Thomas Julius
MSA SC 3520-13729
Lynched in Prince George's County, October 1869
Biography:
Thomas Julius was accused of an attack on a Miss Dooley in Prince George's County. Julius who came to live at the home of Thomas Adams in Prince George's County, was originally from Montgomery County, Maryland. A wife and child, also resided with him at the home. It was reported that, "while standing in the door of the quarters in which he lived, [Julius] saw the lady upon whom he made the assault, pass by in company with a gentleman on her way to the wharf at Fort Washington." According to the article in the Daily National Republican, Miss Dooley was headed to the house where she taught school. "When about 200 yards from the school-house, and within hearing of the children's voices, who were playing there, she was approached from behind by her assailant." A Mr. Eckert , who was giving morning salutations to the school children, alledgedly startled Julius, causing him to flee. Newspapers reported that Eckert found Miss Dooley lying quietly on the ground, afraid to move.
The incident was alledged to have taken place between nine and ten o'clock, and Thomas Julius was arrested at noon. Julius was arrested a mile away from the scene of the crime, by Alexander Rennoe and Captain Beasley. He was then taken to Piscataway before Justice Brooke, who then turned him over to Constable John Underwood for safe keeping. Thomas Julius was chained to another black man, James Jackson, who was also arrested on suspicion that he committed the attack on Miss Dooley. The two men were guarded by an armed group of citizens. An attempt was made that night to take Thomas Julius from the guards and hang him. However, that attempt was thwarted by others who wanted to hear the evidence. The next day the two men were taken before Captain Beasley where Miss Dooley had been brought to identify her attacker. James Jackson was discharged, while Julius was identified as the accused attacker. Julius was then sent by wagon to Upper Marlboro. He allegedly reqested to go by his home to say goodbye to his wife, where he was confronted by a group of men dressed in only their shirts and drawers, with handkerchiefs with pierced eye-holes tied over their heads. It was stated that a large number of those engaged in the group were soldiers from Fort Washington. Constable Underwood , alledgedly attempted to defend the prisoner and fired several shots at the lynchers, but was tied up by the men. Another man Deputy Constable Anthony Anderson, who was also in the wagon, was alledgedly told to drive the vehicle into a wooded area where he was also put out and tied up.
The masked men took the wagon and drove it deeper into the wooded area near a large white oak tree, where a noose was adjusted over a horizontal tree limb. Thomas Julius, who was handcuffed, was forced to stand on the wagon and have the noose placed around his neck. The wagon was driven from underneath Julius, but the rope slipped and his feet were touching the ground. One of the masked men jumped on his shoulders, while others swung him around on the rope. The party of men then formed a line and fired a volley at his body. "After swinging for two hours his body was cut down, and a coroner's jury, which had been summoned to hold an inquest upon it, returned a verdict of death from hanging by unknown persons." Thomas Julius was buried at Hatton's Hill near Piscataway.
Following the lynching, Judge Ford a justice
for Prince George's County, addressed the grand jury with the
following statement: "The court this morning learned of an act of
violence committed in this county, which no law abiding citizen can
look upon with favor. In the State of Maryland our courts are open, and
law is here supreme; and no matter how heinous the crime, this tribunal
can never sanction its punishment be violence and mobs. The supremacy
of the law shall be fully vindicated whilst we have seats upon this
bench. Under your oaths, gentlemen, it becomes your duty to investigate
this matter fully and fairly. It is your sworn duty to bring these
offenders to punishment, if you can possilbly ascertain who they are;
and I trust you will spare no exertion in the investigation of this
matter." The editors of the Prince Georgian newspaper responded to Judge Ford's commentary by speaking out in favor of lynchings.
Return to Thomas Julius' Introductory Page
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