The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-09-08

Earlier IN the DAY, MISS
Harlow held a secret confer
ence with the brother Of her
dead husband, Paul Bern, to
discuss intimate details of
their life preceding the mo-
ton picture executives sui
eide.
Even the studio officials and
friends who have been Miss Har-
lows counsellorS since Bern shot
himself weer barred from her room
the room in which her wedding
took place two months ago.
For two hours Miss Harlow and
Henry Bern conferred in secret, but
an expected statement which it was
thought would disclose the motive
for Bern'S suicide was not forthcom-
ing.
What Bern discussed with the
famous platinum blonde actress,
and what she told him, was not dis
closed.
Bern's Condition Topic
But belief was general, as the
conference ended, that the talk had
hinged around the latest theory
that Bern killed himself because
some intimate physical condition
made him prey to melancholia
during the two months since his
marriage to Miss Harlow.
In the house were, besides Henry
Bern, Louis B. Mayer, head of
Metro oldwyn-Mayer S t u d i o S;
Irving Thalberg, husband of Norma
Shearer and Mayors assistant, and
Marino Bello, Miss Harlows step
father.
All, as they emerged from the
conference to go to the inquest into
Bern's death, refused even to dis
cuss Miss Harlow's condition.
"AH- Star" Cast Called
Last-minute attempts on the part
of powerful interests to block the
inquest and sensational disclosures
regarding Bern's past life, tending
to establish a motive, failed to move
Coroner Frank Nance to bolt the in
quest.
The coroner assembled an "all-
star" cast of witnesses for the
hearing.
The whirlwind series of incidents
following the discovery of Bern's
body last Monday, continued.
Miss Harlow was reported guard
ed constantly to prevent another at
tempt on her part to throw herself
from a high balcony of her step
fathers home. Her physician as
serted she was too i'll to testify at
the inquest.
Motive TOO Delicate"
DR.. Frank R. Webb, assistant
county autopsy surgeon, declared
an autopsy on Bern's body showed
the producer free from disease at
the time of death and established
a motive for the suicide that was
too delicate" to include in his
formal report.
1t was learned in New York that
young woman lived at the Algon-
uuin hotel for several years under
the name of Mrs. Paul Bern ana
received a yearly visit from the
HOLLYWOOD executive.
A second woman, according to
Henry Bern, was loved by his
brother and supported by him in
sanitarium after she suffered a
nervous collapse and a "derange-
ment."
Refuses to Stop Inquest
A radio conversation was held be-
tween Mayer and DR.. Ed B. Jones
in Honolulu. DR.. Jones, Bern's ply
sician and personal friend, was said
to have elaborated on his theory
that Bern shot himself due to acute
melancholia."
DR.. Jones said he planned to re-
turn here Sept. Is.
Mendel Silberberg, attorney, who
said he represented Miss Harlow,
M-G-M studios, and the Bellos, at
tempted to block the inquest
Coroner Nance refused. He in
formed the attorney that he wanted
to learn the definite motive and find
out why studio executives from
M-G-M were at the suicide house
more than two and a half hours
before authorities were called.
Harlow Heads List
The witnesses called by Nance are
as colorful a group as any movie
cast ever selected on the M-G-M
lot.
Miss Harlow, i'll and distraught,
headed the list. Another was Thai
berg, called Hollywood's hoy Won
der" when he was appointed Mayors
assistant before he was 80.
Henry Bern was called. Near
exhaustion from his long plane ride