Library Guides: Lynchings on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore: William Holland, 1934

Biography

William Holland

Worcester County, Maryland

William Holland, alias Badweather, was nearly lynched in June of 1934 in Worcester County, Maryland in Pocomoke City. He was suspected and convicted of assaulting two white men. A crowd of townspeople formed to pursue him, but proceeded to turn him over to the authorities. Little is known about Holland before his crimes.

On May 21, 1934, former Senator James Crockett was assaulted with a telephone pole bolt upon his arrival home from work. No money was taken from Crockett, as the assailant fled the scene upon a light coming on in Crockett's house. Nearly a month later on June 9th, J. Wesley Burton was informed by William Holland on his way home that someone was trying to steal his chickens. The two proceeded to Burton's home, where Holland wielded a screwdriver and attempted to rob Burton. Holland found no money on Burton, but the latter resulted to yelling for help. Holland proceeded to flee from the scene. A crowd soon formed to hunt for Holland, whose members located the suspect and delivered him to the police. Upon being questioned by the authorities, Holland confessed to his attempted robbery of Burton, but also the assault on former Senator Crockett.

The Worcester County Circuit Court met in October of 1934 to indict and convict William Holland. Holland was sentenced to a total of twelve years in Maryland Penitentiary in Baltimore for his crimes. Each of the assaults had been punished with a six year sentence.