The Washington herald., 1922-02-14
TAYLOR MURDER
MAY GO UNSOLVED,
SAYS PROSECUTOR
Investigators Suspect
Crime Was That of
Hired Assassin.

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13. - The
murderbf William Desmond Taylor,
noted movie director. may go down
in history as an unsoIved mystery,
District Attorney Thomas Lee
Woolwine admitted today.
Following Investigations made by
the police and the sheriff's office, he
said that there was nothing on
which any definite hope could be
based as furnishing a possible solu-
tion.
Woolwine has interviewed prac-
tically every person mentioned in
the case. from Mabel Normand 70
Henry Peavey, Taylor's colored SER
want. He has followed mysterious
tips and leads. He has made secret
trips to question two or three pro-
ducers and directors involved in the
case only by gossip. All have been
interesting, but unavailins.
Fears Mystery InsoIuble.
There is a grave doubt as to
ever be apprehended," woolwine
said.
Mary Miles Minter. in a state
ASSSCN ny HCE uC-
clared she could not give anything
of material aid in solving the
mystery.
There Is no personal or financial
sacrifice that 1 would not gladly
make to bring the slayer of William
Desmond Taylor to justice" the
statement said. "Mr. Taylor waa
one of my best friends. His death
n oh 70
Il met Mr.. Taylor in 1919 when
he became my director. was then
IL years of age, and his inspiration.
his unfailing courtesy ami consid.
Grafton. not only to me. bu. t. all
with whom he came in contact, Inn
mediately won my highest admira-
tion.
Defends TayIor's Character.
From 1919 until the day Of his
death Mr.. Taylor was 20 me the
symbol of honor and manIiness. an
inspiration. friend. guide and cuun-
selor-thc symbol of all a girl ad-
mires in a man.
His friendship was uplifting and
his advice and aid were invaluabIe
II would be nothing less than vcrit-
able ingratitude, il did not now
that he. is dead. raise my voice 10
proclaim what he was and to repu
dlate those who would besmirch his
character.
Il have told the authorities all
that l. know of both his life here
and in the East That. 1 fear. has
been of little aid to them 1 cannot
conceive the character of a person
who would voluntarily wrong Mr..
Taylor or cause his death"
Mabel Normand. reported Sunday
to be seriously i'll. following a Sc
cret trip with Investigators, was
said to have recovered today.
Suspect Hired Assassin,
Practically all of the investiga-
tors now seem to agree that if the
famous director was murdered for
revenge and for his attentions 10
some woman, that the party most
directly concerned, after himself.
had no hand in the actual shaving
1t is. believed that a hired assas-
sin did the shooting There were no
marks Of the amateur in the crime.
1t was so .skillfully executed and
SO perfectly timed that there was
nothing to trail the slayer except
a half dozen cigarette butts of a
popular brand.
Friends of the dead director are
now pointing out that the dead man
was between 55 and 81 years old.
They declare that this fact proves
his interest in the bevy of young
women connected with his life in
the picture colony was purely
fatherly interest.
They. say he was too old to be
romantic: that tales of his kissing
handkerchiefs. sobbing over lost
loves. and otherwise acting the
youth Of 81 would not be true.
Scotch-Irish and almost dour at
times, they say, he does not fit the
role of Lothario.
Others laugh at this viewpoint.
Zukor to OHer Reward.
William A Pinkerton. head of
the national detective agency Of
that name. whose appearance in
Log Angeles this morning, coinci-
dentally with the arrival of Adolph
Zukor from New York, gave rise
to reports that he had been brought
West by Zukor to unravel the mys-
terry. lodged newspapermen all day.
Zukor is expecteG' shortly to an
nounce a formal offer Of a huge
reward for the capture of the sIay-
er. In the name of the Famous
Players-Lasky Corporation, of
which he Is president.