William Burns
William Burns, a Black man, was held in the Cumberland, Maryland, jail in October 1907. Newspaper accounts say a mob of about 100 men demanded the keys from the lone deputy sheriff on duty, Adam Hendley, who refused, and forced the door with a telegraph pole. They dragged Burns from his cell into the street, where he was kicked and shot to death, while the Rev. W. Cleveland Hicks tried to save him until a judge and police arrived and the crowd dispersed. One account says the deputy was held at gunpoint and the keys were then taken from him, and another says rumors of threats had circulated beforehand and police did not act on them. Accounts differ on the date, giving October 5, 6 or 7, 1907.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (neglect alleged). A mob took William Burns from the Cumberland, Maryland jail and kicked and shot him to death; a report says rumors of threats had circulated and police did not act on them, and the lone deputy refused the mob's demand for the keys until forced.
Reported by: news reports.
News reports (16)
- The Montgomery Advertiser, October 6, 1907, page 1
- The Montgomery Advertiser, October 7, 1907, page 1
- The Birmingham Age-Herald, October 7, 1907, page 1
- The Free Lance, October 8, 1907, page 2
- The Citizen, October 10, 1907, page 4
- The Mathews Journal, October 10, 1907, page 2
- Live Oak Daily Democrat, October 11, 1907, page 9
- The Falmouth Outlook, October 11, 1907, page 7
- The Times-Journal, January 1, 1908, page 3
- The Falmouth Outlook, January 3, 1908, page 3
- The Huttig News, January 4, 1908, page 2
- The Mena Weekly Star, January 9, 1908, page 6
- Times-Promoter, January 10, 1908, page 6
- The Tupelo Journal, January 10, 1908, page 7
- The Grenada Sentinel, January 11, 1908, page 8
- Macon Beacon, January 11, 1908, page 1