William Burns was a 22-year-old African-American man who was lynched on October 6, 1907, in Cumberland, Maryland, for the alleged murder of white Cumberland police officer August Baker.[1][2]
Several newspapers at the time account that Officer Baker attempted to arrest Burns, and that Burns allegedly resisted and shot Baker in a scuffle.[2] Burns was then arrested and taken to the Cumberland Jail.[2] Several days later, Baker died in hospital and a mob of men with their coats turned inside out and handkerchiefs over their faces gathered outside the jail at 12:40 am.[2] The mob tore down a telegraph pole and used it to batter down the doors to the jail.[2] One account reports that Burns was dragged out of his cell after the deputy on duty handed over the keys to the cell at gunpoint.[2] Burns was taken outside "peppered with bullets" and left to die.[2] The crowd wanted to hang Burns, but they could not find a rope.[2]
The Allegany County Commissioners offered a reward of $500 for the arrest and conviction of the people who took Burns from the jail.[3] Benjamin A. Richmond, an associate of Governor Lloyd Lowndes Jr. stated that a number of prominent men from Cumberland and vicinity were involved in the lynching.[2]
Referencesedit
^Sutton, Dana Z. (May 4, 2007). "William Burns Lynched in Cumberland, October 6, 1907". Biographical Series. Maryland State Archives. pp. MSA SC 3520-13759. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
^ abcdefghi"Burns Lynched: Negro Slayer of Policeman Taken From Jail By Mob". Baltimore Sun. October 6, 1907. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
^"Rewards". Frostburg Mining Journal. October 12, 1907. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
January 01, 1970
lynching, william, burns, william, burns, year, african, american, lynched, october, 1907, cumberland, maryland, alleged, murder, white, cumberland, police, officer, august, baker, several, newspapers, time, account, that, officer, baker, attempted, arrest, bu. William Burns was a 22 year old African American man who was lynched on October 6 1907 in Cumberland Maryland for the alleged murder of white Cumberland police officer August Baker 1 2 Several newspapers at the time account that Officer Baker attempted to arrest Burns and that Burns allegedly resisted and shot Baker in a scuffle 2 Burns was then arrested and taken to the Cumberland Jail 2 Several days later Baker died in hospital and a mob of men with their coats turned inside out and handkerchiefs over their faces gathered outside the jail at 12 40 am 2 The mob tore down a telegraph pole and used it to batter down the doors to the jail 2 One account reports that Burns was dragged out of his cell after the deputy on duty handed over the keys to the cell at gunpoint 2 Burns was taken outside peppered with bullets and left to die 2 The crowd wanted to hang Burns but they could not find a rope 2 The Allegany County Commissioners offered a reward of 500 for the arrest and conviction of the people who took Burns from the jail 3 Benjamin A Richmond an associate of Governor Lloyd Lowndes Jr stated that a number of prominent men from Cumberland and vicinity were involved in the lynching 2 References edit Sutton Dana Z May 4 2007 William Burns Lynched in Cumberland October 6 1907 Biographical Series Maryland State Archives pp MSA SC 3520 13759 Retrieved May 12 2015 a b c d e f g h i Burns Lynched Negro Slayer of Policeman Taken From Jail By Mob Baltimore Sun October 6 1907 Retrieved May 12 2015 Rewards Frostburg Mining Journal October 12 1907 Retrieved May 12 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lynching of William Burns amp oldid 1209775299, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
