Rufus Beard, 70, Murdered While Riding Into Bailey, Nov. 5, 1921

Wealth Citizen Killed While He Drove Along Road. . . Shot From Ambush. . . Mr. Rufus Beard, Elderly man Found Dead in His Buggy as the Vehicle Drove into Bailey This Morning; No Motive for the Murder Has Been Assigned; No Robbery Effected

Mr. Rufus Beard, wealthy farmer of Nash County, was shot and killed this morning about 10 o’clock as he was riding along the highway near Bailey in his buggy. When the horse brought the buggy into Bailey the lifeless body of Mr. Beard was found in the vehicle. Evidently the man had been shot from ambush as he drove along the road from his home about two miles from Bailey. One shot from a shot gun had entered his body, evidently producing instant death. The body was warm when found.

No theory has been advanced as to the cause of the murder. Robbery was evidently not the motive, as there were no signs that the body of Mr. Beard had been touched after the murder. The buggy evidently was not halted in its journey toward Bailey.

The deceased was 70 years of age. A wife survives. He was a man of large means, probably being one of the wealthiest men in his county. He owned property in Wilson, the store building occupied by Mr. W.D. Ruffin being his property.

From the front page of The Daily Times, Wilson, N.C., Nov. 5, 1921