The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-07
CONFLICTING TALES
PUZZLE POLICE IN
DEATH0FPR0DUCER
Film Beauty Unable to Under.
stand Meaning of Note
Left BY Spouse
SERVANTS ARE QUESTIONED
'FrightfuI Wrong Mentioned in
Note Appears Central
Item in Case

Los Angeles, Sept. 7.-R)-Conflct-
ing stories Of weekend events which
preceded the discovery OF the body Of
Paul Bern, film producer and hus-
band Of Jean Harlow, platinum
blonde screen star, confused police in
vestigation Of the apparent suicide
Wednesday.
David A. Davidson, head Of the po-
lice homicide squad, said he was dis
satisfied with the progress his men
have made in the case and, pending
the inquest Thursday, he would again
question domestic help Of the pro-
ducer. The inspector Of detectives
said the servants accounts differ as
to the events Of last Saturday and
Sunday.
The unclothed body Of Bern, a.
was found by John Carmichael. but
Ter. Monday In the dressing room Of
his home. A pistol, one chamber dis
charged, was gripped in Bern's right
hand and a bullet wound was In the
head. A note signed Paul." address
ed to Dearest Dear" and confessing
a "frightful wrong" lay near q pic
ture Of Miss Harlow.
Chauffeur Tells OF Drive
Carmichael said the producer dined
with Miss Harlow, his bride Of two
months, Saturday evening. but Harold
A. Garrison, chauffeur, told police his
employer left the film studios in Gull
yer City and drove to the Ambassador
hotel few minutes after p. m.
Garrison further declared Miss Har-
low was at the home of her mother
both Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Miss Harlow was questioned by po-
lice Tuesday night after they had
been forced to wait for more than "a
hours due to her hysterical condition.
Il can't understand why this terri
BILE thing should have happened" she
said. LAS for the note left by Paul,
I have no idea what 1t meant. This
'frightful wrong he apparently be-
lieved he had done ME is all q mys-
terry. can't imagine what it means.
Paul often talked to me of suicide
as general topic, but never once did
he intimate that he himself contem-
plated such an act. There was moth
ing between us that I can think of
that would have caused him to do
this"
A cryptic telegram to Louis B. May
er, general manager Of the film stu
dos where Bern was associate pro-
Queer, from DR.. e. B. Jones, Bern's
personal physician, now in Honolulu,
only added to the mystery Of the case.
It read:
Text Of Message
Understand motive. Will leave at
once to testify for you and Miss Har-
low II necessary"
Miss Harlow. hysterical and deliri-
Gus at the time, attempted to throw
herself from q small balcony within
the home Of her mother Tuesday aft
ernoon. She was restrained by friends.
Coroner Frank A. Nance set the In
quest for 10 a. m, Thursday, and said
one Of the principal lines Of inquiry
would be to determine why, when
Bern's body was found shortly after
IL a. m, Monday, the authorities were
not notified until nearly three hours
later.
Bern's death was due to q typical
suicide wound" Frank r. webb,
autopsy surgeon, reported, with In
dication the gun had been held close
to the right temple.
Police sought an explanation Of q
car that drove away from the vicinity
OF the secluded Bern home about 8
a. m, Monday. The incident was re-
ported to police by 8. vorkapich, q
film director, living nearby.