The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-03
Mabel NOrn1and the
Last to Visit Taylor
Night of Tragedy
Mrs. Douglas MacLeola
Heurd Shot and Savs She
Salc Man Le0Ue House
D. WALLACE SMITH,

BY WALLACE SMITH,
Special Correspondent Of the lnterna-
ttonal NeWs Service.
Copyright. 1922. by I. N. S.-Copy-
right. 1872. by the Chicago Evening
American.)
LOS ANGELES. Calf. Feb. 3.
Through the silver screen on
which the moving picture idols
troop m silent drama for their
millions of admirers. detectives
plunged todayd in a desperate
effort to solve the mystery in the
Staying Of William Desmond Tay-
loE. one of the best known direc-
Anr4 ~ ~ film lns,d.
Behind the screen. they ripped
straight into the private lives Of
these public idols. They were or
dered to spare no person. how
ever mighty, if their investigation
promised to clear the tragedy that
stunned the world of movies when
Taylor was found shot to death
in his S. Alvarado street home.
He was slain. detectives believe.
less than half an hour after visit
by Mabel Normand, screen favorite,
to whom Taylor was once reported
engaged. Three moving picture ac-
tresses. whose names are household
words. we're spitted over a fire of
close questioning by the detectives as
they carried on their investigation of
the faster moving picture set Of Hol-
lywoOd. The detectives pointed out
that score of smiling photographs
of film beauties smiled down at the
ugly scene of death and that larger
| one, beautifully framed. must have
gazed at the raw crime.
! The detectives sent into Hollywood
to run down the slayer of Taylor were
| instructed to overlook no whisper oi
gossip that might bring answer to
the riddle of death. They were told
to inquire especially. it was stated
about a recent party where dope
, ether. cocaine and morphine took the
place of wine and whiskey. The
| party ended in a savage bravl il was
declared. in which two infuriated
women attacked each other and fought
as men fight until their clothes were
ripped off. Both of them. the repor
insists, were prominent actresses
whose names are known to the police
They were to he questioned during
the day
Mary Miles Minter Hystericai.
One OF the first visitors to the hon.
of Taylor after the tragedy had beer
revealed was Mar Niles Minter. wht
had heen directed by Taylor in ser
eral pictures Accompanied by he
mother. she hurried to the tragi'
scene She became hysterieal and i
was several minutes before she wa
able to speak.
He was a wonderful man.. she el
claimed and every one who kne.
him loved him. ! don't know Of a
enemy he had in the world
Edna Purviance- once leading won
an for Charlie Chaplin. who lived nea
the Tayior residence. returned nom
at midnight
Il saw the lights burning in Nl
Tayior's study she said Il woui
just pay a friendly call rang til
bell. and knocked on the door Whe
! he didn't answer. | thought he ha
gone and left the lights burning Ju.
, think-ail the time was trying ri
door. he was living dead just fe
Il feet from me
j Mabel Norma1d remained in secl
. sion today in her dainty rose and O
, ivory boudoir There she was pc
:. suaded to speak of her friendship vii
the murdered man.
:, There was no affair of the hea
- between u.s.. she said. IN spite
reports that we We're e1gsgpd
"a marry. His friendship for me. |
r ways felt, was fer a girl who lik.
d outdoor sports he liked and whom
u wished to help from the sforehou
of knowledge he possessed.
s. Frankly. | liked to 60 out vi
RS him There was wondrDus digni
It and sense of selection in his nui.
we'll hred nlannn- We wore rhH ie