Sheriff Richard Jarrett was shot and killed while attempting to arrest an escapee from the Pineville Jail.

On July 16, 1900, the suspect surrendered without a fight when Sheriff Jarrett located him at his home in Southwest City. The suspect, Ted Fisher, gave up without a fight and asked if he could get some clothes he wanted to take with him back to jail. Sheriff Jarrett allowed him to enter the residence wearing handcuffs. The suspect retrieved a revolver and opened fire on Sheriff Jarrett. One round entered Sheriff Jarretts back and exited his stomach. Sheriff Jarrett ran to the front gate of the residence and fell to the ground where he died within a few minutes. A posse was quickly formed and the suspect was shot and killed in a clover field two miles from town when he failed to surrender.

Sheriff Jarrett served with the the sheriff's department for 4 years. His father was sheriff of McDonald County from 1876 to 1884. Interred: Mayfield Cemetery, Goodman, MO.