The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-10
Negroes BODY WAS RID
DIED WITH BULLETS.
Summary Justice Dealt Out to Muir
derer Who Killed Policeman
Baker In Cumberland
POLES USED FOR GATHERING RAM
Aud Jail Entered by Lynchers. Kill
ing Had Been Fully Arranged and
Executed Before Authorities Inter-
fered.

Executed Before Authorities Inter-
fered.
Early Sunday morning at Cumberland
summary justice was given William
Burns, the negro who killed Policemen
Baker, who was executed so quietly
that comparatively few knew of it until
daylight when the news spread rapidly.
Thousands viewed the body perforated
with bullets. 1t was The first lynching
in Cumberland and was not anticipated
by the authorities although threats had
been heard
The crowd at the Jail numbered less
than 100. Even the police did not
credit the rumor that summary justice
was to be dealt out to the negro at mid
night and they were on their beats I'M
til hastily summoned.
The plans for the lynching party were
well laid and put into effect without
confusion. When all was ready Deputy
Sheriff Henley was summoned by
knock on the door which that official re-
fused to open. Men then brought
Telephone pole and commanded, open,
or we will break the door in. -
Hendley replied: Help yourself,
gentlemen. I'm here to do my duty
and will shoot the first man who comes
in" There was a crash against the
door with the pole, quickly followed by
another, which sent the doors off their
hinges. Deputy Hendley was covered
with two revolvers. Mrs. Hendley,
fearful that her husband might be shot
implored him to let the men have their
way. The mob disarmed the deputy
and obtained his keys Burns was
found crouching behind the end of his
cot in the rear of his cell. His captors
dragged him into the street, where they
riddled his body with bullets.
About this time Chief Judge A. Hun
ter Boyd and the police, who with others
had been notified by telephone by
Deputy Hendley, appeared on the scene.
Respect was shown to Judge Boyd
when he stepped in the midst Of the
throng and the cries Of burn the body"
were suddenly hushed. Judge Boyd
quietly directed that all law abiding
citizens return to their homes. His
words were cheered and in short time
the crowd Of fully 500 dwindled to less
than 80. An inquest was held yester-
day and Judge Boyd in his charge to
the grand jury Monday said
Here in city of over twenty thous-
and persons a mob Sunday morning took
a prisoner from our county jail, dragged
him up and down the stairs and out in
to the street, where they killed him in
brutal and cowardly manner. Not be-
ing even than satisfied, they filled his
lifeless body with bullets. The question
is usually asked, What crime. if any,
are the persons who are a part of such
mob guilty of" | would, without any
hesitancy, state that they and each one
Of them are guilty of murder. For the
law says that anyone who unlawfully
kills another is guilty Of murder, and if
anyone says that the action of the mob
Sunday morning was lawful, they GER
tainly are not good law-abiding citizens.
| know there are times and circumstance
when actions may be excused by good
citizens, if not the law; such cases as
the killing of the assailant OF a near
relative or the crimes against women.
! say while in some cases good citizens
might say the victim got.his dues, yet
it is unlawful. But there was no need
for the action of Sunday morning, no
excuse at all. The people knew that
Officer Baker died Saturday morning,
the grand jury was to meet this morn
ing, that speedy action would have
been taken in his case, and | do not
doubt but that an indictment would
have been found and a convic lion would
nave lOllO"Sd "lllllll i've HllliulGS dlJtI
the evidence was heard. So there was
no excuse in this case. 1t was an out
rageous violation of the laws of God
and man, and our county has suffered
great modification. Think what the
good Officer Baker did. Had he shot
down the negro when he was shot, he
would have been entirely justified but
did that good officer do that? No, he
knew that if it was not necessary to
kill prisoner, he should not do so, and
even when his suffering was and must
have been intense, he refrained from
doing what he could have lawfully done,
and turned his assailant over to the
other officers that the law might take
its course. Those who took part in the
notifying action cannot think it was