The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-01-05
Greer Loses
BrayadoAir
in Court
Mabel Normand's Chauffeur
i'm Sullen Mood When Ar
raigned on Charge of
Attempt to Kill
Crowd Packs Courtroom

Los Angeles, Jan. lis Courtland
S. Dimes, playmate" of Mabel Nor
mand and who Is fighting for his
lifan from bullet wounds and pneu-
tefi5nia, receiving attention from a
mystery spy in the service of Horace
A. Greer, chauffeur knight errant oil
the cinema star and who is held here
for the shooting of Dimes?
This is possible development in
the latest sensation of Hollywood.
The possibility that from his cell
Chauffeur Greer is directing a watch
upon Dimes, a patient in a hospital
here, was introduced to police notice
today when a .youns man whose
actions about the hospital grounds
aroused suspicious of attendants was
halted for questioning.
The prowler. If such. protested he
was not watching the hospital for
Greer, who, he admitted, was his
friend. Further questioning was un-
productive of any satisfactory or IL
Illuminating answers and the chauf-
feur's friend was allowed to so with
a warning.
George Home, captain of police de-
tectives, appeared loath to discuss'the
incident and the most he would say
regarding it was that the supposed
spy had acted 'indiscreetly.'
Courtroom Is Crowded.
A crowd numbering hundreds. in
Guiding both men and women, stornaed
the small courtroom OF Justice Of the
Peace Handy today when Greer was
srraigned on tho charge of attempt
ing to murder Dimes.
Greer appeared in court In a sullen
mood and. emulating some Of Holly.
woods notables when they make un-
advertised personal appearances
tried to conceal his features by pull
ing his cap over his eyes. Bail was
let at $4,000. No one appeared TO
lut 1t up" and the preliminary
sring was set for a week from to-
day, contingent on the ability OF
Dimes to then appear in court.
Before the arraignment was COM
pleted Greer lost his air of bravado
and almost collapsed and when he
was led away to cell in the county
prison he wept. He explained he was
i'll from inability to eat because of
stomach trouble and loss of sleep, due
partly, he said, to worry over Miss
Normand's condition since her oper-
alton yesterday for appendicitis.
DR.. Guy Cochran. physician and
surgeon to both Miss Normand and
Dimes, today pronounced both as do
ing very we'll" Said the doctor:
"Mr. Dimes pneumonia has not de-
veloped beyond the first stage and
he appears holding his strength. Al
though not out Of danger I may say
he appears in the first stage Of his
road back % recovery
Nabers Condition Excellent.
DIR. Cochran added Miss Normand
was in no danger and her condition
generally is excellent
A new sensation was injected into
the case today when DIR. Edward
Huntington Williams. noted neuro-
psychiatrist. examined him and as
serted Greer had a strange spiritual
infatuation" for Miss Normand. DR..
Williams subjected the chauffeur to
a psychoanalysis and physical ex-
animation during which Greer an
swered all questions concerning his
motive for the shooting readily.
DIR. Williams said Greer assumed a
heroic" role imagining he was
.'rescuing" Miss Norn1and from the
>clutches Of a villain" He said Greer
~, driven by three complexes. or
impulses. In the attempted murder,
the hero" complex, the pig brother"
complex and a fear" complex.
IF the pistol had not jammed after
the third shot Greer would have shot
Miss Normand and turned the weap-
on on himself" the alienist said.
DR.. Williams said Greer. who is 30
years old, is not mentally defective,
,.,t 10 oplv 16 wears of age mentally.