Lynching of Joseph Vermillion

Joseph Vermilion was a 27-year-old African-American man lynched December 3, 1889 for the crime of arson in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.[1]

Joe Vermillion had been jailed in Upper Marlboro for a series of arsons involving barns filled with tobacco and houses in Prince George's County.[2] At 2:30am, a band of masked men broke into the jail, overpowered the jailkeeper and left with Vermillion.[2]

Vermillion was dragged to the "iron bridge just between the town and the railroad depot"[3] and hanged.[2] His body was left hanging from the bridge for the coroner's investigation.[2]

That same bridge was used 5 years later in another lynching of Stephen Williams by a similar band of masked men.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Joe Vermilion Lynched in Upper Marlboro, December 3, 1889". Biographical Series. Maryland State Archives. 11 December 2013. pp. MSA SC 3520–13738. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Joe Vermillion's Fate: Lynched at Upper Marlboro by a Band of Masked Men". Baltimore Sun. 4 December 1889. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 "State of Maryland: Lynching of Stephen Williams, Colored, in Prince George's County" (PDF). Baltimore Sun. 22 October 1894. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
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