The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-09
WEAPON USED
TO KILL TAYLOR
NOW LOCATED
First Really Tangible Clue in
Mystery Murder.
All Screen Stars Are Due for
Grilling.
EAUUaIn
NORMAND LETTERS ARE FOUNT
Actress Had Been Very Anxious
to Recover MissiVes.
Victim Had Been Laid Out"
After Death, Says Officer.

San Diego, Calf. Feb. 9.-Behef
that a man known both as William
Koegel and James Marin. who COM
nitted suicide here last Saturday night
or Sunday is Edward F. Sands. sought
in connection with the murder of VII
liam Desmond Taylor, was expressed
today by Coroner S. c. Kelly.
Los Angeles, Feb. 9.-Trace of a
revolver which may have been used
by the slayer of william Desmond
Taylor. film director, has been found
and the Syeapon will probably be
turned over to the district attorneys
office within a few hours, it was
learned today by the international
News Service.
The weapon was said TO have been
found by a man whose name and ad-
dress are known to investigators, in an.
alley near the Taylor home the day
after the murder.
With a revolver which may have
been used by the murderer in their
possession, Investigators will have the
most important clue discovered since
Taylor was killed. it was declared.
New sensational developments in
the case are expected today as a result
of centralizing the investigation of the
mystery in the office of District Attor-
ney Thomas Lee WoOlwine.
Every person known to be in pos
session of the slightest knowledge Of
the slain film director, his life, his as
sociates and associations. or facts
leading up to the Staying will be
called before the district attorneys Of
i. - .
ing that officers have characterized as
zone OF the most gruelling sort"
Seek Real Motive.
It was learned today that detec-
tiVes who have been seeking a motive
for the Staying of Taylor have been
checking up the activities of a man Of
considerable prominence in the Holly
wood film colony.
The authorities are endeavoring to
learn whether this man has, as was
reported from various sources, been
in love with a film actress. They
are also trying to find whether Taylor
was an intimate friend of the woman.
The ablest men in Woolwine's office
were assign ID to the case with in
structions to leave nothing undoue
that may lead to the solution of the
crime regardless of the prominence
of persons who may be involved by the
rigid Investigation.
VIII Quiz Film Stars.
Film stars whose faces are famil-
lar to millions of -"nov.e3 fans all
over the civilized globe will be taken
to the district attorneys office for
questioning during the day or tomor-
row. Persons prominent in other
phases of motion picture work will
also be seen by the investigators
rs there any truth to the report
that the top may be blown off Holly
wood as is rumOred in various news
r,a1..o -
Attorney Woolwine's office was asked
today.
Possibly So" was the reply. "Of
course, none of us know what will
happen, but the probe will be thoro."
1t was understood that one phase of
the district attorneys investigation
will be directed toward persistent
rumors that persons said to represent
film interests md to have had large
rolls of money have been seen about
police headquarters.
Watching "Big Rolls"
So far as is now known, none of
these persons ever actually ap-
preached a police officer as their
movements were carefully watched.
Among those selected to be ques-
toned in the district attorneys office
are Mabel NoImand, Mary Miles Min
ter, Claire Windsor, Mrs. Douglas
MacLean, Nova Gerber, Howard Fell
lows Taylor's chauffeur; Henry Pea
vey, his valet. and a large number of
others whose names have not yet been
linked with any phase of the investi-
CATION.
The blessed baby letters written
by Mabel Normand, famous screen
comedienne, to the slain director and
missing since his death, were said to-
day to be in the possession of the dis
trict attorney. like wise a dainty lace
edged handkerchief bearing the ini-
tials m. NJ. NJ"
The letters were said to have been
found tucked away in an old shoe in
a closet of the Alvarado street bunga-
low at which Taylor was slain. The
handkerchief was said to have been
found by Henry Peavey, negro serv-
ant who had first told of its existence.
Shadow Young Easterner.
Detectives were said today to have
had a young easteIner who was men
toned in an earlier investigation of
the case under the closest surveillance
since late yesterday afternoon. 1t was
stated investigators found wide dis
crepancies in a story he told earlier
of his whereabouts on the night Tay-
lor was shot down in his bungalow
home. The suspect is said to have
been a close friend of a leading mo-
tioR picture actress.
1t is understood today that attaches
Of the district attorneys office were
husily engaged in going thru scores
OF letters and kilograms found in ad-
dition to the Normand letters.
The Normand letters. it was said,
were only a minor poItion of those
found and it was possible that valua-
bic clews would be developed thru
close scrutiny of these documents
Searchers had about concluded
De-