Ernest Baker
Ernest Baker, a Black man reported to be 25 or 30 years old, worked as a porter at Sam Smith's saloon in Cadiz, Kentucky. He was being held in the Trigg County jail in Cadiz when, in the early hours of Sunday, January 21, 1906, a mob came to the jail. According to newspaper reports, the mob forced jailer Harry Timmons to hand over the keys under threats, took Baker from his cell, and hanged him from a beam at the city scales near the courthouse. A coroner's jury returned a verdict that he died at the hands of an unknown person. Reports differ on the time of the attack, with some placing it after midnight and others around 3 a.m.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took Ernest Baker from the Cadiz jail and hanged him from a beam near the courthouse, and the newspaper reports that the jailer gave up the keys under threats while a coroner's jury returned a verdict of death at the hands of an unknown person.
Reported by: Coroner Randolph's jury (medical examiner or coroner); Crittenden Press (reporters).