Wortham Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Monday, December 3, 1877
Age: 57
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 3, 1877
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: unknown
City Marshal Jackson T. Barfield responded to a disturbance at a store owned by J. J. Stubbs. Alfred "Alf" Rushing, Frank Carter and Harv Scruggs, all armed with shotguns, were accusing Stubbs of taking a pistol from their saddlebags left in the store a few days earlier. Marshal Barfield talked to the men and seemed to be pacifying them. The three men mounted their horses and Marshal Barfield turned to walk away. Alf Rushing fired his shotgun striking the marshal in the back, killing him instantly. The three men attempted to escape but a posse of citizens gave chase and wounded and captured Frank Carter. Court records show that Rushing, Carter and Scruggs were all charged with murder, but the file is missing and the disposition of the charges is unknown. Rushing was reported at large as late as 1898 with a $1,000 reward for his arrest and detention.
No survivor information was located on Marshal Barfield. He is buried in the Crouch Cemetery in rural Limestone County.