Paul Bern Mystery

On September 5, 1932, the body of MGM executive, Paul Bern was found in with a bullet hole in his head lying front of a mirror drenched in his wife’s favorite perfume in the master bedroom of their Beverly hills mansion. His wife? None other than Jean Harlow. 

His body was found with a suicide note that read "Dearest Dear, Unfortunately this is the only way to make good the frightful wrong I have done you and to wipe out my abject humiliation, I Love you. Paul. You understand that last night was only a comedy."

Mister Bern had previous been common-law married to Dorothy Millette, who ended up getting ill and having been checked into a psychiatric hospital. He was known to have continued keeping in contact with her even after he married Ms Harlow; even as far as visiting Millette in NY after she was discharged, each time he went to NY. It was even said he supported her financially and that his second wife's funds that went to him was partially used to support Millette.

Anyway, the night of his death is the mystery. I'll share some points that will show you why:


Alleged Suicide Note: It mentions 'last night'. Well, his then-wife wasn't home with him the last night. She was at her mother's. The reason given - or I should say reasons, as two different reasons were given by Ms Harlow - was that PB wanted time alone to do some work, the other reason given at another time was that she needed space so went to her mother's.  Either way still has her *not* home the 'last night'. So who was it? [some say it was his first wife, Millette]


Dorothy Millette: went to California and killed herself the day after PB's death. PB's staff members reported that they had heard a woman's voice, unfamiliar to them, the night he supposedly committed suicide, even found a woman's wet bathing suit by the pool that *wasn't* JH's, and two empty glasses by the pool that evening.

Police NOT the first to be called: The first to arrive at Bern’s house was MGM co-founder Louis B Mayer, followed by two other studio execs W.P. Hendry who was MGM’s chief of security and Irving Thalberg – the other co-founder of MGM.  Police weren't called for another 2 hours! (plenty of time to contaminate and hide whatever evidence they don't want the police to see, hmm?)

Why do you think this, Mike?: Mayer (co founder of MGM) took the note left by Bern and only gave it to the police after the studio told him to. If he would do this, what would he and others do with other items staff reported as seeing but police official report(s) never show they entered it into evidence or saw it in the first place?

Jean Harlow: gave two different statements as to why she wasn't home the night of PB's death. She also claimed to not have known about PB's first wife, but it later came out from family and friends of PB that it was known (not sure why JH thought she had to try to deny knowing of DW)


You know what this reminds me of? The death of Marilyn Monroe and how a staff member didn't bother with the police and, instead, called the production company, and police was notified hours after the fact. WTH?


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Marilyn Monroe

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