Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-18
Sands Promised
immunity If Can Clear
Self of Taylor Killing

AAAAAAA AAA4Cy IL Vail S1CQI
Self of Taylor Killing
Los Angeles, Cal, Feb. 17.-Im-
munity for Edward f. Sands from
prosecution on a charge of embez-
element preferred against him last
August by William Desmond Taylor,
murdered film director, was promised
tonight by Thomas Lee Woolwine.
district attorney, provided Sands
proves his innocence of the Staying
of Taylor and can "untangle this
murder mystery"
Mr. Woolwines promise to the
! missing former butler and secretary
to Taylor, was made in letter ad-
dressed Edward l.. Sands" through
the public press, in answer to a let
! ter which he received and which
purported to have been written by
! Sands.
The letter. signed "E. r. Sands"
was dated February IA. The writer
said he was living in Los Angeles
and inquired whether if he surrend-
cred and established his innocence of
of the murder of Taylor, he would
/ be freed of the embezzlement
charge.
A verbatim copy of the letter pur-
porting to have been written by
Sands, was made public by Mr.. WOOL
! wine, as follows:
Los Angeles, February "A, 1922.
Mr.. Woolwine, Los Angeles, Cal.
Dear Sir:
"This letter will probably surprise
you, when you read It. l 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 is writing this let
ter under my direction. Mr. Wool
wine 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 concerning the
! Taylor murder. | will be frank with
! you Mr.. Woolwine. l haven't had
any peace of mind since the murder
| and | have come to the conclusion
that the sooner this thing is settled
the better off we will all be- Now
Mr.. WoOrwine, in the first place l
did not murder Taylor, but l know
who did it, but what assurance have
| from you to know that YOU will ac-
cept my story. None. Therefore l
want a guarantee from you that if
| surrender myself into your hands
and if l establish my innocence of
the crime. you will set me free.
IF you will do this Nh. Woolwinc,
I can untangle this murder mystery
for you. You may answer me in
any Of the Los Angeles papers.
THANK you,
T.. +. SANDS"
Mr.. Woolwine's reply follows:
ITO Edward +. Sands, through the
public press:
Il am in receipt of letter dated
February IA, 1922, postmarkcd Los
Angeles. which, by its language, pur-
ports to have been dictated by YOU.
Il have no present means of know
ing whether or not the letter is
genuine, as l receive vast numbers
of bogus communications, but | in
tend to treat it as genuine for the
purpose of this communication.
THE letter states:
81 did not murder Taylor but l
know who did it, And inquiries in
substance that if you come forward
and surrender yourself and establish
your innocence of this crime, whether
or not ! will set YOU free.
THE letter further states:
"If you will do this Mr.. Woolwine.
| can untangle this murder mystery
for you. You may answer me in any
of the Los Angeles papers,
'In answer to this communication
I wish too state that if Edward +.
Sands will surrender himself to any
of the police authorities or to me
and establish to my satisfaction his
innocence and give me information
as to who committed this crime and
untangle this murder mystery to my
satisfaction as district attorney of
Los Angeles county, | Will move a
dismissal of the case of cmbcZZle
nient now pending against him and
set him free.
"THOMAS LEE WOOLWINE.
District Attorney,
Los Angeles. County"
Mr. WOolwine stated that the let
ter purporting to have come from Mr..
Sands was postmarkcd February Is,
but came to his attention only to-
day
He said that when he realized its
importance, in case it proved gem
uine. he called a conference of police
I, in
vestigators assigned to the case and
that their unanimous conclusion was
that it would be best to answer the
letter in chance it was genuine and
might result in the solving of the
mystery.
WaItham Mill to Open Monday
Waltham. Mass. Feb. 1I.-An-