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Julian F. Arnold

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Julian F. Arnold

Birth
Death
15 May 1887 (aged 39)
Alexandria City, Virginia, USA
Burial
Alexandria, Alexandria City, Virginia, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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WASHINGTON, May 15.--Policeman Julian Arnold, of Alexandria, Va., was shot dead, and Ernest I. Padgett, a companion, wounded in Alexandria at a few minutes before 1 o'clock this morning while attempting to arrest two men whom they overheard planning a robbery.

A POLICEMAN KILLED. TWO ALEXANDRIA THIEVES HAVE A FATAL FIGHT WITH OFFICERS. WASHINGTON, May 15.--Policeman Julian Arnold, of Alexandria, Va., was shot dead, and Ernest I. Padgett, a companion, wounded in Alexandria at a few minutes before 1 o clock this morning while attempting to arrest two men whom they overheard planning a robbery. The tragedy occured near the railroad station in a recently constructed ring. Near the circus lot was a saloon kept by Sefer Blouse, who was reported to have large some of money about his house, being afraid to trust it to the banks. It was known, moreover that Blouse had taken in considerable money during the visit of the circus. Between 11 and 12 o clock Policemen Arnold and Martin, observing two men lurking in the area and whispering together suspiciously, came up near enough to overhear them plan a robbery of Blouse's saloon at 2 o clock. While discussing what it was best to do the officers were joined by another policeman and Ernest Padgett, who had been an unsuccessful candidate for Police Superintendent at the last election. It was agreed that two of them inform Blouse of the intended robbery, Arnold and Padgett should come from a direction opposite Blouse's saloon, the four intercept the burglars. In following out this plan Arnold ahd Padgett discovered the two men lying flat on their backs in the ring. They called to the suspected burglars and rushed forward to capture them . As they did so the two men drew revolvers, and one of them shot Arnold in the breast and escaped. Padgett struck the other man down with a stick, when a life and death struggle ensued, the robber endeavoring to kill or disable Padgett with a revolver shot. One of the bullets fired inflicted a scalp wound just over Padgett's ear, but he held on to his assailant until the others arrived and captured him. Arnold was taken to Blouse's saloon, where he died in about an hour, the bullet having passed through both lungs and severed an artery. It was then found that Blouse, who had just been informed of the intended theft, had received a flesh wound in the thigh from a stray bullet. The man was taken to the station house, he was identified as John Curran, of Washington, a well known desperado. He refused to make any statement or reveal the name of his accomplice. The Coroner's jury to-day found that Arnold came to his death from a wound inficted by an unknown person and that Curran was an accessory and accomplice. The murdered man had been on the force 16 years and was regarded as an efficient officer. He leaves a widow and four children. Alexandria has been in a state of feverish excitement all day and threats of lynching are being made on all sides. It is reported that the policemen themselves were prevented from lynching Curran by their superior officers. The escaped robber has not been captured, and owing to the darkness little information as to his appearance can be given by Padgett or the other two.

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As a young man he worked as a tailor in Alexandria. At the age of 15 he enlisted in the Confederacy. He served under General Stonewall Jackson during the Civil War and spent two months in confinement, a prisoner of war. On August 13, 1870, he became an Alexandria police officer, less than one month after the department's official founding.

Just before midnight on May 14, 1887, Officer Arnold and Officer Joseph Martin overheard two men planning a robbery of a saloon located at 1414 King Street. The saloonkeeper, Sefer Blouse, was known to keep lots of money at his establishment and that week's receipts were especially high because a circus had just come to town.

Officers Arnold and Martin enlisted two citizens to assist them. They discussed their plans, and Officers Martin and one citizen went to warn Blouse of the robbery. Officer Arnold and citizen Ernest Padgett returned to the fairgrounds, near where the suspects had been overheard earlier. They came upon the two men in a circus ring. As Officer Arnold announced the arrest, both suspects began firing. Officer Arnold returned fire, but had already been shot in the torso. The suspects fled, and Officer Arnold was taken to Blouse's establishment. He died at 2:15 a.m. on May 15, 1887.

One suspect was arrested that night and a second, Billy Williams, was apprehended a month later. The first suspect was acquitted, but Williams was convicted. He served five years in prison for Officer Arnold's murder.

Officer Arnold, three days from his 40th birthday, was survived by his pregnant wife Jennie, and his four children, Robert, Julia, Arthur and Julian. His daughter May was born four months after his murder.
WASHINGTON, May 15.--Policeman Julian Arnold, of Alexandria, Va., was shot dead, and Ernest I. Padgett, a companion, wounded in Alexandria at a few minutes before 1 o'clock this morning while attempting to arrest two men whom they overheard planning a robbery.

