Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-24
WOMAN'S SCREAM
MAY YIELD A CLUE
TO MAJORS DEATH
Storekeeper Heard Cry Near
Woods-Second Theory
Linked to Murder Case.

Police Were working on two clues
last night to determine how Frank NJ.
Seanland, former major in the United
States Army, whose body was found
Friday evening in the woods near AL
exandria. Va. came to his death.
The suggestion that the former
Army officer was attacked and beaten
to death to prevent his return to New
Mexico, where, it is alleged, he was
convicted and sentenced to four years
in,prison for mauslaughter-and later
was released under bond-was given
to the police last niSht by an Army
officer who said he was stationed on
the border last year when Maj. Scan
land was serving at Fort Bliss. This
officer intimated TIN. majors return
might have implicated others who so
far had escaped questioning in con-
nection with the manslaughter case
Heard Woman's Cry.
The other clue, volunteered by a
storekeeper of Hume Spring-between
Washington and the spot where the
body was found--is that on the wight
OF October Is. the day Maj. Scauland
was last seen alive. a woman's scream
and her cry for nelp were heard from
swiftly moving automobile going In
the direction of Alexandria.
Roy H. Flanan. now living at s5l
22d street. formerly a military aid TO
the Governor of Texas, gave the po-
lice his version of what is said to
have been the accidental shooting OF
John HutchinS. driver of an automo-
bile racing from Ell Paso. Tex. to a
point in Arizona last year. 1t was in
connection with the death of this
man that Maj. Scanland is said to
have been tried and sentenced TO a
term of four years for manslaughter
by ii civil court in New Mexico.
Two stories of that affair have been
given to the police. One is that the
major was in charge of a squad of
men at secret target practice near
Lanark. n. Mex. AS the automobile
passed spot near where the prac-
by stray bullet The other story
lacks any verification-
1t was in connection with this latter
story that an Army officer who gave
his name as Capt. Miller yesterday
went to Alexandria and told the po-
lice he had reason to believe the ma
jor might have been attacked and
killed by men who wished to prevent
his return to the border. Police are
working on this theory.
Movements Mysterious.
Maj. Scanland, it is said. was re-
leased on DOn0 after MS sentence, De-
cause of the peculiar circumstances
said to have surrounded the alleged
accidental shooting. He had been
CLEARED previously by military court.
THE Washington police and officers
of Alexandria county, Va, declare
they are unable to trace the move
ments of the former Army officer after
he left the Raleigh Hotel Friday, Oc-
tober Is.
Public automobile drivers are be-
ing questioned, however, in an effort
to discover whether any one answer
ing the slain mans description rode
over to Virginia on October 15. The
woods near where the body was found
Friday, it is stated, contain several
spots favored by excursionists, and
many empty lunch boxes from picnics
lie about the grove.
The theory of robbery is secuted by
the police, who state that the major
left the Raleigh Friday after request
ing that his hotel bill be sent to
Youngstown. n. Y. Several circum-
stances are said to imply that the
murdered man had little or no cash
about his person.
Several medals. and a watch which
is said to have been presented to the
former officer by the Italian govern
ment, have not been found among the
majors effects. left at the Raleigh
The articles, it is said, may be in
the possession of the dead mans rela-
tives, however.