The New York herald., 1922-02-18
Assurance Given of Release
if Proved Innocent of
Murder.
HOPE HE WILL APPEAR
Authorities Believe Message Is
Genuine-Butler in Los
Angeles All the Time.

Los ANGELES, Feb. 17.-Immunity for
Edward F. Sands from prosecution on
charge of embezzlement preferred
against him last August by William
Desmond Taylor. murdered film di-
rector. was promised tonight by
torney. provided Sands proves his in
nocence of the Staying of Taylor and
can "untangle this murder mystery"
Mr.. Woolwine's promise to the miss
ing former butler-secretary to Taylor
was made in a letter he addressed "To
Edward F. Sands, through the pub
fishers" IN answer to a letter he re-
ceived and which purported to have
been written by Sands.
The letter, which was signed sc. +.
Sands" was dated February IA. The
writer declared he was living in Los
Angeles and inquired whether If he 5lr-
rendered and established his innocence
of the murder of Taylor he would be
freed of the embezzlement charge.
Tells of Sands Letters.
A verbatim copy of the letter. FUR
porting to have been written by Sands.
was made public by Mr.. Woolwine, and
was as follows:
"Los Angeles, February IA, 1922.
MIR. Woolwine:
Los Angeles. Calf.
Dear Sir: This letter will probably
surprise you. when you read 1t. | am
taking this liberty to write you TO make
matters more easy for you In the first
place | am Mr.. Sands although friend
of mine in writing this letter under my
dictation Mr.. Woolwine you need not
look all over the world for me for l am
living right here In Los Angeles and am
reading the papers every day concern
ing the Taylor murder l will be frank
with YOU Mr.. Woolwine l haven't mad
any peace of mine since the mdrcer ana
I have come to the conclusion that inc
quicker this thing is settled the better
off we will all be now Mr.. Wooiwhe IN
the first place / did not murder layiof
but / know who did 1t but what assur-
ance have from you to know tnat !'u
will accept my story none.
therefore i want guarantee from
vou that If / surrender myself into your
hands and IL establish my innocence
of the crime you will set me free.
''If YOU will do this, Mr.. Woolwlne, i
can untangle this murder mystery iot
you. You may answer me In any ol
tne erhest LOS Aue ue, "E. r. SANDS"
Mr.. Woolwine's reply follows;
ITO Edward +. Sands through the
public press:
II am in receipt of letter dated Febru-
ary IA, 1922. post marked Los Angeles
which, by its language, purports 10
have been dictated by you.
whether or not the letter is genuine as
7 receive vast numbers of bogus COM
munica tions. but / intend to treat 1t as
genuine for the purpose OF this COM
munlcation.
Promise From woOlwtne.
"The letter states: L did not murder
TAYLOR. but | know who did, ana IN
auires in substance that II you come Tor
ward and surrender yourself and estab-
lish your innocence of this crime wheth-
er OF not 1 will set you free.
.oThe letter further states: IF you
will do this, Mr.. Woolwine. can untan-
gle this murder mystery for you. You
may answer me In any Oh tHe Los An
geleles papers.
"In answer to this communication
wish TO state that IL Edward +. Sands
will surrender himself to any OF the
police authorities or TO me and estaoiish
to my satisfaction his innocence and
give me information as to who COM
mitted this crime and untagle this muir
der mystery to my satisfaction as Dis
trict Attorney of Los Angeles county, i
will move a dismissal of the case of en-
bezzlement now pending against him
and set him free.
THOMAS LEE WooLwINE.
"District Attorney. Los Angeles
County"
Mr.. Woolwine stated that the letter
purporting to have come from Mr.. Sands
was postmarked February Is, but came
TO his attention only to-day.
He said that when he realized its
Importance. in case it proved genuine. he
called a conference of police detectives
and his own special investigators as
signed to the case and that their unani-
NOUS conclusion was that 1t would be
hest to answer the letter In chance II
was genuine and might result in the
solving Of the mystery.
NYcTERY TC CIEA RING