Lynching of William Burns

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William Burns was a 22-year-old Black man who was lynched in Cumberland, Maryland, on October 6, 1907. He was accused of killing white police officer August Baker. Reports say Baker tried to arrest Burns, Burns resisted, and Baker was shot during the struggle. Burns was arrested and placed in the Cumberland Jail. A few days later, Baker died in the hospital.

Around 12:40 a.m., a mob gathered outside the jail. They used a torn telegraph pole to break down the jail doors. A deputy handed over the jail keys at gunpoint, and Burns was dragged from his cell. He was shot many times and left to die outside. The mob wanted to hang him, but they could not find a rope.

The Allegany County Commissioners offered a $500 reward for the arrest and conviction of those who took Burns from the jail. Benjamin A. Richmond, an associate of Governor Lloyd Lowndes Jr., said that several prominent men from Cumberland and nearby areas were involved in the lynching.