Evening star., 1948-09-27
Jealousy Motive
Again Studied
In 7 Sayings
Lane Orders Stute
And Baltimore Police
To Join in Search
BULLETIN
BULLETIN

Anne Arundel County police
today reported that stains, be-
lieved to be blood, had been
found in a clump OF pine trees
about 2 miles from the spot
near Glen Burnie where John
H. Mahlan's car was aban-
doned. Because pine needles
were found on the running
board of the car. the new find
was regarded as important.
Once discarded as a likely mo-
tive. the jealous suitor theory was
given prime consideration again to-
day in the investigation of Mary
lands Kline -Mahlan murder case.
Chief John H. Souers of Anne
Arundel County police made this
deduction in admitting that other
possibilities have been weakened by
weekend developments.
At the request of Gov. Lane OF
Maryland, State and Baltimore po-
lice officially joined the hunt for
the slayer who shot to death Mary
C. Kline, 18, and John C. Mahlan,
25 leaving the bodies of the Glen
Burnie couple off the Defense high
way near Chesterfield, miles west
Of Annapolis.
1t has been 10 days since Mr..
Hahlan, Navy war veteran and
postal clerk, took his friend riding
on a customary date. His car was
found in a cornfield off the old
Annapolis road. miles southeast of
Glen Burnie and II miles from the
bodies.
One Issue Cleared Up.
At least one puzzling aspect Of
the case was eliminated from the
maze of contradictory and hazy
clues.
Police learned that a small boy
had left blood on the floor OF a
deserted house on Marley Greek
when he cut his foot. This exploded
the theory that one or both of the
victims had been killed at the house,
4 miles north of MI Mahlan's aban-
doned car and about 16 miles from
the bodies.
This lent additional weight to one
theory that Mr.. Mahlan was killed
as he sat in the car and Miss Kline
as long as six hours later.
Chief Souers said pathological
tests proving the girl had not been
raped gave rise to the jealous suitor
conjecture. So far police have un-
earthed nothing relevant from
diary Miss Kline kept for three
years, he added.
Seven Are Cleared.
Investigators have not entirely
discarded the possibility the killer
was ,motivated by sex, Chief Souers
said. 1t also was recalled that Miss
Kline's purse. watch and bracelet
and Mr.. Mahlan's watch and wallet
were missing. .-...--
Virtually cleared from suspicion
were seven young men arrested on a
charge of breaking into the Balti-
more Morgue last Tuesday.
The seven were held today for
grand jury action in Baltimore. ac-
cused of taking pictures OF Miss
Klines body. Three of them, and
an eighth man who did not enter the
morgue, were held on additional
charges of possessing obscene pic
lures of the body.
Baltimore police said one Of the
youths, ranging in age from l8 to
% years, made seven prints OF the
negative, giving one to each of the
boys.
Boys Knew Miss Kline.
Questioned by Glen Burnie police,
one of the boys admitted he once
lived In Glen Burnie and knew Miss
Kline, but Chief Souers said he did
not believe any of the group was
involved in the crime.
Chief Souers also placed no value
on an empty cartridge case brought
In by a man who said he found 1t
near the spot where the bodies
were. 1t seemed to be of foreign
make, smaller than .38 but larger
than a 80 caliber pellet.
Three .38-caliber slugs were being
sent to the FBI in Washington to-
day for further examination. Bal
timore experts had been unable toI
determine if they were fired from
the same gun.
Two of the slugs. removed from
Miss Kline's head and the car, were
50 damaged that county police
doubted if even FBI ballistics ex-
perts would learn if they came from
the same weapon. The third slug
was removed from Mr.. Mahlan's
head.
Lane Holds Conference.
No Baltimore or State police have
been assigned actively to the case,
but Chief Souers said it was now
clear they would be available when
called on.
Gov. Lane stepped up the in
vestigation yesterday when he con-
ferred in his Annapolis executive Of
fees for three hours with Col. Bev-
erly Ober. State police superintend-
ent. Hamilton r. Atkinson. Balti-
more police commissioner; James c.
Mcrtor, jr.. Anne Arundels States
attorney. and Chief Souers.
Commissioner Atkinson and Col,
Ober agreed to place all their facili-