Bio & Incident Details
Age: 31
Tour: 6 years
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Location: Texas
Incident Date: 12/7/1933
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Two shot and killed, one wounded
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On November 28, 1933, U.S. Customs Inspector Rollin Culberson Nichols was shot and killed by rum smugglers in East El Paso, Texas.
Nine days later six U.S. Border Patrol Inspectors, Doyne C. Melton, J.T. Love, Pedro Torres, Bert G. Walthall, Lester I. Copenbarger and Robert Clance, challenged 13 smugglers as they waded ashore in El Paso, Texas, with 150 cases of illegal liquor. One smuggler hidden on the American side opened fire as did the other smugglers. Inspector Melton was struck in the heart in the opening volley and died at the scene. The other federal officers shot and killed two smugglers and wounded another as they fled back into Mexico.
Inspector Melton was survived by his wife, Lucille Mann Melton. He was buried in Conyers, Georgia. He had served in the U.S. Marine Corps prior to joining the U.S. Border Patrol, and was a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
Twenty days later on December 27, 1933, U.S. Border Patrol Inspector Bert G. Walthall, who had survived the gun battle that killed Inspector Melton, was himself was shot and killed by smugglers in El Paso County.
