Evening star., 1955-07-08
Policeman Held
For Dc. Jury in
Fatal Shooting
Coroner's Panel
Orders Action
After 6-Hour Quiz

n CO4OlACl . jul ANS SA0SASN
a second precinct police private
to face grand jury action in
the fatal shooting Of a truck
driver.
The jury yesterday sent the
case Of Pvt. James E. Barnes. 80,
to the higher jury after a lengthy
Inquest into the shooting OF Mel
son Eugene Marshall. 80. col
|ored, of 1900 Fifty-eighth ave-
niue. Chapel Oaks. Md.
The policeman was released
under $500 bond. Hours be-
fore the coroner's jury made its
decision, Police Chief Robert v.
Murray had asked United States
Attorney Leo A. Rover to present
the case to the grand jury.
IA Witnesses Heard
The coroner heard IA wit
lnesses during the six-hour in
quest in sitting heat at the
District Morgue
The shooting occurred during
Wednesdays evening rush hour
in the first block of Florida ave-
nue. NV.
Capt. Alexander s. Douglass,
head of the second precinct
where Pvt. Barnes was assigned.
said the private told him this
story during an investigation
Immediately after the shooting:
While the policeman was di-
Irecting traffic at First street and
Florida avenue NV. at S pm,
la truck blew its horn at taxi
cab which had pulled to the
curb. Pvt. Barnes told the driver
ito pull around the cab. The
driver did, after shouting an
Iepithet at the policeman. Pvt.
Barnes got into another taxicab
and followed.
When Mr.. Marshall again was
halted by traffic a short distance
away, the policeman left the cab,
approached the truck from the
helpers side, and told the driver:
Let me see your operators S
permit"
| Mr.. Marshall replied, accord
ing to Pvt. Barnes story to his
superiors:
What do you want that for?
I'm not going to show it to you"
Pvt. Barnes walked around the
front of the truck. AS he walked
past the fender, Mr.. Marshall
opened the door and stepped
onto the running board. The
policeman told his superiors he
thought there was going to be
a fight. and so had his night
stick in his hand.
Grabbed Nightstick
Capt. Douglass testified that
Pvt. Barnes told him the truck
driver grabbed the nightstick
and swung once, but missed
When he raised the billy to swing
again. Pvt. Barnes pulled his
service revolver and fired twice.
Then the private reloaded his
pistol and put the two empty
shell castings in a pocket.
Edward Fitten. colored. of 30s
~ street, Mr.. Marshall's helper
on the truck said he and Mr.
Marshall had made their final
stop of the day at Twenty-first
and K streets NV, and were on
their way to the Safeway ware
house on Sheriff road NE.
| A few seconds after their truck
was stopped by the cab at the
curb on Florida avenue. he said
he heard loud voice say:
Cant you go around that
cab?"
He said Mr.. Marshall answered
that he wanted to make a right
turn, and that if he pulled
around the cab, he would be in
the wrong lane. But the driver
did pull around the taxicab, Mr.
Fitten said, and as he did so
laughed loudly.
When they were again stopped
by traffic a short distance away
Mr.. Fitten continued, the police
man approached on his side OF
the cab, opened the door, and
said to the driver:
Give me your permit"
Mr.. Marshall, Mr.. Fitten testi-
fled, asked:
What for?"
The policeman closed the door
and walked around the front
lof the truck, pulled open the
door on the drivers side and
got onto the running board and
spoke to the driver again.
Started to Swing
AS he did, the witness said,
he raised his nightstick and
started to swing it toward Mr.
Marshall's head. The driver
grabbed the nightstick. Mr..
Fitten said, and the policeman,
in turn, grasped Mr.. Marshall's s
shirt.
The policeman then pulled his
revolver, Mr.. Fftten said, and
the helper leaped out of the
truck and fled. As he ran away.
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