Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-10-12

1 that she nau son named William
Burns and she asked for a descrip-
ton.
The lynchiag has excited wide dis
cussion. but no general condemnation
is heard. There has been some criti.
cism, but the sentiment of the com
munity apparently approves Of the
summary execution.
Men lnflsmed by Drink.
A notable exception Is Rev. William
Cleveland Hicks. rector of Emmanuel
Episcopal church, who pleaded with
the mob to desist. and preached Sun
day morning on the lynching. After
referring to the murder of Policeman
Baker as dastardly crime, he said:
Last night crime far worse was
committed, committed in cold blood
The righteous anger of Thursday and
Friday was cast to the winds, and IL
cense. vengeance. and savagery were
given full sway.
"Ah, my friends. who are respon
sible for these awful crimes against
civilization and against God? Is 1t
| that band OF men alone who dragged
the criminal from his cell and who
| fired those shots? No, it is your fault
and it is mine. We must share in this
disgrace, for we, as a city. have al
lowed that pesthole, the saloon, to
spring up everywhere. and to bring
forth its deadly, deyilish offspring
"Had those men last night not beet
! nflamed by strong drink this dread
full blot upon the fair name of Cum
berland might have been averted."
Whole Affair DeplorabIe.
Rev. w. w Barnes, of Centre
Street Methodist Episcopal church.
formerly pastor of the First M. e.
church, this city. during the service
Sunday morning stated that in his
opinion the cause of the whole affair
was whiskey; that the negro was
/ drunk when he shot the officer and
that his crime was responsible for the
| lynching; that the whole affair was
| deplorab.e, more so from the fact that
the court was to be convened tomor-
row. and he felt confident that justice
would have been melted out to che ne
gro.
While the body still lay in the
street members of the mob and others
| Almost stripped it to obtain CHASTITY
souvenirs of the lynchias. The body
was exposed to public gaze at the
undertaking rooms Sunday Hundreds
of Sunday school children saw the
half nude form of the dead negro, the
trunk being exposed and all of the
| bullet holes being clearly discernible.
| Last evening the undertaken closed
the door of the morgue on the curious
| throng and it's members came neal
breaking the door down. He was
| Obliged to open the door and let the
crowd in. 1t is estimated that al
least 10000 persons viewed the body
during the day.
| Funeral of Burns Victim.
The funeral of August Baker.
I Burns victim. took place this after
noon at o'c'ock. The services were
conducted by Rev c. F. Floto, pastol
of ST stephens Lutheran church. to
which the family of Mr.. Baker adj
heres. Members of the police force
acted as pail bearers and the burial
was ia Greenmcunt cemetery
Burns Crime.
! The crime for which Burns was
| lynched was committed in front of
saloon on Wineow street on Thursday
night last Officer August Baker, one
of the oldest and most trusted men
I on the force, was walking along
| Wlneow street at about 10 o'clock that
evening when he ran across Burns,
( who had Just been in a row in Kate
Prestons saoou, and who was stl,l
raising a disturbance on the street.
After warning Burns to keep quiet
the officer was compelled to arrest
him, and while taking him to the
station house Burns resisted Just as
they arrived in front OF Hussy's sa
loon Burns drew revolver with his
left hand and fired point blank at the
officers left breast, the weapon being
discharged SO closely that the powder
burned card in the officers vest
pocket, through which the bu let tore
its way into his body.
The officer still held on to Burns,
felled him TO the ground with his
mace, and after beating Buras into
submission, placed the handouts on
him.