Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-07
LYNCH|NC OF BURNS
Judge Boyd Will Be the Chief
Grand Jury Witness.
HE SAW THE MOB AT WORK
Business Man Charges the Police
Were Derelict.
DEMANDS ASSISTANCE IN VAIN
Over 10000 People, Many Of Them
Children, Viewed the Murderer's
Body at the Undertaker's.
HE SAW THE MOB AT WORK
DEMANDS ASSISTANCE IN VAIN

| CUMBERLAND. Nd. October 1T is
| expected that Chief Judge A. Hunter
| Boyd. who witnessed the lynching of VIII
| liam Burns. the negro murderer of Po-
licaman August Baker early yesterday
! morning, will address the grand jury on
the subject today when the October term
Of the Allegany court convenes.
Judge Boyd did all in his power to save
! the negros life and to have the law OBJ
served; but his pleading was in vain for
the sullen mob brushed him aside in their
determination to avenge the policeman 8
death in the manner they had elected.
| The judge was vigorous in his effort and
fearless in his manner, and from his de-
meanor and declara tons there seems to
be little doubt that he will be as deter
mined to have the mob leaders punished
as the mob was in melting out summary
death to the negro.
During yesterday. 1t is eStima ted, 10 900
persons, including many Sunday school
children, closely examined the semi-naked
body as it lay at the undertaker's. In
the evening an attempt was made to close
the shop, but the crowd threatened to
force the DOORS and they were reopened
AS told in The Star yesterday morning, a
sullen mob battered down the doors of
the Jail after midnight. took the keys
from Deputy Sheriff Noah Hendley, drag
ged Burns into the street and riddled his
body with bullets twenty feet from the
building as influential townsmen begged
them to desist.
First Cumberland Lynching.
The lynching of Burns was the first in
the history of Cumberland and the second
in the history OF Allegany county. The
first occurred at Westernport some years
ago. when man named Johnson was
hanged from the Potomac river bridge for
the murder of man named White. John
son was a religious fanatic and was
thought to be insane.
Michael Malone was convicted of man
slaughter in connection with the lynch
ing, Benjamin A. Richmond. then states
attorney. prosecuting him, and he was
sentenced for manslaughter. This is said
to have been the only instance Of convic-
ton for lynchlng in Maryland.
Undertaken Louis Stein has been order
ed by the court to hold the body of Burns
until Tuesday morning. No inquest has
yet been held. and Coroner George Martz
said last night that he had not yet been
able to secure the name OF a single wit
ness who could identify any of the lynch
ers. Until this is done IL Is useless to
hold an inquest. States Attorney Wilson
and Coroner Martz are acting under in
structions OF the court.
A special O6uScIy l0ttcf WdS bcuI ~
William Burns at Delaphlaine. Va. yes
terday, the homo of the dead man, asking
what disposition should be made Of the
remains. A woman named Johnson, nv-
ing at Wheeling. wrote that she has
son named William Burns and she asked
for a description.
To Bury Policeman.
The funeral of August Baker. the VIC
tim of Burns, will occur tomorrow after
noon at o'clock. The services will be
conducted by Rev. c. F. Floto, pastor Of
st. Stephens Lutheran Church. Members
of the police force will act as pallbear-
ers and interment will be in Greenmount
cemetery.
Mr.. Benjamin A. Richmond. the we'll
known lawyer, tried to prevent the lynch
Ing. and last night he denounced the &C.
ton Of the mob and the police. He says:
Il arrived at the Jail about five minutes
after the first lynchers came, and there
found not more than fifty or sixty alto
gether. Two-thirds Of them were bystand-
ers, who were taking no part, and most
Of the persons present were standing on
the opposite side Of the street. About ten
persons were at the door trying to break
in. OF these ten only four or five seemed
to be active. Never moro than twenty
took part In the actual violence.
The conduct of the police OF Cumber-
land was simply shameful and Disgrace
full Although the disorder was going on
for more than half an hour not one Of
them appeared on the scene until after
the negro was dead. and would not have
come then but for my action.
Police Were Deaf.
CAS- soon as the trouble started both
myself and my daughter tried to tele-
phone the police station, and. although
the telephone exchange made frantic eff
forts to get the police station no answer
could be gotten
Mr. Richmond said he later found Of
icer Goss, but the latter declared he knew
nothing Of the riot. although Mr.. Rich
mond says he heard the noise Of the riot
at the point where he found Mr.. Goss.
He says:
Il demanded that he go. He said he
would go to the police station and get
| help. 1 accompanied him. Arriving at
| the police station we found the light burn
| ing low, the door locked and not a soul
around the building. 1 demanded that he
| open the door and go in, and there we
| found four policemen, Lieut.. Schmutz be-
ing one Of them. They were there, sit
ting quietly inside with the door locked "
| Mr.. Richmond says upon his demand
that they go to the riot they moved in
rather a leisurely fashion, he following.
'Of course" he declared, they arrived
| too late. The man was dead"
| Mr.. Richmond says that had two or
| three policemen of nerve been on the spot
when he first arrived they could have pre-