The Washington herald., 1920-10-24
LOCAL WOMAN
QUIZZED IN
MURDER CASE
Calls at Alexandra Morgue
To View Body and Po-
lice Get Trail.
SEEK AN EX-CONFIDANT
Police Investigate Story Of
Former Service Mems
Revenge Threat.
SEEK AN EX-CONFIDANT

Investigation of the murder Of
Frank Murphy Scanland, former
army officer. whose battered body
was discovered Friday afternoon in
brush-choked tract northwest Of
Alexandria, last night focused on a
Washington woman whose name IS
in possession Of the police.
This woman yesterday attracted
the attention Of Inspector Of Detec-
tives Clifford L. Grant, directing
, Washington's central office forces in
the murder search, when she ap-
peared at the undertaking establish
ment of W. Demaine and Sons, Alex
sndria, and asked to view Scan
lands remains. Questioned as to
her interest in the case, she told
Grant she had come to look at the
body believing IL might be that OF
one of. four men who broke into
her house last Monday night Her
inspection convinced her she was on
the wrong trail, she added
Police Not Satisfied.
Grant last night declared en-
phatically that he was not satisfied
with ht wOman's story and would
question her further. probably to-
day. However, be made no attempt
to arrest her.
There's no evidence against her"
he explained.
Perusal Of police records and
questioning OF officers in the pre-
cinct where the housebreaking was
supposed to have occurred estab-
lished that no report Of such an sf-
fair had been made to the authori-
/ ties.
''knew what They Were Doing
Outside OF this DEVELOPMENT the
police admitted last night that their
4 ideas Of who committed the murder
/ and how were nebUlous. Grant is
/ satisfied that Scanland was killed
I annd his body conveyed to the
| lonely spot where it was found He
! further believes that Whoever did
( the job knew exactly where he was
/ going"
Search ais will be instituted for =
man who several times visited
! Scanland in room 736 at The Raleigh
J which the dead man occupied from
! September 26 TO October Is. He was
: observed by Miss .Gste Moore. maid
in charge Of the seventh floor. as a
, short. dark man with dark hair.
. "
I spoke with a strong Italian accent.
/ This man, said Miss Moore, fire.
quently took dictation from Scan
/ land and at other times they would
/ chart OF the war, with the Italian
3 operations OF which SCanland was
/ familiar from his service on the
Piave front with the 332nd L. ) in
. fantry.
Both Mrs. ScanIand. the slain
] mans wife. and a sister. Sarah
{ SCanland. left their homes last night
. fCT Washington. Mrs. SCanland is
/ scheduled to arrive here today and
I Miss SCanland tomorrow. The BODY
z ,,iI be turned over to them after
. d Coroner's jury has been impanellcd
( over il. An inquest will not be held
( Until more evidence is secured.
: One army officer told detectives
that two eN-service men at san An
tonic. Tex. had sworn 70 get" Scan
land for alleged hardships inflicted
upon them in the service. Little
significance is attached to this report
in the present situation. however.
Checked Out on Oct. IL.
Scanland checked out OF the hotel
October Is. leaving as security for
payment Of his accumulated bill a
suit case full Of his effects and ask
ing that his luggage and bill be for
warded TO him at YOUNGSTOWN. y. Y.
the name Of which town was stem
Cilled on the bag. Among the con-
tents was found a special delivery
letter from Scanland's wife. Alice
Scanland. living at Youngstown. in
ltimating financial difficulties but de-
claring she could get along some
how" This letter was received on
the day Scanland disappeared.
Commonwealth Attorney Frank
Ball Of Arlington County last night
told The Herald that it was his be-
, lief Scanland'S body had been lying
wherh found for nearly a week. Il
this be true il eliminates the puz-
zle. one OF the many confronting
the authorities both Of the county
and Washington. Of where Scan
land spent the days between Iesv-
ing the hotel and the discovery OF
his body.
Claims Report is False.
Rail characterized is false the
report that a heavy "lun. wrapped
in a newspaper. had been dislov-
! cred near the remains There IS not
a material clew in possession nI
the police so far as they have dis
/ NloStN. 1 ne Top OF a COLA pSlOlc
aluminium drinking cup may have
been dropped on the spot by . per-
son responsible for the murder -
; by someone else. The tangled tract
where Scanland's body lay at the
1 foot OF a scrub oak bes~s a disre-
putable name and has Tor several
months beon the resort of tn law
! less. the police say. Newspapers. =
| piece Of CANDY hox ribbon and other
objects attest the place has not been
| unfreouented.
Despite his apparent financial
+straits, Scanland had not fallen be
! hind in payment OF war risk in
| suranCe premiums. He carried two
/ policies, each OF $1,000. one in favor
I OF his wife and the other his sister.
! Sarah Scanland.
| Director r. G. Cholmeley-Jones
/ yesterday declared that the Bureau
OF War Risk Insurance would eN-
| pedite payment as directed 10y MAJ.
SCanland in his application.