Julian E. Howard
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Julian E. Howard

Felonious
End of Watch July 10, 1905
Age 21
The Vigil Panel 20 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Julian E. Howard responded to a shot being fired in a billiard hall in Alba, Texas. Deputy Sheriff Jim Shoemaker was in the billiard hall, owned by W. F. Holmes, serving papers when the first shot was fired. When Deputy Howard entered the billiard hall a shootout followed. Deputy Howard was shot in the chest, with a bullet from a rifle, killing him instantly. Deputy Howard did manage to shoot Holmes in the thigh.

W. F. Holmes, aka: "Fletcher' and "Fletch," and C. C. "Kit" Holmes were charged with the murder of Deputy Howard. On December 15, 1906, a trial resulted in a "hung jury." On December 8, 1908, the cases against both men were both dismissed on a motion made by the Wood County District Attorney.

Howard was survived by his wife, Jennie. They had been married since May 20, 1900. No cemetery records or the burial location have been found.

W. F. Holmes, aka: "Fletcher' and "Fletch," and C. C. "Kit" Holmes were charged with the murder of Deputy Howard. On December 15, 1906, a trial resulted in a "hung jury." On December 8, 1908, the cases against both men were both dismissed on a motion made by the Wood County District Attorney.

Survivors

Howard was survived by his wife, Jennie.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5F5CBA1B
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Julian. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Howard served with the Wood County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Quitman community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Howard.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Quitman, Wood County, TX
Platform Identity wcso.wood.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 10, 1905
Age 21
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle

Deputy Sheriff Julian E. Howard is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Wood County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Wood County Sheriff's Office
5
of 6 officers
83.3% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Julian E. Howard's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Julian E. Howard Compares

Age at Death
21
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Julian E. Howard is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Julian E. Howard was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909