Cambridge Police Capture Suspect In Local Killing

A local handyman, the suspect tin the Boston area's latest strangling, was arrested yesterday by Cambridge police in an apartment house near Central Square.

The man, identified as Roy Smith, was booked by Cambridge police on suspicion of the murder of Bessie Goldberg, 62, the Belmont housewife who was found strangled by a nylon stocking Monday in her home. After booking, Smith was turned over to Belmont police.

Patrolmen Michael Jiacoppo and William Coughlan and Detective Henry Gallagher said they were walking near Central Square when they saw Smith's face looking out the window of a third floor apartment.

The three policemen then went upstairs and rapped on the door of Smith's room. Gallagher said that they made the arrest after a brief struggle.

Smith came to the Goldberg house Monday in response to Mrs. Goldberg's call to a State Employment Agency for a handyman to help her clean her house before a party.

Smith's arrest was the first that has been made in connection with any of the nine stranglings. None of the others have been solved.