Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-06
Sailor Admits
Hammer Killing
0fNdvyW
Don't Know Why
He Says, in Telling
Of Potuxent SIoyine
BY O s.or s.aff Correspondent

BY Star Stoff Correspondent
LEONARDTOWN, Nd, April
civilian E. Rudd, a balding
impassive sailor from the Pa
tuxent Naval Air Station, has
confessed the hammer Staying
OF his friends wife at Lexington
Park, Md, police have an
nounced.
Give thought about it and
thought about it, but I don't
know why I did it," he told
MarylanG State Trooper John
Koontz and st. Mary's County
Sheriff Willard B. Long yester-
day.
Rudd. 81, father of three chill
dren and a Navy veteran of
World War II in the Pacific, has
been charged with murder in
the death of Mrs. Iona jose
phine Davis, %, wife of James
Davis, a Patuxent seaman, early
Saturday.
Mr.. Davis, who had gone on
duty as cashier at the commits
stoned officers mess at the air
station about Z am, Saturday,
returned home on a "premoni-
ton" about 1920. He found his
wife in a bloodSoaked bed, the
back of her head smashed by
four hammer blows. There were
also signs of attempted strangu-
lation, a medical report said.
Rudd had a weekend liberty
and was sought in a widespread
police lookout. Police had thrown
up road blocks on every highway
leading out of st. Mary's County.
Identity Unknown.
Washington police had Rudd
in custody at least 80 minutes
and turned him over to armed
services police without ever
learning his identity.
He approached fifth precinct
Capt. Thomas Edwards and an
other policeman in a scout car
in the 100 block of Independence
avenue S.W.. about IL am. yes
terday, saying he was an AWOL
sailor and had no money to get
back. They called another scout
car and Rudd was taken to the
fifth precinct while armed serv-
ices were called.
At the Naval Gun Factory,
where he was finally taken, his
identity was quickly established.
Showed Brief Agitation
He stood up under an hours
questioning by Trooper Koontz
and Sheriff Long while at the
Air Station. Only at one time
did he appear agitated, Trooper
Koontz said.
THAT was when we asked him
about the scratches on his
hands," the trooper said. "He
stood up. excitedly. and walked
about"
The confession was made, po-
lice said, while Rudd was en-
route to Leonardtown with
Trooper Koontz and Sheriff
Long.
They said he told them he had
been drinking, but was not
drunk. "He had to be sober to
be able to tell the things he
told u.s." Trooper Koontz said.
Rudd had attended party
at the Davis apartment in the
Castle Garden section of Lex
ington Park near the Air Station
Friday night and had been
taken home about l am. by Sea-
man Davis.
Asked for Hammer.
He was quoted as saying he
took a taxi back to the Davis
apartment Saturday morning,
knocked on the door and was
admitted by Mrs. Davis. He said
he helped himself to a beer and
she went upstairs to dress. He
called to her short time later,
asking if she had a hammer;
that nail in his shoe was both
ering him. She told him where
to find one
Rudd said he fixed his shoe
and, hammer still in hand, went
upstairs, where he started talk
ing with Mrs. Davis. Then, po-
lice quoted him, he started
beating her with the hammer
II don't know why" He said he
made no attempt to modest her
sexually.
Trooper Koontz said there may
be no re-enactment of the Slay-
ing. No date for a preliminary
hearing has been set, but if he
doesn't waive the hearing, it
probably will be held here Friday.
Rudd's estranged wife and
three children live in Alameda,
Calf. She wept when she heard
of the Staying. asking. "Why did
he do it? We knew the Davises
very we'll"
She said Rudd visited her
March % and threatened to kill
her. the Associated Press re-
ported. HE used to threaten
me when he was drunk"
7 | Ernnm Namod Had