Officer Willard Burton was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for assault with intent to kill the mayor.

   The suspect, a merchant policeman, was intoxicated when he got into an argument with the mayor the previous day and assaulted him.

   When he was approached on the street by officers, he produced a revolver and began shooting. Officer Burton was struck in the right eye, killing him instantly.

   A marshal and a constable, who were assisting to arrest him, took the man into custody. The suspect was subsequently convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to three years in prison and later pardoned by Governor Claude Matthews in 1893.

   Officer Burton was survived by his wife and three stepchildren.