These are the main points from the various newspaper reports on February 3, 1922
- Taylor was sitting at his desk
- A bullet wound in the neck, ranging downwards into his heart
- Robbery not a motive; money and jewellery found near and on the body
- Taylor gave Mabel Normand a book
- Mabel told the police that Taylor feared a former servant who had robbed him
- Mabel left at 8pm. The police judged that the murder occurred shortly after
- Neighbours heard shots (plural) around 9pm and saw a man leave the house
- The police were looking for someone who harboured a grudge against Taylor
- Taylor had many women friends
Notes
Later reports suggested that Taylor could have been standing beside his desk.
The angle of the bullet was directed upwards towards his neck.
The former servant was Edward Sands.
Only one shot was fired.
Taylor’s relationships with women appeared ambiguous. He’d fathered a child, then abandoned her and his wife. Women, apparently, adored him, yet he made no emotional commitment to any of them. The exception was Mabel Normand. Taylor was fond of her, but content with friendship.
Views of Taylor vary from a lothario with a harem of women to a man hiding his homosexuality. The impression I get is that he was bisexual. I will explain my reasoning in future comments.
Hannah Howe 