William Burnswas a 22-year-old African-American man who was lynched on October 6, 1907, inCumberland, 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]
TheAllegany CountyCommissioners 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 GovernorLloyd Lowndes Jr.stated that a number of prominent men from Cumberland and vicinity were involved in the lynching.[2]
