William Desmond Taylor

[evabaruk]

Any thoughts on the culprit in the homicide of William Desmond Taylor? Could it have been Charlotte Shelby, Mary Miles Minter, Edward Sands, Margaret Gibson or someone else entirely?

[SaraSidle]

Any thoughts on the culprit in the homicide of William Desmond Taylor? Could it have been Charlotte Shelby, Mary Miles Minter, Edward Sands, Margaret Gibson or someone else entirely?

that is a hard one eva. lots of suspects and motives. little evidence. who do you think?

[Serial Killer X]

It's Difficult To Determine The Suspect I'd Like To Hear What Other's Have To Say.

SKX

[SaraSidle]

Hi. Great thread to discuss! Since I read King Vidor's book on the murder I've gone with his pick of Charlotte Shelby, the stage mother from hell. I don't think MMM or Mabel Normand had a hand in it. What I find fascinating is the obvious coverup by the studio(Paramount I think or am I wrong?) Fascinating case. Interested to hear what others think.:)


I agree Joseph.....the stage mother. She took the cash to make it look like a robbery.......

[Serial Killer X]

It would be interesting to know from an historical viewpoint if he was a REAL ladies man or, as has been suggested, a homosexual pretending to be a ladies man. This would I believe have a bearing on the murder. If Shelby came gunning for him because he was a 'seducer' it makes sense. If Shelby came gunning for him because he was 'not what he seemed to be' aand she wanted to protect her daughter it would still make sense.

However, I think Shelby did him in because he appeared to be taking control of her daughter away from her and that's when I think she decided he had to go.

Yer I Agree With You Mr Bell I Think She Decided It Was Time He Had To Go.

SKX

[SaraSidle]

Yer I Agree With You Mr Bell I Think She Decided It Was Time He Had To Go.

SKX


ITA although it was too late for the daughter. she stayed hooked on him till she died. IMO

[evabaruk]

I've always leaned towards Charlotte Shelby myself. She is portrayed as a wholly unlikable person, so maybe that has biased my opinion.

Joseph- it was Paramount studios as I recall.

I'm looking forward to reading Robert Giroux's Deed of Death. Has anyone read that?

[SaraSidle]

I've always leaned towards Charlotte Shelby myself. She is portrayed as a wholly unlikable person, so maybe that has biased my opinion.

Joseph- it was Paramount studios as I recall.

I'm looking forward to reading Robert Giroux's Deed of Death. Has anyone read that?


No Eva. Is that about his death?

[Serial Killer X]

ITA although it was too late for the daughter. she stayed hooked on him till she died. IMO

Yer That's True Sara Do You Have Any Other Theorie's?

SKX

[SaraSidle]

Yer That's True Sara Do You Have Any Other Theorie's?

SKX

Well Margaret Gibson did confess to the murder on her deathbed!!!

[evabaruk]

Sara, yeah, A Deed of Death is about Taylor and his death. It was written in the early '90's. Don't know much about it though.

[SaraSidle]

eva I read about her on wikipedia. If you look up Taylor's name there will be a list of suspects.

[Serial Killer X]

Well Margaret Gibson did confess to the murder on her deathbed!!!

Lol K Im Still Catching Up On The Case Im Mainly Readin About Serial Killer's And Studying Criminology But Yeah, Was It Ever Proven That She Killed Him. I Knew That I Just Wanted To See What You Guy's Thought Lol

SKX

[SaraSidle]

Hi X. No it's not proven that she killed Taylor. No-one was ever arrested for his murder. Shelby remains the No 1 suspect as far as I'm concerned. Paramount Studios did a huge damage control at the scene and afterwards because a murdered straight or gay director and big box office actresses at the murder scene not long before he died was not good business. Particularly 90 years ago. Today it would sell tabloids.

I totally agree Joseph. IMO

[Serial Killer X]

Hi X. No it's not proven that she killed Taylor. No-one was ever arrested for his murder. Shelby remains the No 1 suspect as far as I'm concerned. Paramount Studios did a huge damage control at the scene and afterwards because a murdered straight or gay director and big box office actresses at the murder scene not long before he died was not good business. Particularly 90 years ago. Today it would sell tabloids.

Yer Mr Bell I Agree With You And Your Absolutly Right It Would Sell Tabloids.

SKX

[Its just me]

Hi all. You know, an interesting aspect of this case is the fact that Taylor was apparently employing his brother as his valet/chauffeur. The brother was going by the name of Edward Sands. Sands robbed his brother while he was in Europe and never appeared again. Taylor was apparently going on about Sands to Mabel Normand when she visited, about an hour before he was murdered. It's a fascinating case.

Bumping to get beyond the pitiful soul posting the porn.