William Desmond Taylor

This is for all conspiracy enthusiasts. I thought I would save the best for last. I first read about it in a small book called 'The worlds greatest secrets'. There are many theories of the truth behind the death of a 1920's filmmaker originating from Carlow. The case of William Desmond Taylor has never been solved and there are many theories why so. As I do not have a resolution to this brilliant piece of hollywood history, that is virtually unknown to most people, I will start with the cold hard facts.

• In the early morning hours of February 2nd, 1922 Taylor was found shot to death in his bungalow.
• During the inquest that followed several witnesses came forward, reporting that they had seen a young, dark-haired man leaving Taylor's house the night of February 1st.
• Studio officials were first on the scene and alleged to have removed key evidence long before the police and coroner arrived to begin investigation and secure the murder scene.
• Taylor was seeing actress Mabel Normand at the time of his death.
• She was a cocaine user, and Taylor had gone to the federal government for help in stopping the pushers who were selling her drugs.
• William was reported to be bisexual.
• He was in an 8 year long relationship with the actor George Hopkins.
• This was frowned upon by 1920's society.
• Taylor's murder occoured just after the 'fatty arbuckle' scandal.
• Hollywood was keen to clean up its act.
• Reports of finding some of Mary Miles Minter's personal belongings (including a monogrammed underwear) in his bungalow and her being suspected of the murder effectually ended her career in pictures.
• Taylor's jewelry and money had not been taken, and nothing valuable seemed to have been removed from the house.

Let's take a closer look...

About six months before Taylor's murder, Edward Sands,Taylor's ex-valet disappeared after forging several checks with Taylor's signature and taking off with his employer's valuables and car.He was searched for immediately after his disappearance in 1921, and again after Taylor's death. He was never found.

There was a love note of adolescent enthusiasm, complete with symbols of love and kisses, found in Taylor's apartment. Second, there was the pink nightgown, conveniently monogrammed with "MMM." (Mary Miles Minter!).

Minter's mother,Charlotte Shelby, was extremely protective of her daughter. Mary Miles Minter was the source of the wealth that Shelby needed to maintain her Hollywood lifestyle. She wasn't an unlikely suspect.

Taylor, in 1903, abandoned a wife and baby daughter in New York and struck off for points west.Taylor's younger brother, Denis Cunningham Deane-Tanner, also abandoned his wife. Williams brother's abandoned wife recognized Taylor in a movie, and Taylor, when confronted, denied that Denis was his brother. But he relented and helped to support his sister-in-law for the rest of his life.

In closing,the most likely suspect was Mary Miles Minter. She was an up and coming actress . Her mother would do anything to protect her extravagant lifestyle. Perhaps MMM's mother hired somebody to murder Taylor?...The best that can be achieved is a very good speculation. The William Desmond Taylor case has to this day never been solved due to insufficient clear stable evidence to convict anybody of the murder.

Well this is the last of my blogs for a while.Maybe if i hear any news about this case or any other interesting Conspiracy theorys i will blog about them.as always...

Until next time,

Kevin.