Ernest William "Bill" Knight, a 61-year-old white male from Cuthbert, Georgia, died on April 30, 1944. Knight, a local gristmill owner, was known for his heavy drinking and often carried a pistol. His death was the result of a shooting incident involving Lena Baker, an African American maid who had been employed by Knight to care for him after he broke his leg.
The relationship between Knight and Baker was complex and fraught with tension. Knight, who was 23 years older than Baker, had de
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