Edward F. Sands

Edward F. Sands (born Edward Fitzgerald Snyder; April 4, 1894 – unknown), also known as Edward Fitzwilliam Strathmore and Jazz, was an American service member who was a suspect in the murder of Hollywood director William Desmond Taylor on February 1, 1922, by whom he was employed as a cook and valet.

Biography 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 English accent (screen star Mary Miles Minter referred to him as a cockney). 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, checkbook, a large supply of distinctive cigarettes, and jewelry. Sands had cashed several blank checks 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 (Taylor's birth name), 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 (smoked and crushed) 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.

Military service Sands served in various branches of the United States military (seven enlistments) enlisting under various names.

He initially enlisted in the United States Navy at the Recruiting Station in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the age of 17. Sands was never found.