A POLICEMAN KILLED. TWO ALEXANDRIA THIEVES HAVE A FATAL FIGHT WITH OFFICERS. WASHINGTON, May 15.--Policeman Julian Arnold, of Alexandria, Va., was shot dead, and Ernest I. Padgett, a companion, wounded in Alexandria at a few minutes before 1 o clock this morning while attempting to arrest two men whom they overheard planning a robbery. The tragedy occured near the railroad station in a recently constructed ring. Near the circus lot was a saloon kept by Sefer Blouse, who was reported to have large some of money about his house, being afraid to trust it to the banks. It was known, moreover that Blouse had taken in considerable money during the visit of the circus. Between 11 and 12 o clock Policemen Arnold and Martin, observing two men lurking in the area and whispering together suspiciously, came up near enough to overhear them plan a robbery of Blouse's saloon at 2 o clock. While discussing what it was best to do the officers were joined by another policeman and Ernest Padgett, who had been an unsuccessful candidate for Police Superintendent at the last election. It was agreed that two of them inform Blouse of the intended robbery, Arnold and Padgett should come from a direction opposite Blouse's saloon, the four intercept the burglars. In following out this plan Arnold ahd Padgett discovered the two men lying flat on their backs in the ring. They called to the suspected burglars and rushed forward to capture them . As they did so the two men drew revolvers, and one of them shot Arnold in the breast and escaped. Padgett struck the other man down with a stick, when a life and death struggle ensued, the robber endeavoring to kill or disable Padgett with a revolver shot. One of the bullets fired inflicted a scalp wound just over Padgett's ear, but he held on to his assailant until the others arrived and captured him. Arnold was taken to Blouse's saloon, where he died in about an hour, the bullet having passed through both lungs and severed an artery. It was then found that Blouse, who had just been informed of the intended theft, had received a flesh wound in the thigh from a stray bullet. The man was taken to the station house, he was identified as John Curran, of Washington, a well known desperado. He refused to make any statement or reveal the name of his accomplice. The Coroner's jury to-day found that Arnold came to his death from a wound inficted by an unknown person and that Curran was an accessory and accomplice. The murdered man had been on the force 16 years and was regarded as an efficient officer. He leaves a widow and four children. Alexandria has been in a state of feverish excitement all day and threats of lynching are being made on all sides. It is reported that the policemen themselves were prevented from lynching Curran by their superior officers. The escaped robber has not been captured, and owing to the darkness little information as to his appearance can be given by Padgett or the other two.

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As a young man he worked as a tailor in Alexandria. At the age of 15 he enlisted in the Confederacy. He served under General Stonewall Jackson during the Civil War and spent two months in confinement, a prisoner of war. On August 13, 1870, he became an Alexandria police officer, less than one month after the department's official founding.

Just before midnight on May 14, 1887, Officer Arnold and Officer Joseph Martin overheard two men planning a robbery of a saloon located at 1414 King Street. The saloonkeeper, Sefer Blouse, was known to keep lots of money at his establishment and that week's receipts were especially high because a circus had just come to town.

Officers Arnold and Martin enlisted two citizens to assist them. They discussed their plans, and Officers Martin and one citizen went to warn Blouse of the robbery. Officer Arnold and citizen Ernest Padgett returned to the fairgrounds, near where the suspects had been overheard earlier. They came upon the two men in a circus ring. As Officer Arnold announced the arrest, both suspects began firing. Officer Arnold returned fire, but had already been shot in the torso. The suspects fled, and Officer Arnold was taken to Blouse's establishment. He died at 2:15 a.m. on May 15, 1887.

One suspect was arrested that night and a second, Billy Williams, was apprehended a month later. The first suspect was acquitted, but Williams was convicted. He served five years in prison for Officer Arnold's murder.

Officer Arnold, three days from his 40th birthday, was survived by his pregnant wife Jennie, and his four children, Robert, Julia, Arthur and Julian. His daughter May was born four months after his murder.


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  • Created by: George Seitz
  • Added: Apr 10, 2008
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25904025/julian_f-arnold: accessed ), memorial page for Julian F. Arnold (18 May 1847–15 May 1887), Find a Grave Memorial ID 25904025, citing Methodist Protestant Cemetery, Alexandria, Alexandria City, Virginia, USA; Maintained by George Seitz (contributor 40539541).