Elbert Harris
Elbert Harris was a young Black man whose mother brought a lawsuit after his death, and a man who had lived with her later pursued the case in his name. In May 1898 he was being taken to the Anderson jail by a constable when a mob seized him and carried him into the woods. He was returned to the constable, brought to the jail, and died a few hours later, after saying he had been severely whipped. His family's suit under South Carolina's anti-lynching law seeks damages from Anderson County, and the case has gone through a verdict that was set aside and a mistrial.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob seized Elbert Harris from the constable on his way to the Anderson jail and whipped him; his family's 1901 suit under South Carolina's anti-lynching law says the mob's severe whipping caused his death.
Reported by: his family, in a lawsuit under the anti-lynching law (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Anderson County in 1901 under South Carolina's anti-lynching law, and the first trial ended in a verdict for the county, which was later set aside before a second trial ended in a mistrial.