Arizona republican., 1922-02-05
Murdered Film
Director Lived
Life OF Mystery
[RepubIIcan a. u. Leased Wlrel

IRepublican A. p. Leased WIrel
NEW YORK, Feb. AIRS E. L. c
Robins, former wife of William Des-
mond Taylor, slain Los Angeles mo-
ton picture director tonight told OF
her married life with the murdered
man who, she said then went by his
real name, William Cunningham
Deane- Tanner. She said she could
throw no light on the mystery of his
death.
At her home in Mamaroneck, n. z,
Mrs. Robins issued the following
statement:
Il married in December. 1901, Mr..
William Cunningham Dean Tanner
of Dublin, Ireland. He disappeared
in October, 1908. We could assign
no reason for his disappearance ex-
cept possibly amnesia.
I'm 1912 1 got a decree of divorce in
the state of New York and was
awarded the custody Of my only child
Ethel Daisy Deane- Tanner. now 10.
In August, 1914, married Edward
/ L. G. Robins. Two and half
years ago discovered William Des-
nond Taylor had been Mr.. Deane-
Tanner. have no further state-
ment which possibly could be of in
terest.
"The news OF Mr. Deane- Tanners
death was great shock to my
daughter and me-
Prior to her marriage to Tanner,
Mrs. Robins was Miss Ethel May
Harrison, member OF the famous
sextette OF the original production of
the musical comedy "F1oradora.'
AT that time Tanner was con-
nected with an antique shop. In
1908 he was said to have withdrawn
his money from a bank. telephoned
his wife that she would never see him
again, though explaining it was not
suicide that he contemplated and
vanished. For months he was sought
by the police in America and by
Scotland Yard in England.
Mrs. Robins said she had not heard
whether her former husband had
married AGAIN was not sure, in
fact. whether he knew that she had
divorced him.
Many details Of the former life of
| Taylor or Deane- Tanner in the east
were still unrevealed tonight but his
reputation as an expert in antiques
and as a frequenter Of the leading
restaurants and amusement resorts,
was recalled.
At the time OF his disappearance
! he was associated In business with
A. j. Crawford, now proprietor of an
antique shop in Madison avenue.
They had shop in the lower 40's.
Deane- Tanner became president of
the company and early one day in
the fall OF 1908, a messenger entered
the shop, breathlessly saying he had
been sent by Deane- Tanner. It was
| an urgent request for 5000 in cash
which was owing him from the bust
ness. Crawford sent the money, and
never saw Deane- Tanner again
Word later reached Crawford that
his partner had used the money in a
| mining venture in Alaska and this
was followed by other reports, first
or his prosperity in the Nome gold
strike and then of misfortunes. The
last heard Of Deane- Tanner from that
part Of the world was that he was
stranded and in need, and that his
venture in the gold fields had been a
failure.
Brother Also Disappeared
MONROVIA, Cal, Feb. 4.-Mrs.
Dennis Gage Deane- Tanner, sister
in-law of the slain motion picture
director, William Desmond Taylor, or
William Cunningham Deane- Tanner,
as he was known, declared here to-
day that her husband, his brother
disappeared from New York in sim
liar fashion to the disappearance of
William.
william disappeared in 1908,
year after l married Dennis" she
said, Il saw him but twice, once in
New York before his disappearance
and at Hollywood six years ago.
While living under the name of Tay-
lor he never directly admitted his
! former identity.
MY husband, Dennis, was four
years younger than William. 1t was
four years later. in August, 1912, that
my husband disappeared. He took
me from our New ] ork home to the
Adirondacks for my health and re-
| turned to New York. Three weeks
later / received a telegram calling
me back, saying that he disap
| peared.
THE brothers were devoted to each
| other. I believe Dennis disappeared
| because his brother did. l never
| knew that Dennis received any in
| formation from the brother since
! William disappeared. To this day /
| have learned nothing about my hus-
| band since he left our home"
While the slain director. William,
had refused to admit his identity to
his brothers wife, about six years
ago, after her visit to him, he
| learned that she was i'll, and since
that time sent a monthly check to
! her.