The New York herald., 1922-02-14
District Attorney Scores
Fake News Sent Out
About the Case.
MARY MINTER's POSITION
Actress Issues a Statement
Again Expressing Admira-
tiOn for Taylor.

Eat1On OF the Staying or William DeS-
mond Taylor. motion picture director.
reached a stage to-day described by
officials as waiting for the unex-
pected.'' 1t was admitted that no
progress had been made toward estab-
fishing the identity of the person who
fired the shot which killed the director
in his home February l.
The only action taken at the Dis
trict Attorneys office, where the in
ouiry has been centralized, was the
interviewing late to-day of young
woman who called with a request that
she might see some Of the investiga-
tors. She left about fifteen minutes
later after having been taken to the
office of District Attorney Woolwine.
She declined to give her name. Per-
sons who saw her said size was no one
connected prominently with the mo-
tion picture industry.
Mr.. Woolwine previously had stated
he expected to receive reports from de-
tcctives and others handling the official
investigation which Nigh .make 1t
necessary for him to interview certain
persons who might have some state
ments to make.
The District Attorney said he had
checked up on countless" clubs which
had been brought to his attention. but
without definite result
Mary Minter Issues Statement.
actress, issued a statement here to-day
through her attorneys. declaring she
had told investigators "all that she
knew Of the life of Taylor. 1t said
she could not conceive how any person
could voluntarily wrong Taylor
There is no personal or financial
sacrifice that l would not gladly make
to bring the slayer of William Desmond
Taylor to Justice" she said. ''Mr. Tav-
Ter was one of my best friends. His
death was great shock to me- l
met Mr.. Taylor first in 1919 when he
became my director. l was then II
years OF age, and his inspiration, his
unfailing courtesy and consideration
not only to me but to all with whom he
came in contact Immediately won my
highest admiration.
From 1919 until the day Of his death
Mr. Taylor was to me the symbol of
honor and manliness, an inspiration
friend. guide and counsellor-the symbol
or all girl admires in a man.
Ills friendship was uplifting and his
advice and aid were invaluable 1t would
be nothing less than veritable ingrati-
tude IL did not, now that he Is dead.
raise my voice to proclaim what he was
and to repudiate those who would be-
smirch his character
Il have told the authorities all that |
know of both his life here and in the
East. That, l fear. has been of little
aid to them.
81 cannot conceive the character of
person who would voluntarily wrong
Mr. Taylor or cause his DEATH
Denounces Fake Reports.
The District Attorney to-day ex-
pressed grave and serious doubt at
present as to whether the murderer" of
William Desmond Taylor. film director.
will ever be apprehended." He made
this declaration In a statement in which
he deplored what he termed faxed and
fraudulent interviews" on the case and
particularly one purporting to have come
from him.
His statement follows:
I'm the early edition of the Examiner
for Monday morning there appeared on
the first page an interview purporting
TO come from me which was never In
effect given.
This interview never took place and
there is not a word of IL that / have
ever authorized to be printed nor dfd
have the slightest intimation, directly
or indirectly that II would be.
There is not sentence that contains
my exact language about anything. 1t
is composed of some things that have
uttered In substance. There are some
half truths, many absolute falsehoods
have made complaint publicly about
the verdict in the Burch case. but I did
not authorize any further statement
about that case.
THE following quotation from the
false interview was never uttered by
me
Now, when my office should be
directing all its energies in it's prosecu-
tion of Mrs. Madalynne Obenchain In
her trial before Judge Sidney ". Reeve,
have this most battling of murder
mysteries to solve-the killing of Will
lam Desmond Taylor
II would not make such a statement
at this time. when the Obenchain case
is on trial and for the further reason
that there are now pending In the office
of the District Attorney many hundreds
of cases that should and do receive
attention, the Obenchain case being only
one OF that large number
II did not say the last quoted words in
substance or effect at any time.
The following language purported to
have been uttered by me is out of whole
cloth and Is viciously false:
IL the minds of the Jurors who first
tried Fatty Arbuckle and Arthur c.
Burch are the minds OF the public then
] must confess that the people do not
want to be protected by the laws on
the statute books
There Is grave and serious doubt at
&c present time as to whether the MUIR
Serer will ever be apprehcnded. and GER
tainly / do not know whether he ever
will be.
II intend to give my best endeavors
i'm counselng with the officers. but I
would not In the present condition OF
the investigation hazard the statement
that j or any one else will be able to
solve the mystery.
1T Is certainly an outrage for any
newspaper to be guilty of such a faxed
and fraudulent interview.
Il am informed that this fake has
been telegraphed all over the United
AN AEiatcg which fuupnified ita fniuuitvu