Evening star., 1953-07-08
Search Pushed
For Suspects in
Tdggdrt Staying
One Man AbsoIved
But Is Charged in
Maryland Attack

y
land early yesterday.
Lengthy examination Of thC
prisoner by homicide squad de.
tectiveS absolved the man in thG
murder Of Miss Taggart, founc
beaten to death Monday morning
III her room at the SCOTS Hote
for Women, 2131 o street NV
But police had a host of Others
to quiz in the Washington mur.
der. One was an AWOL soldier
of Puerto Rican descent arrested
last night. Then there were 81
men picked up in a series of mar
cotics raids last night. All these
were being f1ngerprinted and
screened at headquarters.
Also being questioned was
31-year-old colored man pickec
up as a housebreaker in the
home of Pvt. Charles Carpenter
q policeman.
Warrant Issued.
A warrant sworn before JUS
tice of the Peace Samuel Mitchell
of District Heights, Md. was is.
sued for the Maryland rape sus.
pect, Samuel D. Floyd, 81, col
ored, of the 800 block of Second
street S.W.
He was arrested at 3 am. al
Fifth and H streets NV, by
Scout Car Policemen Aubrey C.
Woodard and Harold F. Crooks
An hour later, the victim of the
attack had identified him in a
police lineup.
PvtS. Woodard and Crooks hao
pulled up beside Floyd's car to
warn him to move in closer to
the curb. They said Floyd had
stopped for two women pas
sengers. Getting a better look
at the man. and of his car. they
took him to headquarters.
Although Floyd steadfastly de-
MED knowledge of either the
Taggart or Maryland case, police
held him because his size and
the color of his car matched
those of the Maryland case.
AccOsted After Leaving Bus.
In that crime, a 26-year- -old
North Forrestville woman was
raped about 1870 am. yesterday
by a man who accosted her as
she alighted from a bus near
her home.
She said the man threatened
her with a knife and dragged her
to a field. After the attack, he
took her purse containing $28,
pointed meaningly at a pistol
butt protruding from his pocket,
and warned her not to make an
outcry.
Communicating with Prince
Georges police after Floyd's ar
rest. Washington police asked
for a more detailed description
of the wanted man. They were
told he was wearing brown ten
mis- shoes. So was Floyd.
Pointed Out in Lineup.
With that supporting informa-
ton. police Immediately got in
touch with the ForeStville wom-
an. They asked her to witness a
lineup in which Floyd appeared
with three other men. She
pointed to Floyd as her assailant
Police said Floyd was driving a
tWo-tone green car, the same
colorS referred to in a deScrip-
ton of the car driven by the
Maryland attacker. The car was
impounded. Police also were to
process the mans trousers fo1
possible blood stains or other evil
dence.
Among the hundreds of others
questioned in the Taggart case
was a 22-year-old Puerto Ricar
CT who admitted he had left his
station near Mclean, Va, with
out leave.
He was arrested last night
standing at the corner of Wis
consin avenue and NJ street NV
by Armed Services police.
Soldier Denies Charges.
Taken to headquarters, he
seemed nervous. When a detec-
tive suddenly demanded: why
did you kill that woman?" The
soldier threw up his arms, and
fell on his knees praying, first in
English. then in Spanish.
The best police could get out
of it was that the soldier denied
all charges. They found it diff
ficult to question him further.
Since Miss Taggart's body was
discovered about 10 am. Mon
day, more than 400 persons have
been questioned by police and
some two score put through a
OeCa1leQ processing.
In addition to 30 homicide
squad detectives and members
Of the general assignment, sex
and juvenile squads, all plain
clothesmen are working on the
case. In the third precinct,
scene of the crime, the leaves
of plainclotheS officers were can
celed.
10 to Canvass Hotel Area.
AS a part of the routine in
vestigation, 1t. Lawrence Hart
nett, homicide investigator just
returned from leave, was as
signed a squad Of 10 men to make
a door-by-door canvas of the
SCOTS Hotel area.
Capt. Richard j. Felber, chief
of the homicide squad, said they
will question residents and work.
ers about any unreported at
tackS or other incidents of the
past which might throw light on
the murder.
In their thorough search, police
also checked records of st. Eliza
bethS Hospital for any inmates
who might have had passes over
the week end and could be re-
garded as suspects.
Funeral services for Miss Tag
CART were to be held at 3 pm