thi
to the police recently, said that h,
recognized the handwriting a
that of Sands.
Sands, according to repor
made year ago by Taylor on hi
return from Europe, robbed him o
jewelry, clothing and an automo
, bile. Sands, Taylor then reported
lad been in charge Of the Taylo
house and had taken many thing
and money. A warrant on tw
charges of grand larceny was is
sued August 8.
Second Robbery.
The second robbery of the hous
reported to the police was severa
, weeks ago. The rear door wa
Smashed in and the place thorough
\ ly ransacked and a stock Of dis
tinctive gold tipped cigarettes an
jewelry taken, according to tn
report to the police. A week late
the negro houseman found a gol
tipped cigarette of this variety o
the door step which Taylor re
ported to the police as an indica
ton that the robber had re-visite
\ the scene.
This was followed by receipt c
\ a letter signed alias Jimmy ",
i apparently mailed in Sacramento
in which pawn tickets of jewelr
pawned in Fresno and Sacrament
were enclosed.
Pawned Articles Recovered.
Police here upon being given
n copy of this letter, recovered tn
4 pawned articles through the polio
4 OF Fresno and Sacramento an
\ these were returned to Taylor Jar
1 uary II. The last trace that locf
police were informed of concernin