Howard Cooper

Howard Cooper, a Black man, was held in the Baltimore County jail at Towson, Maryland, where he was awaiting a sentence while his case was under appeal. In the early hours of Monday, July 13, 1885, a mob of about forty masked men broke into the jail, took him from his cell and hanged him from a tree nearby. According to The Republican, Sheriff Knight refused the mob's demand for the keys, and the mob battered in the jail door and took them from the sheriff's room. A coroner's jury found he had been lynched and said the sheriff and watchman had done all they could to stop it, and his mother had him buried at Bare Hill.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A coroner's jury found he had been lynched and said the sheriff and watchman had done all they could to stop it.

Reported by: coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner); Wilmington Daily Republican editorial (reporters); Baltimore County Union editorial (reporters); Baltimore newspaper report (reporters).

Sources (10)

• Morning Journal And Courier, July 13, 1885, page 3 Morning Journal And Courier, July 13, 1885
• Daily Kennebec Journal, July 13, 1885, page 1 Daily Kennebec Journal, July 13, 1885
• Grand Rapids Morning Telegram, July 13, 1885, page 1 Grand Rapids Morning Telegram, July 13, 1885
• Daily Republican, July 14, 1885, page 2 Daily Republican, July 14, 1885
• Delaware Gazette And State Journal, July 16, 1885, page 3 Delaware Gazette And State Journal, July 16, 1885
• Milford Chronicle, July 17, 1885, page 1 Milford Chronicle, July 17, 1885
• The Aegis & Intelligencer, July 17, 1885, page 3 The Aegis & Intelligencer, July 17, 1885
• Montgomery County Sentinel, July 17, 1885, page 2 Montgomery County Sentinel, July 17, 1885
• The Baltimore County Union, July 18, 1885, page 2 The Baltimore County Union, July 18, 1885
• The Republican, July 18, 1885, page 4 The Republican, July 18, 1885