CINEMA MYSTERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1922, Page 8

CINEMA MYSTERY.

HUSHING-UP PLOT ALLEGED. MISS NORMAND’S VISIT. Vancouver, Feb. 10. The Los Angeles police are still far at sea regarding the murder of W. S. Taylor, the cinematograph director, who was found shot in his home. Miss Mabel Normand has denied the widely published statement that She visited Taylor on the night of the murder for the purpose of securing the return of a series of letters. She admits writing him these letters, which are now in the possession of the District Attorney. Miss Normand has issued a public statement, in which she says she cannot offer a solution of the murder. “I have told everything I know.” she says. “The handkerchief and gown fouiid in Taylor’s apartments are not mine. I was not in love with Taylor, and we did not quarrel. He escorted me to iny ear and chatted until 1 drove away, when we waved goodbye to each other. 1 am willing to do my utmost to solve the mystery. No one will ever know how much I regret the tragedy.” The District Attorney, Mr. Thomas Woolwine, in a statement. declares that the police have been bribed, witnesses. silenced, and evidence destroyed in a gigantic plot engineered behind the' scenes in filmland. Meanwhile, the Cinematograph Producers’ Association has issued a statement declaring that the murder of Taylor is a “perfect crime from a criminal's standpoint, and probably never will be solved.” The policeman who was first on the scene of the crime says that the body of the dead director was laid out carefully. The arms were arranged and a chair was overturned the legs. A package o-f letters and telegrams from Miss Normand was found in Taylor’s bungalow during the night search, together with a lace handkerchief initialled “M.M.M.”

Telegrams between Miss Normand and Taylor were exchanged when the former was appearing in “The Slim Princess/' and Taylor was directing Miss Mary Miles Minter in “Anne of Green Gables.”

The cinematograph interests realise that developments may reduce the drawing power of many well-known cinematograph performers, and may perhaps cripple the industry. Several leading newspapers are demanding an immediate investigation into the moral conditions of Hollywood, the great cinematograph centre, oy Mr. W. H. Hays, the new organiser o-f the picture industry, who recently vacated the position of Postmaster-General to manage the largest company of film producers in the world, at a salary of £30,000 a year. Mr. Hays' position is similar to that of Judge Landis, who occupies a position controlling baseball.