Elbert Williams (October 15, 1908 – June 20, 1940) was an African-American civil rights leader from Brownsville, Tennessee who was killed by unknown persons.

[1][2][4] No prosecution was undertaken at the time by state or federal authorities because of lack of evidence, although law enforcement officials were reportedly complicit in Williams's arrest and release to persons unknown.

[2] His grandfather had been a slave[3] Williams attended classes through eighth grade at public schools, although there were no buildings for black elementary students.

[1][3] On the night of June 20, 1940, Sheriff Samuel “Tip” Hunter and police officer Charles Reed took Williams from his home and jailed him to interrogate him about the NAACP.

[6] Since the late 20th century, civil rights crimes have received renewed attention from activists and law enforcement.

[1][5] Alber Mann, a local businessman, threatened Davis's life and told him that he would be released if he gave the mob information about the NAACP chapter and its members.

[1][5][3] A few days later on June 20, 1940, Hunter, Reed, and Ed Lee, a Coca-Cola plant manager, showed up to Williams's home late at night.

According to the foreman of the grand jury, after a three-day investigation, no evidence was presented to identify any person as the perpetrator of the violence.

[5][4] The local FBI prepared a report on the case that indicated doubts that any laws had been violated and questioned the need for further investigation.

[5][3] On July 12, 1940, Assistant Attorney General John Rogge told the NAACP of Brownsville that he had requested the FBI to actively investigate the case.

[5][8] On November 28, 1940, the United States Attorney's office in Memphis told the FBI that no more contacts of the case needed to be investigated.

[1][5] On March 31, 1941, Assistant Attorney General Wendell Berge sent a letter to McCalahan stating that the federal law was violated and the FBI should continue its investigation.

[5] On December 23, Victor Rotem, Chief of the Civil Rights Section at the Department of Justice, released a memorandum that Williams's case did not provide enough evidence to present to a trial jury.

In January 1942, a year and a half after the assault and murder of Williams, the Justice Department determined that there was not sufficient evidence to warrant prosecution.