Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-09-23
TwoMenH Hunted
For Questioning
|nDoub|eKiI|inq
Autopsy Fails to Help
Glen Burnie Police
In Murder Probe

A Maryland State police look
out for two men, believed to be
Marines, wanted for a tavern
robbery early today flashed a
possible new lead in the almost
clueless murders of a young Glen
Burnie couple.
The newest lead-admittedly a
vague one-came on the heels of an
autopsy which failed to shed much
light in the slayings of Mary Chris
tine Kline, 10. and John H. Mahlan,
25. Glen Burnie postal clerk, near
Glen Burnie Friday night or Sat-
urday morning.
Their bodies, with bullets in the
heads, were found in a woods off
Chesterfield road, near Annapolis,
Monday, two days after their bullet
punctured, blood-stained auto was
discovered in beanfield five miles
southeast of Glen Burnie.
Girl May Have Been Held Captive.
Police theorized today that Miss
Kline may have been held captive
and terroriZed for several hours
after Mr.. Mahlan was slain.
The reasoning was based on the
positions in which the bodies were
found. The mans body had stiff
fened into a hunched-up position,
as though he had been dead in a
car for several hours.
Miss Kline's body was straight
ened, as though she had been
dropped Imply from the car after
she was killed. Investigation has
shown that the Mahlan car had
been driven many miles from the
time the young couple drove away
from Miss Kline's home about 8:45
pm. Friday.
Warning Sent to Police.
The state police lookout flashed
at $40 am. today identified a 1885
black Buick carrying Pennsylvania
license AS-945 or 4-S-945. 1t asked
that caution be used and to hold the
car and "the two Marines believed
to be occupying it.
Preserve clothing and search for
guns. as may be important to muir
der investigation now being carried
on BY Anne Arundel County police.
The two men are wanted for
breaking and entering the Severn
Inn at $3.50 am. today and stealing
81 and six bottles whisky, the
warning said.
The Severn Inn is located at the
north end of the Richie Highway
Bridge across the Severn River at
the edge of Annapolis.
The autopsy report from Chief
Medical Examiner DR.. Howard j.
Maldeis failed to determine whether
Miss Kline had been raped. but ad-
ditional laboratory tests are being
conducted, according to States At
torney James C. Morton.
Delaware Inquiry Fails.
One bullet was found in Mr..
Mahlan's brain, fragments OF an
other were found in the girls and
q third was found on the floor OF
the car. All are 38-caliber, but
tests have not determined whether
they were fired from the same gun.
One angle in what Anne Arundel
County Police Chief John H.
Souers, jr., terms 1.-The most vicious
murder" in many years in Mary
land. collapsed late yesterday with
questioning of Delaware man who
appeared with severe scratches on
his face. He admitted spending the
week end in Maryland, but investl-
gators learned the scratches were
made by his wife.
Chief Souers said he has hun
dreds of clues to run down" but
admitted he has nothing hotter
than I had yesterday"
A 57-year-old colored man, who
told newsmen they want to ask
me some questions about the dou-
bic murder" was released overnight
Other reports, which Chief Souers
answered with Il have nothing to
tell you fellows at all. had DISNEY
eled youth in custody.
He said at least one Investigate
ing team has been averaging "2l
hours day on the mysterious
deaths. A report is still awaited on
fingerprints taken from the Nathan
car.