The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-02
KEPT STAR
DRUNK, :
H|SFOE
SAYS
Mabel Normand's Chauffeur
Admits He Shot c. S. Dimes.
Edna Purviance involved.

k2Y 1W80EMMAA0URh MOVIE 0GkWAEps
Los ANGELES, CAL, Jan. 2,
The condition Of CORTLAND s.
Dimes, wealthy young oil man,
was critical today and it was said
ct police headquarters that Is
Dimes dies . charge Of murder IN
the first degree would be placed
against II. A. Greer, alias Joe
Kelley, chauffeur for Mabel Nor
maud, the noted film star. Greer
shot Dimes last night in the pres
ence Of Miss Normand and Miss
Edna Purviance, leading woman
for Charlie Chaplin, film come
dian. The condition Of Dimes
took an alarming turn for the
worse today when his temper
ature went up and he developed
q burning fever. His physicians
held a hurried consultation, but
made no announcement.
Stories Differ Widely.
Efforts of the police were being
directed today to obtaining more
definite account of the shooting than.
the circumstantial recital of the four
persons which they obtained last
night. The shooting eliminated .
New Year day party at which the
police said considerable liquor was
consumed. and the versions offered
by Miss Normand, Miss Purvtance
and Greer differ widely.
The wide point of variance in the
stories of the persons involved
hinges, the police say, on the state
ment OF Kelley. especially that he
was summoned, to the apartments Of
Dimes by a telephone cali that Dimes
was holding Miss Normand there
against her will.
Miss Normand emphatically denies
this, and the police, In extending
their inquiry, were told that Dimes
and Miss Purviance were engaged to
be married. When questioned at
police headquarters before being
allowed to go to her home, Miss
Purviance refused to say whether
she was engaged to Dimes.
Jokes At His Wound.
During the time, however, that
Miss Normand and Miss Purvianco
were In the office of Assistant
Captain of Detectives Herman Cline,
both repeatedly asked to be allowed
to go into the emergency hospital
which is in the same building--and
see Dimes. This permission Was
denied them. however, until Cline
and members of the hoHstside squad
questioned Kelley in the presence of
the two young women.
When, though, shortly after mid
night, the police told Miss Normand
and Miss Purviance that they were
free to 70 to their homes until sum-
moned again for further questioning,
both insisted on seeing Dimes. They
We're taken into the ward room OF
the hospital. What happened there
was told by hospital attaches as fol-
lows:
Miss Purviance was the first 70
enter the hospital ward. She rushed
inpulsively to the bedside OF Dimes,
dropped to her knees, threw her
arms about him and sobbed: Oh!
CORTLAND. / love you. 1t win Kill
me II you die"
Dimes had been lying back In the
bed with his eyes closed. He opened
them when he felt Miss Purviance
embracing him. He smiled weakly
and said in an assumed tone OF jocu.
larlty: They can't kill me. Doc
says I'm all right"
Called by Many Women.
Miss Purviance continued To kiss
him until Miss Normand came UP to
the bedside. She remained stzndlngs
looking down at Dimes with an ex.
preston of mock repfoach, ehcok
one finger at him and said: HellO
tAssvS Pas|II's ~ y. e. q