The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-02-10

lOS <hHSclcS, Tcp. IA lcW anu
comprehensive investigation into the
circumstances surrounding the slay-
ing of William Desmond Taylor, noted
film director, was under way here to-
day, directed by the district attorney.
Yesterday and today the district at
torney gathered into his hands the
scattered threads of evidence that had
been drawn out by the police, the
sheriffs office and independent inves-
legations, and tonight he was attempt
ing to weave them into some sort of
pattern that would disclose what took
place just before Taylor lost his life.
One item gathered for this pros
pective fabrica of fact and deduction
was packet of letters written by
Mabel Normand, motion picture ac-
tress, and which disappeared from
Taylor's home after his death. These
letters were rediscovered yesterday
concealed among Taylor's effects.
Their contents were rot disclosed and
Miss Normand who was in seclusion
today declined to comment on the new
turn of events.
Witnesses questioned today in the
investigation which it was announced
would be complete and would take
other inquiries into consideration only
so far as facts learned by them might
be helpful, included Charles Eyton,
general manager of the Famous Play
ers- s-Lasky studio here, at which Tay-
lor was employed as a director. Mr..
Eyton testified at the coroner's in
quest that he was the first to suspect
that Taylor's death had been caused
by other than natural events. He
said he has insisted that the body be
!, examined for wounds, and it was his
insistence, according to his statement
at the inquest, that caused discovery
of the fatal wound.
Mr.. Eyton had a conference today
with District Attorney Thomas l..
Woolwine, and another one in
which d. C. Doran, an assistant dis
trict attorney, as well as Mr.. Wool
wine participated.
Others summoned to the district at
torney's office today and questioned
included Mr.. and Mrs. Douglas Mac
Lean whose home adjoined that of
Taylor, and who had given statements
at the inquest and to the police; Hen
ry Beavey, Taylor's houseman. How
ard Fellows, chauffeur for Taylor, and
Harry Fellows, brother of the chauf-
feur, and an assistant director were
questioned fully. The district attorney
declined to disclose the results of
these interviews.
Another development today was n
well-defined rumor that some person
had found revolver, possibly the
weapon with which Taylor was slain,
shortly after the murder became
known. This rumor was brought to
the attention of the district attorney
and the police, both officers disclaim-
ing direct knowledge Of the purported
discovery, but both saying that cog
nizance was being taken of the rumor
and efforts made to prove or dis
prove it.
While these local developments kept
the officials engaged word came that
the San Diego authorities believed the
body of suicide lying in the morgue
there might be that of Edward F.
Sands, missing houseman, against
whom Taylor swore out warrants for
grand larceny and embezzlement, and
who has been sought earnestly by Off
GERS eager to learn what he knew Of
the murder. Investigation, however,
developed that the dead man was not
Sands.
1t also was announced today that
the public administrator was. search
ing for second safe deposit box held
by Taylor One was found and opened,
it's contents being negligible. There
was no direct evidence that he had
another box but the authorities said
many men divided their documents in
two or three boxes, and it was possi-
BE that the search would yield some
thing. Inventory Of Taylor's estate so
far located has disclosed little except
and a small amount of cash.