Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-20
link MOVIE STAR
In TAYLOR MURDER
Sheriff to Question Houseman
Reported to Have Ac-
cused Actress
UNUSUAL TEST PLANNED


tributed to Henry Peavey. Negro house
man for William Desmond Taylor. in
which Peavey named a motion picture
actress as the slayer Of Taylor. caused
the Sheriff's Office to send out again
FOR the houseman today with the in.
tention Of interrogating him further in
the case. Taylor. motion picture di-
rector, was shot and killed here nearly
three weeks ago and minute questioning
Of all those known TO have knowledge of
the case led to nothing definite.
Peavey has been questioned repeatedly
by police, Sheriff's deputies. the Dis
trict Attorney. private investigators and
others. He has not at any time in the
ohcial statements either named or i'm.
plicated the actress said TO have been
mentioned by him in recent conversa.
tions.
The Sheriff placed little credit in the
new report but was going to look into it.
de said, because he wanted to leave
nothing undonc in the efforts 10 solve
ths mystery Of Taylor's death
To Make Unusual Test
49, Besides questioning Peavey again the
Sherif's office will make an unusual test
th8t may determine the guilt or inno-
"ence OF woman of the screen.
Under Sheriff Eugene Biscailuz. who
mas declared that a woman il back of
tne murder. that jealousy was the mo-
i've Tor the Staying and that the WON.
~ suspected is prominent actress,
VIII make the experiment.
Nhile | cannot disclose the nature
ot the test. he said. II know it can.
not fail. II it shows what expect. it
Will give MS a perfect clue as to the
identity of the slayer, and will in
Volve the woman.
Biscailuz would give no hint as TO
his purpose.
PrOphesies Greater Scandal
The test will speak for itself" he
said. ''if it fails to show. any evidence
against the woman-and it NAV not
we shall try something else. But IL
II does show anything il will show il
conclusively and there will be scan.
murder.
II 1t shows anything. it will prove
beyond all doubt that there was .
woman in the house when the fatal
shot was fired. The woman will be
Immediately ly placed in custody. | can
say she has been questioned before.
case 81 ''o
lhe Sheriff s office. which has been
working more or less independently on
tne murder. has been checking un on
tne woman's antncedents ever since she
slipped into the mystery. going over
her history thoroughly, considering her
men friends and her scores of women
friends.
Find Shocking Things"
They have found out. the deputies
say. "some shocking things" concern
ing her and her acquaintances in the
dream city Of filmdom have trailed her
through many of the gayest of the CAV
parties In Hollywood, and are prepared
10 deal with her accordingly.
. Their contention that the murder
sprang out of jealousy is well ground.
cd. they declare. and they expect to
prove 1t before many days.
Miss Mabel Normand, who left Los
Angeles Saturday and went to Pasa-
dena again. is reported ill., She did not
leave her home all day yesterday, 1t
was said. Her father and mother and
her brother. Claud, who have come on
from the East. are reported to be with
Eer IN her self inflicted Scclusion: but
this could not be verified.
1t is reported that the District At
torney has not entirely finished with
Miss Normand. and that she may be
called back 10 Mr.. Woolwine's Office to
answer more questions.
I he Shsriff's Office is reported also
to be dcsirous Of getting into touch
with Miss Normand 10 clear ,ip few
details that still seem rather hazy.
Her chauffeur, William Davis. who
drove Miss Normand to the Taylor
home on the evening Of February |,
also is in Pasadena. it is declared. He
has been instructed not to get ont of
touch with the Investigators.