William Burns
MSA SC 3520-13759
Lynched in Cumberland, October 6, 1907
Biography:
William Burns was lynched October 6, 1907 for the murder of police officer August Baker of the Cumberland force. William Burns, a 22 year old African American and another African American, Gus Little, were being arrested by Baker for disorderly conduct when the murder occurred. Burns and Gus had been drinking at a local saloon and the two began making threats. The owner ordered the two to leave. When Officer Baker arrived Burns resisted arrest. Baker used his mace to subdue Burns, but during the scuffle Burns shot Baker in the abdomen. Baker managed to handcuff Burns even though the gunshot wound would prove to be fatal. Burns was then transported to the jail house by Humphrey Green, an African American ice wagon driver. Gus Little managed to escape during the scuffle.
Burns waited in jail for several days fearing an attack. When Baker's death was reported on October 6, 1907 the feeling of anger over the shooting intensified among those in the town. Sheriff H. R. Hamilton did not put extra guards on duty because he did not fear any uprising. He left Deputy Sheriff Noah Hendley on guard. By midnight several small groups of men were noticed lingering along the streets towards the jail. The Sun's October 6, 1907 edition reported that a half hour later a group of about 50 men with handkerchiefs covering their faces approached the jail. The mob doubled in number by the time the men reached the jail.
The mob stormed the jail doors and demanded the keys from the Deputy Sheriff. When he refused to hand over the keys the mob tore down a telegraph pole and rammed open the jail doors. They continued to ram the iron doors of the cells. When the men reached Burns they dragged him bleeding from a smashed nose, torn ear, cuts and bruises past the Deputy and out of the doorway. Several men from the mob wanted to have Burns confess to the shooting, but others were already convinced of Burns guilt and proceeded with the lynching. Burns continued to struggle and curse his lynchers. His efforts were in vain.
The first shot were followed by several others as William Burns' body fell to the ground. The crowd checked to see if Burns was dead then they dispersed. There were two different accounts about how the mob managed to reach Burns in his cell. Spectators claim the mob obtained the keys with ease and removed Burns from the jail with little trouble. Deputy Hendley claimed he refused their demands to hand over Burns. He said they used a telegraph pole to break down the door. He stated that the men pushed pistols in his face, but he still refused them the keys to the cell. The men ripped his clothes to get at the keys, but by the time they found them Burns had already been taken from the cell. Hendley continued to report numbers of 2,000 men. One witness said only 25 men participated in the actual lynching. He told The Sun, "The crowd gathered quietly and there were not more than 25 actively engaged in the lynching. The men demanded and received the keys without trouble, took the negro and shot him to death" (6 October 1907). Other witnesses such as Benjamin A. Richmond known as a close friend of late Governor Lloyd Lowndes reported to have seen several prominent men of the city participating in the lynching. Not one of the 16 policemen on the Cumberland force reported to the lynching. Chief Judge A. Hunter Boyd pleaded with the lynchers to disperse, but his calls were ignored. He called out to those he recognized and those men left the scene.
On the same day as the lynching a coroner's jury
announced Officer Baker died from a bullet wound caused by William Burns.
Burns did admit he was drunk at the time and had no recollection of the
event. Burns requested that his mother, whom was a resident of Virginia,
not be notified. On October 12, 1907 Allegany's county commissioners
offered a reward of $500 for the arrest and conviction of those responsible
for Burn's death. Witnesses of the event claimed they could not remember
or identify those who participated in the event. Judge Boyd directed
a grand jury to investigate the lynching. The jury reported on October
19, 1907 that no one could be identified for prosecution of the crime.
The
Afro-Ledger protested the lynching in an article:
"The men who lynched Burns are greater murderers than he was, for while he shot his man while under the influence of liquor, and without premeditation, these men deliberately planned and carried their plans in execution. Without doubt, everyone of them is guilty of murder in the first degree and justice will not be done until everyone implicated in it is brought before the bar and receives the penalty of his crime."(12 October 1907)
Link
to Lynching Profile Questionnaire
by Dana Z. Sutton
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