Evening star., 1948-11-12
'G|enBurnieCase
Declared Solved
By yConfession
Aide to Lane Says
Prisoner Cove Theft
As SIoying Motive

Breaking down after hours OF
questioning, a young sugar re-
finery worker has detailed to
police how he killed John H.
Mahlan, Is, and Miss Mary c.
Kline, 18, near Glen Burnie, Md.
an assistant to Gov. Lane said
today.
The confession credited to
Thomas Alexander Edwards, %.
colored, was announced late yester-
day by the assistant, Louis ODon-
nell. shortly after Gov. Lane had
been notified at Sea Island, Ga,
where he is vacationing.
Robbery was given as motive for
the slayings-a robbery that netted
less than 81 and a wrist watch. Po-
lice were to take Edwards today to
the scenes of both murders-com-
mitted % miles apart-for a re-
enactment.
Arrested Monday at South Ball
timore sugar refinery, the husky
Edwards talked enough to an in-
former placed in a cell next to him
to enable police to recover the death
pistol the following day. Edwards
admitted owning the weapon, found
in his home six miles southeast Of
Glen Burnie, but would not further
involve himself.
Story of the Crime.
Closeted with Detective Capt.
Henry j. Kriss and other police in
Baltimore ali day yesterday, Ed
wards told this story, as relayed by
Mr.. O'Donnell:
About II or 1870 pm. September
II, Edwards was walking toward
home after spending the evening
in a poolroom. He was forced off
the highway by passing car,
which he noticed turned into
narrow road known to the COM
munity as a lovers lane"
He also turned into the side road
and saw the car parked a short dis
tance away. He walked up to the
drivers side of the car and ordered
Mr. Mahlan to open the door. When
he refused, Edwards fired one shot
through the glass, striking Mr..
Mahlan in the head and killing him.
When Mr.. Mahlan fell forward
over the wheel, Miss Kline screamed
and jumped out of the car, running
toward the woods. Edwards pursued
the pretty, red-headed stenographer.
brought her back to the car and
showed her in the back seat. Then
he sluged her on the head with the
butt of the gun, a blow he believed
had killed her.
Heard Moan, Completed Job.
He pushed Mr.. Mahlan's body
aside and got under the wheel, He
drove away from the lovers lane"
Ii the Marley Creek area to clear
ing miles west Of Annapolis on the
Chesterfield road.
Stopping the car in what he
called a sand pit Edwards pushed
Mr.. Mahlan's body out. He tossed
Miss Kline out the other side and
was about to depart when he heard
her moan Pulling his gun, he
placed it to her head and fired.
Then he drove the car back to the
clearing on Old Annapolis road.
where it was found the next morn
ing. 1t was two more days before
the bodies we're found by a road
worker while nearly 1000 citizens
searched. A mans bloody foot
print in the back seat of the car.
two bullet holes in the windows and
bloody pine needles on the radiator
and running board were ominous
signs of foul play.
Gov. Lane said he was advised OF
the confession by Hamilton r. At
kinson, Baltimore police commits
sioner, and Col. Beverly Ober, super
intendent of State police.
Teamwork Praised.
The Governor, who had entered
the case to coordinate State, coun-
ty and city police activity, congratu-
lated the investigators.
The successful conclusion of the
investigation OF this case is one OF
the finest examples of police team
work in the law-enforcement history
of the State" he said.
During the long questioning of
Edwards yesterday, Capt. Kriss
found the prisoner to be very cum
ming" he said.
He seems to have answers for
questions the minute they're asked"
Capt. Kriss added
Edwards has insisted that, while
the gun was his, the crime could
have been committed by one of his
several brothers or cousins, investi-
gators said.
Edwards father, whom he asked
to accompany him on todays tour
of the murder scene, was called in
periodically for questioning yester-
day.
Next Tuesday special Anne
Arundel County grand jury will
hear a point-by-p point summary OF
the case against Edwards, who was
formally charged Wednesday with
both murders,