Perle S. Thomas and family, c. 1921
Item
Title
Perle S. Thomas and family, c. 1921
Description
-Mother Lamyra Williams Thomas, Vedder Thomas, baby Elizabeth held by her father Perle Thomas, and oldest son Otho Thomas.
-Interior of the Thomas Grocerteria, located on the ground floor of the Crystal Palace in Fort Pierce (opened 1921).
-Portrait of Perle Sylvester Thomas (1883-1927). In 1927, Thomas was murdered by U.S. Border Patrol Inspectors when they were conducting illegal search stops, saying they were looking for illegal immigrants. The agents were in an unmarked car, flagging down motorists on Dixie Highway at night. After Thomas did not stop, they followed him and fired into the car. Three of federal agents were arrested immediately and found guilty after a trial. Fred Brownlee of Hobe Sound, was given the death penalty (commuted to 8 years in prison in 1934 and he was released in 1938) and two others found guilty of second degree murder and given life in prison (they were paroled in 1930).
Low quality scans.
-Interior of the Thomas Grocerteria, located on the ground floor of the Crystal Palace in Fort Pierce (opened 1921).
-Portrait of Perle Sylvester Thomas (1883-1927). In 1927, Thomas was murdered by U.S. Border Patrol Inspectors when they were conducting illegal search stops, saying they were looking for illegal immigrants. The agents were in an unmarked car, flagging down motorists on Dixie Highway at night. After Thomas did not stop, they followed him and fired into the car. Three of federal agents were arrested immediately and found guilty after a trial. Fred Brownlee of Hobe Sound, was given the death penalty (commuted to 8 years in prison in 1934 and he was released in 1938) and two others found guilty of second degree murder and given life in prison (they were paroled in 1930).
Low quality scans.
Source
Scan gift of the Stuart Heritage Museum.
Rights
Copyright undetermined The copyright and related rights status of this Item has been reviewed by the Martin County Library System, but we have been unable to make a conclusive determination as to the copyright status of the Item. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For more information, visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Format
3 digital images
Language
English
Type
Still image
Identifier
SHM-2025-042-001
2025.042
Coverage
Original Format
Digital image
Collection
Citation
“Perle S. Thomas and family, c. 1921,” Martin Digital History, accessed October 5, 2026, https://www.martindigitalhistory.org/items/show/20526.