Imperial Valley press., 1932-09-08
Suicide Verdict
In Bern Death
Continued From Page II

mother, where the actress has Sc
cluded herself since the tragedy.
1t was an emotional scene. Bern
in-law since the wedding. Both
wept. Miss Harlow refused to talk
/ TO anyone but Bern.
Then for two hours they con-
ferred in secret and an expected
statement which it was thought
would disclose the motive for Bern's
suicide was not forthcoming.
What Bern discussed with the ia
nous platinum blonde actress, what
she told him, was not disclosed.
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 a prey to melancholia
during the last two months since
his marriage to Miss Harlow.
| Bern received medical and police
records Of the case and the per-
sonal effects tof his dead brother
during the conference.
In the house, barred from the
conference, were Louis B. Mayer,
head of Metro Goldwyn Mayer
studios Irving Thalberg, husband
of Norma Shearer and assistant of
Mayer, and Marino Bello, Miss
HarloW's Stepfather.
Coroner Stands Firm
All, as they emerged from the
! m tn n n
Bern's death, refused to speak to
| newspapermen, refused even to dis
cusS Miss Harlow's condition.
Last minute attempts on the part
of powerful interests to block the
inquest and sensational disclosures
regarding Berns past life, tending
to establish motive, failed to move
Coroner Frank Nance from his
stand that the inquest must be
held.
Reaching his final decision, the
! coroner assembled an "all-star"
cast Of witnesses for the hearing
at Price 81 Daniels funeral parlors
in Sawtelle
Meanwhile, the whirlwind series
of incidents following the discovery
of Bern's body last Monday a bull
let wound through the head,
continued.
Miss Harlow was reported to be
in a state Of nervous collapse, con-
stantly guarded TO prevent another
attempt on her part to throw her.
self from a high balcony of her
stepfather's home. Her physician
| asserted she was too i'll to testify
at the inquest.
DR.. Frank r. Webb, assistant
county autopsy surgeon, declared
than an autopsy on Bern's body
showed the producer was in good
health at the time of death and
established a motive for the suicide
that was too delicate" to include
in the formal report to be read at
the inquest.
1t was learned in New York that
young woman lived at the Algon-
quin hotel for several years under
the name Of Mrs. Paul Bern and
received a yearly visit from the
AIOl4J WOOu GAGGuGlNG.
Mention Second Woman
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."
A radio conversation was held
between Louis D. Mayer, M.-G.-M.
executive, and DR.. Ed B. Jones, in
Honolulu. DR.. Jones who was
Bern's physician and personal
friend, was said to have elaborated
on his theory that Bern shot him
self due to "acute melancholia.
DR.. Jones said he planned to re-
turn to his Hollywood home on
September 13, ready to aid authori-
ties with his theory.
Mendel Silberberg, attorney. who
said he represented Miss Harlow,
M.-G.-M. studios, and the Belos,
attempted to block the inquest.
We can see no reason for hold
ing an inquest in view of the fact
that the police and public are sat
lstled that Bern took his own life"
Silberberg declared. There is no
mystery about the matter; nothing
further to be gained"
Coroner Nance disagreed. He
informed the attorney that he
wanted to learn the definite mo-
tive and also find out, if possible.
why studio executives from
M.-G.-M. were at the suicide house
in Benedict canyon more than two
and one-half hours before authori-
ties were notified that Bern had
killed himself.
NEW YORK, Sept. 8. U.P)-Hen-
ry Uttal lawyer, revealed today
that he drafted a will for Paul
Bern, on August 3, 1920, in which
Bern mentioned a wife to whom
he referred as Dorothy"
Il have known Bern for 20 years."
Uttal said. II was always under
the impression that Dorothy was
his wife. 1 believe there was some
legal marriage ceremony performed.
l heard somewhere that Mrs. Bern
had died in a sanitarium. Bern
has not mentioned her for years"
Mrs. Dorothy Millett Bern was
Observation-Disclosures
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