Burrell Roberts

 Burrell Roberts was born about 1839 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He died in Jun 1861 in Brown Co, Texas.

Parents: Archibald Roberts and Nancy Tharpe Roberts.

Appointed Sheriff by a Judge in Brown Co Texas 4/15/1860 to 8/17/1860. He ended up being killed by Sheriff Jessie Sutton (Sut) Harris in a gun fight, because Sut whipped his brother. He drew on Sut and Sut Harris killed him with a shotgun. (Something about Brown, A History of Brown Co, TX by T R Havins, Banner Printing Co, Brownwood, TX pg. 16-17)

Burrell ROBERTS was appointed April 7, 1860, and served until August 6, 1860. Contributed by Patsy Johnson in Brownwood at ikesis2@juno.com

Sheriff Harris, in the line of duty, had previously had some difficulty with the brother of the former sheriff, Burl Roberts. The two men came to blows at which time Sheriff Harris gave his opponent a beating. Burl Roberts became so angry over what he considered the bad treatment of his brother that he sent word to Harris that he would 'get him' before sundown the next day. He warned that he was coming for the current sheriff with a 'brace of colts.'

Court was in session at the time. (This would have been in the second courthouse on the Connell farm.) The next morning Sheriff Harris carried a double-barreled shotgun and a six-shooter with him when he went to the courthouse. Just as he leaned the shotgun against a wall in the corner of the courtroom, he glanced out the window and saw Roberts approaching.

Harris picked up the shotgun and, stepping out of the courtroom, placing himself at the entrance of the building. Roberts, the former sheriff, came within ten feet of him and then halted. Harris told Roberts to go on about his business, that there was no reason for their having trouble. Roberts reached for his six-shooter and as he did, Harris raised his shotgun and pressed both triggers. (One account of this story said that Roberts was only wounded. Others stated that he was killed. The latter seems more believable. A quotation from C.V. Harris, nephew of Sutton, substantiated this view. "Roberts replied by reaching for his gun in no uncertain manner. My uncle let him have both barrels of the shotgun, blowing the man's breast entirely away.) (The Nice and the Nasty in Brown County, A collection of Stories by Ruth Griffin Spence; Banner Printing Co, Brownwood, Texas; pg 22)