Edward F. Sands

Who is Edward F. Sands?

Edward F. Sands, born Edward Fitzgerald Snyder, a.k.a. Edward Fitzwilliam Strathmore, a.k.a. Jazz, was a suspect in the murder of Hollywood director William Desmond Taylor on February 1, 1922.

Edward Sands had been employed as Taylor's personal assistant, serving as cook and valet. Although he was born in Ohio, he spoke with an affected British accent. Taylor left Sands in charge of his affairs during a vacation in 1921 and returned to find Sands gone and several of the director's possessions missing including his car, chequebook, a large supply of distinctive cigarettes and jewelry. Sands had cashed several blank cheques left by Taylor and, using the stolen checkbook, began forging Taylor's signature.

A few months later Taylor received a letter from Sands which included a pawn ticket in the name of William Deane Tanner, indicating that Sands knew Taylor's true identity, which Taylor had kept secret since his arrival in Hollywood eight years earlier. Sands seems to have returned clandestinely. One of the distinctive, stolen cigarettes was found on Taylor's doorstep and footprints were left on Taylor's bed. Some more of Taylor's jewelry was stolen and receipts were found showing Sands had sold the items in northern California.