The Washington herald., 1922-02-15
MISS NORMAND'S
LETTERS THROW NO
LIGHT ON MURDER
Bootlegger Alleges Hear.
ing Shot at Home of
Director Taylor.

Los ANGELES. Cal. Feb. II. -
Miss Mabel Normand. screen star.
and devoted friend OF William Des-
mond Taylor. still is linked to the
investigation into Tsylor's murder.
1t had been reported that Miss
Normand had received back from
the district attorneys office the let
ters she had written to Taylor; that
she was freed entirely from the
case: that she had been "elimi-
mated" to use the police term.
Not SO. District Attorney Thomas
Lee Woolwine late today issued the
following statement:
Il understand that the press has
carried a story to the effect tn.
the letters of Miss Normand have
been returned to her. when. as q
matter of fact. such letters still
are in my possession"
Throw No Light on Murder.
The statement AYERS that these
letters are not in any manner sig
nificant of anything in relation to
the Taylor murder, and there is alb
soiutely nothing in them that
throws any light upon the case"
1t was learned that Mack SEN
nett. he of the bathing beauties.
one of Miss Normandy Oldest
friends. has been QUESTIONED about
the Taylor case.
Mr.. Woolwine would not admit or
deny that he had discussed the mat
ter with Sennett. Sennett has been
i'll for some time. so interviewerr
and others were told. He has not
been bothered. Plenty of servants
have seen to that
The investigation set in motion
a Few days ago to prove that Taylor
was slain because of his love for
one OF the women mentioned in
the case, moves slowly toward a
crisis that will shake all moyie-
land, it is intimated. The man
sought in this investigation, IL Is
only fair to state, is not Sennett.
Saw Woman Leave House.
This new angle is believed by
most Of the authorities to be the
only one worth following. Every
thing else is bunk
A bootlegger today told a local
reporter that on the night of Feb
ruary l, he was about to deliver
some liquor to the Taylor home.
As he turned the corner, walking
into some bushes, he heard a shot
and saw a womaa leave the house.
He left the spot hurriedly. His
automobile clock showed it was
exactly three minutes of 8; a few
minutes after Miss Normand had
said good-by to Taylor.
The bootlegeer repeated the
yarn to the district attorney, il is
said. but he made one trifiing
little change. He told Mr.. Wool
wine IL was not he. himself, who
had seen the woman. II was one
Of hts men. $50. s. \. s..
Bootlegger's Story sFiles.'.
None OF the authorities believe a
woman fred the shot; but they ,ad-
nit II is- possible a woman was
present at the time. The bootlegger
will be questioned again. His story
is being "fled." so to speak. There
have been $40 different theories
more or iess-given the investiga-
tors to date. But every incoming
mall adds to the total
One came in from San FRANCISCO
late this afternoon. A retired sea
captain, walking along the, tracks
meets couple OF ,tramps, and
learn that Sands--the missing valet
of Tayior-has hired them to, slaN
his master. The captain had not
waited until Sands arrived. He
wasn't taking any chances.
Bunk, bunk, bunk
woolwine says he u dizzy.
:. II feel like q fool" he said, Just
after Issuing the statement anent
Mss Normand's letters. ..I can't see
a thing. The: case admits OF SO
many plausible theories. There Is
absolutely no evidence against any
one, There 10 positively not clew.
never, experienced Il such a. thing
Usually one can draw sopfe sort OF
conclusione as TO the resson for Z
murder. but Tn free. to confess that