Ernest Baker

Ernest Baker, a Black man, was held in the Trigg County jail at Cadiz, Kentucky, in January 1906. Early on Sunday, January 21, a mob took him from the jail and hanged him from a beam at the city scales near the courthouse. According to the Hartford Herald, the mob seized the jailer and forced him to surrender the keys, and the Hopkinsville Kentuckian names the jailer as Harry Timmons, who gave them up under threats. Accounts differ on the time of the mob's arrival and the size of the crowd. A coroner's jury returned a verdict of death at the hands of an unknown person.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took Ernest Baker from the Trigg County jail in Cadiz, Kentucky, in January 1906 and hanged him from a beam near the courthouse; accounts differ on whether jailer Harry Timmons gave up the keys under threats.

Reported by: Coroner Randolph's jury (medical examiner or coroner); Crittenden Press (reporters); The Gold Leaf weekly news digest (reporters).

Sources (8)

• The Paducah Sun, January 22, 1906, page 1 The Paducah Sun, January 22, 1906
• The Daily Tribune, January 22, 1906, page 1 The Daily Tribune, January 22, 1906
• Hopkinsville Kentuckian, January 23, 1906, page 1 Hopkinsville Kentuckian, January 23, 1906
• East Oregonian : E.O, January 23, 1906, page 2 East Oregonian : E.O, January 23, 1906
• The Hartford Herald, January 24, 1906, page 2 The Hartford Herald, January 24, 1906
• Crittenden Press, January 25, 1906, page 4 Crittenden Press, January 25, 1906
• The Crittenden Record, January 26, 1906, page 1 The Crittenden Record, January 26, 1906
• The Gold Leaf, February 1, 1906, page 4 The Gold Leaf, February 1, 1906