Evening star., 1948-09-24
Gov. Lane Visits
Police ceWorkinq
0nMurderCase
Also Will See Parents
Of Slain Couple
While in Glen Burnie

Gov. Lane of Maryland spent a
minutes today at Anne Arunde
County police headquarters, offerint
his assistance in breaking the mysti
flying murder of John H. Mahlan
25-year old Glen Burnie postal clerk
and his 1s-year-old friend, Mary c
Kline.
After conferring with Police Chic
John H. Souers, Gov. Lane would no
discuss the case with reporters o.
speculate on the likelihood OF solving
1t soon.
Meanwhile, as clue after clue col
lapsed. one Maryland police Officer
came to Washington to confer witt
an unidentified policeman from out
side the District at the Homicide
Bureau. Chief of Detectives Rooer'
S. Bryant said the discussion mac
some bearing on the Glen Burnle
case.
One source said the visiting po-
liceman. believed to be from Texas
had worked on a similar case anc
wished to outline his detection
methods to the MARYLAND police.
Governor to Visit Parents.
Gov. Lane said he would visit the
parents of Miss Kline and Mr.
Mahlan while in Glen Bernie. He
said he had stopped while returning
bv automobile from a visit to New
York.
Large crowds attended funeral
services for Miss Kline this morning
at a funeral home and a requiem
mass at Holy Trinity Cathollc
Church. Burial was in Glen Haven
Cemetery.
Worn by nearly week OF fruit
less search, Chief Souers had only
a brusoue no comment today or
progress of the investigation.
Overnight he had seen every fresh
lead evaporate under scrutiny and
apparently the case was as far from
solution as it was last Menday when
the popular young couples bodies
we're found in a field 6 miles west OF
Annapolis.
Both had been shot once through
the head. The bodies were II miles
from the spot five miles southeast
of Glen Burnie where MI Mahlan'
bullet-pierced and blood-Stained ca1
was found three days earlier.
Reward Offers Increased.
Reward money for solution of the
case rose to S4,400 when the Anne
Arundel county commissioners Of
fered $500 for apprehension OF the
guilty person or persons.
The latest disappointing leads in
volved three automobiles, two pall'
of Marines and woman's jacket.
The Jacket was found by State
trooper on Route l about Is miles
north of Baltimore. At first 1t was
believed 1t might have been worn by
Miss Kline, but investigation proved
otherwise.
One of the automobiles and two
of the Marines cleared of suspicion
we're found at the Naval Academy
at Annapolis. The car was a black
Buick sedan. described as having
been in the vicinity of Severn Inn
near Annapolis when it was robbed
of 81 and six bottles of whiskey
early yesterday.
A Navy spokesman said neither
the Marines nor the car had any
connection with the murder or rob-
berry.
Girls Father Gives Views.
Another pair of Marines was seizeo
in an automobile near Reisterstown
Md. and held briefly until they
established an acceptable alibi.
Another tip sent Baltimore detec.
tives to the home of barber there
to inspect bullet hole" in tht
rear window of his car. The hole
it turned out, was made by a rocE
thrown by small boy.
In his first statement since the
murder, John E. Kline, father OF the
slain girl, said he believed the klllel
of those two innocent people" j!
mot far away
whoever dld 1t was lhlel a!
we'll as a killer" he told reporters
MY girls bracelet and watch were
gone, and the boys watch was gone.
Believes Slayer Is Close.
Deploring any suspicion directed
toward Mr.. Mahlan as the possible
slayer, Mr.. Kline said. my daugh-
ter was a cleancut girl and the boy
was a perfect gentleman
Mr.. Kline said there was a "lot
of immoral doings and goings or
around Glen Burnie, in parked cars
and shacks," and that the killer
could have come from any of a
number of neighborhood sources.
The fact that Mr.. Mahlans torn
up drivers license was found beside
a plank bridge a third of mile
from the car added weight to MI
Kline's belief that the hunted man
was nearby. he said.
There was only one place to cross
the stream" he said. That's the
reason l think it was some one IA
l. IL, LII. Il