09/11/2026
Texas Ranger W. E. Robuck buried in Bunton Cemetery
William Emmett (W. E.) Robuck was born in Caldwell County near Dale, Texas, on January 29, 1877. He was the son of Elias Alsberry (E.A.) Robuck and Ellen (Ella) Lucas Brite.
W. E.’s father Elias made his first trip in 1872 driving a herd of cattle up the Chisholm Trail and became a well-known trail driver in Caldwell County. Elias married Ella Lucas Brite in July 1875, and they raised six children (3 girls and 3 boys).
W. E. (Emmett) Robuck joined the Texas Rangers as a Private on November 2, 1900, at the age of 23. Private Robuck was involved in investigating cattle rustling activities near the King Ranch in south Texas.
Alfredo De La Cerda, rancher and suspected cattle thief, his brother Ramón, and their father owned the Francisco De Asís Ranch, which bordered the King Ranch. Alfredo's father was killed in 1900 by a Brownsville policeman. In 1901, the brothers were arrested and charged with rustling cattle from the King Ranch that belonged to Mrs. M. H. King.
Texas Ranger Sergeant A. Y. Baker, and Privates W. E. (Emmett) Robuck and Harry Wallis were investigating cattle rustling when they came upon Ramón Cerda in the process of branding cattle on Mrs. King's Ranch. Sergeant Baker reported that Cerda fired at him and killed his horse. Sergeant Baker returned fire and shot Cerda in the head killing him. The three Texas Rangers were charged with murder and arrested.
All three Texas Rangers were released on a $10,000 bond each. Jesse Miller, an employee of Mrs. M. H. King, was charged as an accessory and released on a $10,000 bond. The three Texas Rangers were supported financially and legally by Richard King, John B. Armstrong, the former Texas Ranger Captain who captured John Wesley Hardin, and the Lyman Brothers. An inquest into the incident stated that Sergeant Baker acted in self-defense.
Around 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 1902, Sergeant Baker, Private Robuck and Jesse Miller (also reported as a Ranger Private) were riding horseback near Brownsville to the Ranger camp. Several men hiding in ambush opened fire on the three Texas Rangers with sh****ns loaded with buckshot.
Private Robuck was struck by a 12-gauge sh***un and mortally wounded. He rode about 150 yards before collapsing and dying. Sergeant Baker was slightly wounded, and Miller was unhurt, although his horse was killed. The men escaped, but Alfredo Cerda and five other men suspected in the ambush were arrested.
W. E. (Emmett) Robuck was buried by the Knights of Honor in the cemetery next to the Episcopal Church in Brownsville, Texas. His body was re-interred at the Bunton Cemetery in Dale in Caldwell County, Texas. He was 25 years of age and single. The story behind the Texas Ranger ambush was published in the Brownsville Daily Herald newspaper on September 10, 1902.
After an investigation by Ranger Captain John A. Brooks, Heroulano Berbier, who was to testify against Alfredo Cerda, was killed before he could do so.
W. E. (Emmett) parents lived in Caldwell County, Texas, and they posted a $500 reward for the capture of their son’s killers.
W. E.’s last name in newspaper accounts and records were spelled as both Robuck and Roebuck. His Texas Ranger enlistment papers indicated his last name was spelled Robuck.
Alfredo Cerda was released on bond, and he swore he would kill Texas Ranger Sergeant A. Y. Baker, or he would pay $1,000.00 to anyone who killed him.
Baker was a tough lawman and acted first. Shortly before 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 1902, Baker caught Alfredo Cerda trying on a pair of gloves at Brownsville store and shot him with a Wi******er through the store window. Baker contended that Alfredo Cerda was reaching for his pistol and he fired in self-defense.
Using money provided by the King's and others, Baker was freed on bond.
On Tuesday, October 13, 1903, Baker was acquitted of the killings of Ramón and Alfredo Cerda. The jury was only out for twenty minutes. Baker later served as a U.S. Customs Inspector and Sheriff of Hidalgo County. A. Y. Baker died in 1930.
Today, one can see the beautiful monument for Texas Ranger Private William Emmett Robuck in our Bunton Cemetery. It is one of the tallest tombstone monuments in the cemetery.
The location of the original Robuck family homestead is located at the dead end of Wild Plum Road off FM 20 East near Dale, Texas.
Excerpts from:
Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc.; Fairfax, Virginia; Officer Down Memorial Page; URL: http://www.odmp.org
