Evening star., 1946-09-10
Policeman Capanne||
Is Exonerated in
Fatal Shooting

Policeman Joseph F. Capanelli, 80,
was back on duty at No. precinct
today after coroner's jury yester-
day Afternoon ruled his shooting of
a 31-year-old armed colored man
Saturday evening on the basement
steps of 1113 Twenty-first street
NV. was "justifiable homicide"
Pvt. Capannelli, who was ap-
pointed to the force December /,
1945, after serving with the Marine
Corps Band during the war, testified
that the man he shot, Thomas
Beasley. 81, of 512 Twentieth street
NV, had disregarded three or
four" commands to halt in a pur-
suit that began on the north side
of L street NV. near Twenty first
street.
After trapping the man at the
foot of the basement steps, the DO
liceman said. he saw Beasley reach
toward gun which was partially
visible in his right trousers pocket
and believing himself in danger of
being shot, he fired.
An autopsy report stated that the
bullet entered Beasley's head at
point three inches above the left ear.
Widow Screams in Court.
AS Pvt. Capannelli prepared to
take the witness stand at the coro-
ner's inquest, the deceased mans
widow screamed from the rear of
the courtroom, He murdered nv
husband" Mrs. Beasley, the
mother Of five children, was led
from the room by relatives.
The pursuit and fatal shooting
originated in family quarrel be-
tween Beasley and his brother Al
bert, 36, which eliminated in the
firing of three shots by Thomas at
Albert inside the Quality Lunch. a
restaurant at Twenty-first and L
streets NV, after which police were
summoned.
Albert .Beasley yesterday testified
that although he and his brother
had yquarrelAd earlier that day-a
dispute which caused both men to be
arrested at about 5 am. SATURDAY.
on disorderly conduct charge, from
which they were released after for
feiting IS collateral-he did not be-
lieve his brother had attempted to
nit him, but merely to scare him, in
firing the shots inside the restau-
rant.
Numerous witnesses testified that
the brothers were only a few feet
apart during the shooting, and that
Thomas Beasley had fired down at
the floor, saying, Il ought to cripple
you"
Albert Beasley said his brother
had been arrested several times on
gambling charges, but never, to his
knowledge, for carrying a gun. He
identified as belonging to his brother
a weapon which Sergt. John E.
Winters had removed in the pres
ence of witnesses, from the deceased
mans right trousers pocket.
Same Ruling in Stabbing.
The coroners jury also held yes
terday that the stabbing on Sunday
morning, September /, of Cristobal
Aston. IS, of 1877 F street NE. by
Earl B. Wheeler, also colored, of
726 Balls court NV, was "justifiable
homicide"
Wheeler, who has been a patient
at Galllnger Hospital since his fight
with Aston, testified that the Incl
dent occurred at about 1880 am.
outside his home.
He said Aston and his wife, both
apparently intoxicated, had passed
him in the alley. quarreling with
each other, and that when he and
companion started laughing at a
private conversation, Aston turned,
came back down the alley, and
picked fight with him.
He testified that Aston had
stabbed him about six times and his
wife hao swung at him with a chair
before he drew his own knife in
self-defense. Mrs. Aston confirmed
the fact that her husband had been
drinking heavily and quarreling
with her.
A corners jury yesterday exon
Grated James c. Young, SO, colored,
HOO block of Seventh street NV,
in connection with the fatal stab
bing Sunday of James Brown, 10,
colored, of the 1900 block of Seventh
street NV, when they returned a
verdict of justif1able homicide.
Brown was stabbed in the chest
with a carving knife while Young
sustained cuts on his neck and
arms and was treated at Freed