Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-01
Says Drug Peddters
Killed Film Director

Continued from Page One
nervousness the night of February 1,
when Taylor was murdered. were away
from her house for a time early that
night, and, returning. stayed up all
The police stated Kirby and Calvert
were not strangers to them. Mrs. Rum
was said to have stated that the six
came here from Chicago several months
ago and had been engaged in peddling
contraband drugs and liquors.
Mrs. Rupp. who is forty, formerly
lived In Canada, but has made Los An
gcles her home "for some time" the
police said she told them.
The police stated East said he was
laborer; Kirby. property man at a
motion picture studio; Herkey. a sheet.
metal worker; Lynch and Calvert. gas
filters and Amorheim, chauffeur.
Each said he was prepared to offer an
alibi.
Mrs. Rupp. who is said to be ill in
bed, Is guarded BY the police at her
home. The detectives said they had
previous acquaintance with her. Ser
geant Baldridge asserting she was IAN
eccentric and had once attempted sui
eide after quarrel with a sweetheart
The officers said that in investigating
account the possibility She might be
actuated by jealousy.
Shortly before Taylor was slain. ac-
cording to the police rcstatement >of
Mrs. Rupp's story, two of the six men
r1turned to her home and told her:
He double crossed US wouldn't nav
for the booze We brought him. We'il
get the -. We're going to kill him. ="
The name Of the director was not
spoken. however, it was stated.
Mrs. Rupp said she dismissed the
threat from her mind until the day after
the murder. Then, she said, while she
and the two men were at dinner. she
suddenly cried out to one Of them:
You are the man who killed Tay.
Often Hid From Cops
He turned perfectly white and sag
ged in bis chair" Mrs. Rupp was
quoted. Then he said: Good God
that again. "
IL never did," Mrs. Rupp was said
to have continued, but during the next
two weeks, one man would frequently
come running into the house and hide
in his room. Once he said TO me,
The bulls are after me. Help me
hide
Details Of Mrs. Rupp's story included
her alleged declaration that Calvert was
known to Taylor as Rodney" and
that few nights before the director wss
murdered he telephoned to Calvert. COM
planning Of the liquor Calvert was said
to have delivered to him.
Gave Him Tongue. Lasl,ing
1t was stated the woman had said
the alleged bootleggers had been sun.
plying Taylor with liquor smuggled in
from, Mexico until that source was
closed to them and then they delivered
TO- him goods obtained in Los Angeles.
The quality Of the latter, it was de-
elared e. the woman stated, caused Taylor
hot tongue flashing"
The morning after the murder"
Mrs, Eupp was quoted, II said to my
landlady, ! know who killed Taylor. ;"
Mrs. Edith Splitter, who owns the
house where Mrs. Rupp lived. was said
by the police to have confirmed this
statement. The officers declared this
corroboration proved Mrs. Rupp had not
"manufnctured' her story recently.
Mrs. Rupp was said to have given the
police the name Of an alleged bootleg
ger from whom the six men were re-
porteu 10 have oOtalneu tho llQuOr they
were charged with having sold. The
officers were said to be searching for
this man.
The arrests revived the theory brought
forward several times and as often said
to have been discarded, that TAYLOR
was slain because OF his alleged activi-
ties against a narcotic ring. 1t was
even said that the officers had virtually
proved the director once engaged in a
physical encounter with drug peddler
he caught negotiating with an actress
friend of Taylor.