Main developments reported by the newspapers on February 4, 1922
- Latest police theory – a woman’s crime of revenge based on unrequited love; possibly, a man fired the shot
- Taylor’s real name discovered – William Cunningham Deane-Tanner
- A film actress was being interrogated
- The authorities were seeking an ex-employee of Taylor’s, a military deserter – Edward Sands
- Neighbour Edna Purviance noticed Taylor’s light on at midnight
- Early Thursday morning, Edna Purviance was talking to Mabel Normand on the phone. She heard Henry Peavey cry “murder!” (The police had not confirmed that Taylor was murdered at that point; did Peavey instinctively cry “murder!” or was he already aware of the fact?)
- A man was seen lurking in the area, then seen running away
- Neighbour Faith MacLean was positive that this man was not the ex-employee Sands
- Taylor “twice married” – he only married once
- Numerous pictures of Mabel found in various places in Taylor’s home
- A clue – a few cigarette ends
- Mabel said Taylor kept interrupting their conversation; he was depressed and had a premonition that something would happen to him
- Taylor had a large circle of friends, but no intimates
- A roughly dressed man stopped at a garage at 6pm to ask directions to Taylor’s house
Notes
The press were fabricating stories, so some of the above need to be viewed in that light.
Hannah Howe 