Several days ago, Sheriff Cabell received a capias from the Sheriff of Shackelford county for the arrest of Alf Miers on a charge of burglary. The Shackelford officer enclosed a letter, in which he stated that Miers had relatives in the forks of the river in this county. Tuesday, Deputy Sheriffs Bolick and Whit Webb went in search of Miers. Constable Riley Burnett, who lived in the neighborhood, told the officers that Miers had been there, but was temporarily absent, and that he would watch, and either let them know when he returned, or arrest him himself. The officers accordingly left he capias with Burnett and came home.
At about 6 o'clock yesterday morning, Riley Burnett, accompanied by his brother, A. J. Burnett, went out to round up some mules. In passing the house of the Widow Metkin, who is a sister of Miers, they saw Miers in the horse lot, and Riley arrested him. Miers asked permission to go into the house and get some clothes before going with the officer. Riley, at first, objected, but finally consented and went into the house with Miers, noticing, as he entered, a Winchester just inside the door. Riley got between this and Miers, who fumbled around a little and grabbed a Winchester which was lying on the bed, and which Riley had not seen, and then ran out the back door. As he did so, Riley grabbed the Winchester by the door and ran out the front door. The two men met around the end of the house and fired about the same time. Miers, who shoots left-handed, caught the bullet between the knuckle and wrist of the right hand. Passing out of his hand, the bullet again struck him near the left nipple and glanced around to the back and out, without entering the hollow. Riley was shot through the lungs and expired in a short time. A. J. Burnett, seeing what had happened, ran and got his brother's Winchester and threw it down on Miers, who fell down and said he was dying, whereupon Mr. Burnett declined to shoot. Miers was held in custody until the arrival of Sheriff Cabell and Deputy Whit Webb, and brought to Dallas later in the day.
When asked why he shot the officer, Miers stated that he did because he was too d---d careless in allowing him to go into the house.
Miers has a mother in Shackelford county and a sister in Dallas.
Miers stated last night to an officer that he did not care what became of him, and that if he were not hanged for the shooting of Burnett, he would suicide.
Riley Burnett was a farmer and stockraiser and did constable work on the outside. He was regarded by everybody that knew him as a first-class man.
Riley Burnett, who is 35 years old, leaves a wife and children. He had his life insured two months ago for $1000, in the Hartford Life and Annuity Co., represented by Billy Patterson.
Miers is 23 years old and unmarried. This morning, he complained to Jailer Rhodes that he was suffering from his wounds, and Mr. Rhodes sent for a doctor.
Warrant was issued from Justice Lauderdale's court this morning against Alf Miers, charging him with the murder of Burnett, and against George W. Metkins as an accessory. Metkin, who is a brother-in-law of Miers, loaded the guns when he saw Burnett arrest Miers. Metkin is also in jail.


- August 3, 1893, Dallas Daily Times Herald, p. 8, col. 1.
 

A FIGHT TO THE DEATH

BETWEEN CONSTABLE BURNETTE AND HIS PRISONER ALF MYERS

The Constable Loses His Life - Myers Wounded in Three Places - The History of the Affair

A few days ago Sheriff Cabell received a capias from the sheriff of Shackelford county charing Alf Myers, who was supposed to be residing in Dallas county, with burglary. Sheriff Cabell located Myers in the forks of the Trinity river and last Tuesday he dispatched Deputy Sheriffs Bolick and Webb to arrest him.
The, accompanied by Rylie Burnett of Sowers, constable of precinct No. 8., went to the forks of the Trinity but failed to find Myers. Yesterday morning about 9 o'clock Sheriff Cabell received a telegram from Farmers Branch which read: "Constable Rylie Burnette shot by a man named Myers. Come at once."
The sheriff left at once for the scene and on arriving there found the people in a high state of excitement. By then the sheriff was informed that the constable arrested Myers yesterday morning at 8 o'clock in a lot outside the house of George Metcalf, where he had been stopping. Myers then asked the constable to let him go into the house and the constable did so. As Myers entered the house, the the constable noticed a Winchester rifle standing inside the door. Myers passed by the rifle and walked over to a bed from which he picked a Winchester carbine and then started to run out the back door. The constable struck with the seriousness of the situation, seized the rifle standing inside the door and ran around the house. As soon as he and Myers got insight of each other they both opened fire at about the same time. Constable Burnett was fatally wounded and only lived about three hours. Myers was shot in the hard, arm and breast, but is not fatally wounded.
The sheriff brought Myers and George Metcalf in last evening and put there in jail. He says that on the way to the city he asked Myers why he murdered Burnette and Myers answered coolly, because the constable was too careless.
Last night a News reporter called at the jail, where he saw Myers, and asked him for a statement in regard to the shooting. He replied that he was feeling too badly to talk. However he said that he was 23 years old and was born in Fort Worth. He said that George Metcalf was his brother-in-law. In regard to the shooting he would make no statement further than that he and Constable Burnett had fired almost simultaneously.
Metcalf was seen also and asked if the shooting didn't occur at his house.
" I haven't got no house." he replied, and he would answer no more questions.

The Dallas Morning News - August 3, 1893

Photo from the collection of Charlotte Wellman
rights reserved
 

DAILY NEWS BUDGET.

The funeral of Riley Burnett took place yesterday from the family residence near Sowers. The attendance was large. Sheriff Cabell and a number of Dallasites were present.
ted since.

W. R. BURNETT
Died Aug 2, 1893
Aged 34 Years

Keenan Cemetery, Farmers Branch, Dallas County, Texas