Elbert Harris
Elbert Harris, a young Black man, was being taken to the Anderson jail in Anderson, South Carolina, in May 1898 when a mob seized him from the constable. One account says the mob carried him into the woods, whipped him severely, and returned him to the constable, and that he died at the jail a few hours later after saying he had been whipped. His mother brought a suit in 1901 under South Carolina's anti-lynching law seeking damages from Anderson County. The first trial ended in a verdict for the county, that verdict was set aside, and a second trial ended in a mistrial.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (disputed). Harris's family, in a lawsuit under South Carolina's anti-lynching law, says a mob seized him from the constable and whipped him severely, and a 1901 suit against Anderson County seeks damages; the county has not been reported to accept that account, and the court set aside a verdict for the county and ordered a new trial.
Reported by: his family, in a lawsuit under the anti-lynching law (family or their lawyers); his estate's lawsuit against Anderson County (family or their lawyers); the presiding judge.
Lawsuit: His family sued Anderson County in 1901 under South Carolina's anti-lynching law, seeking damages; a first trial ended in a verdict for the county, that verdict was set aside, and the second trial ended in a mistrial, with no payment reported.