William Desmond Taylor, Pt. 2
In 1920, William Desmond Taylor was living in one of a group of bungalows centered around a courtyard. He had recently fired his valet (no, not the guy who parked his car!) for stealing and crashing his car while he was in Europe. He was seeing a young actress, Mary Miles Minter. Her mother wasn't thrilled, because she herself had been dating the older director. Taylor was good friends (and perhaps more) with his neighbor, Mabel Normand, who he often argued with about her drug addiction. On the night of February 1, 1920, Taylor retired to his domicile after a visit from Normand, to whom he had lent some books. At some point during the evening, a neighbor heard a loud crack and looked the window. She saw a young man walking unhurriedly around the property. Their eyes met and he seemed unperturbed. She thought maybe the sound had been a car, backfiring. Later, she felt the man walked strangely. Perhaps it had been a woman in men's clothing.
The next morning, Taylor was found by his (new) valet. He had been shot in the back. The frightened man called the studios before he called the police. (At this time, Hollywood had suffered just a few scandals and was interested in warding off a reputation for being a den of vice and inequity.) The studios called Mary Miles Minter and told her to remove any incriminating evidence. They then went in themselves and, according to some stories, planted a bunch of ladies underwear to cover up the fact that Taylor was gay. What can't be disputed was that the crime scene was compromised.
There were no shortage of suspects. His original valet, having cheated him and stolen from him, obviously, though there's no proof he was even in the state at that time. The other valet was also suspected for a time, though not with any seriousness (one reported led him to Taylor's grave where a friend jumped out in a sheet telling him he was Taylor's ghost and urging him to confess. The valet burst out laughing). Mary Miles Minter, and her Showbiz mom, Charlotte Shelby were also suspected. Many (including King Vidor, eminent director and Taylorologist) felt that Charlotte was the likely culprit, motivated by jealous rage by Taylor's supposed relationship with her daughter. (Minter's career was ruined by the scandal, though she claimed that she had always hated acting.) However, Shelby had an air tight alibi for the time of the murder.
Mabel Normand was suspected, but it was in doubt over whether they were even romantically involved. There was speculation that it might have been one Mabel's old beaux, Mack Sennett perhaps, or her drug dealer, who Taylor reportedly got into a fistfight with. Also proposed was Taylor's brother, Denis, who pulled a similar disappearing act, and was rumored to have been his first valet. Still others believe it was a hitman hired by any one of the interested parties. His killer has never been found.
William Desmond Taylor died much as he lived; shrouded in rumors and secrets. This is largely the fault of the studios, who, much as they do today, were more interested in covering their asses than anything else. But who knows. Taylor was something of a shady character. Perhaps he would have preferred it this way.
posted by kuaptic. @ 9:07 AM
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