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Lynching of Bernice Raspberry

Bernice Raspberry, a 23-year-old African-American man also known as Ed Lively, was abducted from jail and lynched by a mob of about 100 masked men in Leakesville, Mississippi, on May 25, 1927.

UNSOLVED1927

Leakesville, Mississippi, United States

2 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Bernice Raspberry, also known as Ed Lively, was a 23-year-old African-American man killed in Leakesville, Mississippi, on May 25, 1927. Raspberry was initially arrested in Leakesville for an unspecified infraction. While in custody, the sheriff was informed that Raspberry was wanted in the nearby community of Bothwell in connection with an allegation described as "improper conduct with a white woman."

Raspberry was subsequently transported to Bothwell in connection with this allegation, but was then taken back to Leakesville, reportedly for his own safekeeping. Despite this, a mob of approximately 100 masked men removed him from the Leakesville jail. The mob took Raspberry to a tree, where they hanged him and shot him multiple times, killing him.

The case remains unresolved in terms of legal accountability, consistent with the pattern of extrajudicial mob violence and lynchings targeting African-Americans in the United States during this period, particularly in the American South.

Key facts

Victims
Bernice Raspberry
Date
1927
Location
Leakesville, Mississippi, United States
Case status
unsolved

Case timeline

  1. 1927-05-25

    Bernice Raspberry (also known as Ed Lively) was taken from jail in Leakesville, Mississippi, by a mob of about 100 masked men, who hanged and shot him.

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People

  • Bernice Raspberry

    VICTIM

    23-year-old African-American man killed by a mob in Leakesville, Mississippi, on May 25, 1927; also known as Ed Lively.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Leakesville, Mississippi, United States

31.1539, -88.5558

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Bernice Raspberry, a 23-year-old African-American man also known as Ed Lively, was abducted from jail and lynched by a mob of about 100 masked men in Leakesville, Mississippi, on May 25, 1927.
Where did the crime happen?
Leakesville, Mississippi, United States.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: unsolved.
More cases in Mississippi

Sources

  1. PRESSMississippi Lynching Victims Memorial (Bernice Raspberry, Leakesville, 1927)America's Black Holocaust Museum · 2026-07-11
  2. ENCYCLOPEDICLynching of Bernice RaspberryWikipedia · 2026-07-10

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