The Washington times., 1920-10-27
SOLDIER MAY
SOLVE CRIME
Police Desire to Question Army
Man Who Threatened
Major Scanland.


land, overseas veteran, slain to sea-
his lips from revealing the identity
Of a soldier whom he had claimed
shot and killed John Hutchins
chauffeur for United States Sena-
tor, Fall, at Ell Paso, last year? The
army officer is now out on bonds
for the staying.
POLICE SEEK SOLDIER
Another question being asked by
the police Is: Did Scanland meet with
foul play at the hands of a Washing
ton chauffeur after having been lured
into the woods near where his body
was found? But. as no attempt ap-
parently was made to rob the army
officer this theory in some quarters
is secuted.
After running out numerous clues
however, the police today stated they
were awaiting information from the
authorities at El Paso regarding the
whereabouts OF a soldier who II is al
legged had made threats against Scan
land should he return TO that city
and tell the true story" Of the shoot
ing Of Hutchins.
QUESTION CHAUFFEURs.
A number of detectives today also
are questioning a number or wash
ington chauffeurs and examining au-
tomobiles in an effort to get some
trace OF clue which might help
solve the murder mystery. Up to noon
today no tangibla information had
been received of Major Scanland hav-
ing been seen or conveyed to the
woodland near Alexandria. Va, at any
time since his disappearance from the
Raleigh Hotel on October 49,
Senator Falls chauffeur was killed
during a private" automobile race
near Ell Paso by a bullet fired from
a revolver used by some soldiers in
target ractice. Following the death
of the chauffeur, Scanland was taken
into custody and court martialed, be
ing eXonerated for the crime. Later
he was re-arrested by the authorities
of Ell Paso, tried and convicted of
the Staying and was sentenced to
four years Imprisonment. He was
out on bonds. pending an appeal to
the sentence. when he was slain here.
Relatives and friends of the army
officer declare they can advance no
motive for the killing of Scanland,
declaring the only enemies he was
known to have had were probably
killing Of Hutchins.
KILLED BY BLOW.
The theory advanced in some quar-
ters that Scanland did not meet with
foul play is ridiculed by Inspector of
Detectives Clifford l.. Grant and De-
tective Sergt. Fred Sandberg, head of
the bureau of identification or the
police department.
.Maior Scapland was killed DY a
blow on the head and his body was
carried to the spot where it was
found" declared Inspector Grant this
morning. II feel he was victim OF
foul play. Examination of his skull
plainly showed that he had bad
fracture and that this no doubt caused
his death. There was no evidences OF
a struggle at the scene where the
body was found, and it is likely that
the army officer had been slain either
in a house or automobile and taken
to the field"
The strange actions of Scanland be-
fore meeting death has given rise to
the theory that he was rot a victim
of foul play The fact that he had
rearranged his War Risk Insurance
on September 20, six days before he
came to Washington; that he had re-
ceived letters about his health and
financial condition from his wife;
that he had acted queerly at the
Raleigh Hotel. where he had been a
guest, and that he had passed worth
less checks, has caused several OF The
detectives working on the case 10
suspect other than foul play.
CLUE RUN DOWN.
Investigation yesterday by Detec
tive Sergts. Frank Baur, Fleet Hugh
lett and Patrick O'Brien developed
that the man who was in dispute
at Tenth and L streets northwest
on October 16 was Edward w. Nichol-
son, of Georgia avenue. Harry w.
Wade, Of 313 King street, Alexandria,
told the police he witnessed an as
sault on a civilian by two sailors and
a soldier and believing the man may
have been Scanland he notified them
Of tho occurrence. This phase OF the
case has now been eliminated in the
police investigation.
II am satisfied" said Inspector
Grant. that the man knocked down
at Tenth and e streets was not Scan
land"