Postal Inspector Elbert Perry Lamberth

Inspector Lamberth's last communication with his family came 2 days before his murder. He wrote a letter to his wife stating he had finished testifying before a federal grand jury and was headed to Stantonville, TN. He expected to be back home in 2 days.
He arrived in town, checked into the local hotel, then went onto the hotel porch to eat a meal as night fell. He had left his handgun back in his room. As he finished his dinner, a local rural letter carrier called out to him from the courtyard. Inspector Lamberth walked over to speak to him.
The tone of the conversation quickly escalated. The carrier pulled out a revolver and shot Inspector Lamberth multiple times, then fled. Minutes later, the carrier's wife returned, telling witnesses she wanted to check on the Inspector as he laid in the courtyard. Instead, witnesses saw her place a revolver under his dying body.
Inspector Lamberth was carried into a home adjacent to the hotel. A doctor was summoned, who told Inspector Lamberth that his wounds were fatal. Inspector Lamberth responded that he wanted to remain alive until he could see his wife and children one last time. Lamberth told the doctor he had forgotten to kiss his two infant children goodbye before he left home. He wanted to kiss them one last time.
His wife and two infant children promptly made the 20 mile trip from Corinth, MS to Stantonville, but the journey took 3 hours over the rough, rural roads. By the time the family arrived, Inspector Lamberth had died.

Ron J. Pry, U. S. Postal Inspector (Ret)
U. S. Postal Inspection Service

April 22, 2023