CINEMATOGRAPH MYSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18021, 21 February 1922, Page 7

CINEMATOGRAPH MYSTERY.

HUSHING-UP PLOT ALLEGED.

MISS NORMAND'S VISIT. VANCOUVER. Feb. 10. Tho Los Angeles polico are still far at sea regarding the murder of W. S. Taylor, tho cinematograph director, who was found shot in his home. Miss Mabel Normand has denied the widely-published statement that alio 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 days she cannot offer a solution of the murder. " I have told everything I know," she says. "The handkerchief and gown found in Taylor's apartments are not mine. I was not in love with Taylor, and w e did not quarrel. He escorted me to my car and chatted until I drove away, when we waved goodbye to each other. lam willing to do my utmost to solve the mystery. No ono will ever know how much I regret the tragedy." The District Attorney, Mr. Thomas Woolwine, in a statement, declares that the police havo 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 i Taylor is a " perfect crime from a crimi inal's standpoint, and probably never will be solved." The policeman who w&s first on the scene ot the crime says that tho body of the dead director was laid out carefully. The arms were arranged and a chair was overturned across the legs. A package of letters and telegrams from Miss Normand was found in Taylor's bungalow during tho night search, together with a lace handkerchief initialled " M.M.M." Telegrams between Miss Normand and Taylor wero exchanged when the former was appearing in "The Slim Princess," and Taylor was directum; Miss Mary Miles Minter in "Anne of Green Gables." The cinematograph interests realise that developments may reduce the drawing 1 power of many well-known cinematograph performers, and may perhaps cripple I tho industry. Several leading newspapers are demanding an immediate investigation into the moral conditions of Hollywood, the great cinematograph centre, by Mr. W. H. Havs, the new, organiser of 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.