From The News-Herald, Morganton, NC, 5 November 1908:
"An Election Tragedy"
"J. R. Rust, of Bridgewater, Shot and Killed by Lenoir Berry ---Killing Claimed to Have Been Accidental"
"One of the saddest tragedies in the history of Burke county occurred at Thomas' blacksmith shop, the voting place in Linvile (sic) towhship (sic), on Tuesday ---election day, when Mr. J. R. Rust, a justice of the peace and one of the best citizens of the county, was shot and killed by Mr. Lenoir Berry, also a prominent citizen and brother of Mr. F. C. Berry, sheriff of the county.
"It seems there had been some trouble over politics between Berry and a nab by the name of Curtis, and Amos Conley, and that whiles Berry was having some words with Amos Conley, a brother of the latter, Ed Conley, caught hold of Berry and the two got into a scuffle. During the scuffle Berry drew a pistol. While Ed Conley was trying to wrench the pistol from Berry's hand the weapon was discharged, the ball striking J. R. Rust in the abdomen and passing entirely through the body. It is said that Rust, hearing of the trouble, had stepped into the shop to try to make peace when the pistol fired. He died in about five minutes after he was shot.
"Mr. Rust was about 45 years of age and leaves a family, besides an aged mother and several brothers and sisters. He occupied the Joseph Rust old homestead at Bridgewater, where the funeral was held Wednesday afternoon, the remains being alid to rest at the Rust family burying ground. Rev. Mr. North, of Marion, conducted the funeral services.
"Mr. Berry came to Morganton Tuesday and surrendered to the authorities. . . . Mr. Berry says Mr. Rust and himself were good friends and he seems much grieved over the affair."
(Note: Lenoir Berry was found not guilty in a jury trial the following March.)
"An Election Tragedy"
"J. R. Rust, of Bridgewater, Shot and Killed by Lenoir Berry ---Killing Claimed to Have Been Accidental"
"One of the saddest tragedies in the history of Burke county occurred at Thomas' blacksmith shop, the voting place in Linvile (sic) towhship (sic), on Tuesday ---election day, when Mr. J. R. Rust, a justice of the peace and one of the best citizens of the county, was shot and killed by Mr. Lenoir Berry, also a prominent citizen and brother of Mr. F. C. Berry, sheriff of the county.
"It seems there had been some trouble over politics between Berry and a nab by the name of Curtis, and Amos Conley, and that whiles Berry was having some words with Amos Conley, a brother of the latter, Ed Conley, caught hold of Berry and the two got into a scuffle. During the scuffle Berry drew a pistol. While Ed Conley was trying to wrench the pistol from Berry's hand the weapon was discharged, the ball striking J. R. Rust in the abdomen and passing entirely through the body. It is said that Rust, hearing of the trouble, had stepped into the shop to try to make peace when the pistol fired. He died in about five minutes after he was shot.
"Mr. Rust was about 45 years of age and leaves a family, besides an aged mother and several brothers and sisters. He occupied the Joseph Rust old homestead at Bridgewater, where the funeral was held Wednesday afternoon, the remains being alid to rest at the Rust family burying ground. Rev. Mr. North, of Marion, conducted the funeral services.
"Mr. Berry came to Morganton Tuesday and surrendered to the authorities. . . . Mr. Berry says Mr. Rust and himself were good friends and he seems much grieved over the affair."
(Note: Lenoir Berry was found not guilty in a jury trial the following March.)
From The News-Herald, Morganton, NC, 5 November 1908:
"An Election Tragedy"
"J. R. Rust, of Bridgewater, Shot and Killed by Lenoir Berry ---Killing Claimed to Have Been Accidental"
"One of the saddest tragedies in the history of Burke county occurred at Thomas' blacksmith shop, the voting place in Linvile (sic) towhship (sic), on Tuesday ---election day, when Mr. J. R. Rust, a justice of the peace and one of the best citizens of the county, was shot and killed by Mr. Lenoir Berry, also a prominent citizen and brother of Mr. F. C. Berry, sheriff of the county.
"It seems there had been some trouble over politics between Berry and a nab by the name of Curtis, and Amos Conley, and that whiles Berry was having some words with Amos Conley, a brother of the latter, Ed Conley, caught hold of Berry and the two got into a scuffle. During the scuffle Berry drew a pistol. While Ed Conley was trying to wrench the pistol from Berry's hand the weapon was discharged, the ball striking J. R. Rust in the abdomen and passing entirely through the body. It is said that Rust, hearing of the trouble, had stepped into the shop to try to make peace when the pistol fired. He died in about five minutes after he was shot.
"Mr. Rust was about 45 years of age and leaves a family, besides an aged mother and several brothers and sisters. He occupied the Joseph Rust old homestead at Bridgewater, where the funeral was held Wednesday afternoon, the remains being alid to rest at the Rust family burying ground. Rev. Mr. North, of Marion, conducted the funeral services.
"Mr. Berry came to Morganton Tuesday and surrendered to the authorities. . . . Mr. Berry says Mr. Rust and himself were good friends and he seems much grieved over the affair."
(Note: Lenoir Berry was found not guilty in a jury trial the following March.)
"An Election Tragedy"
"J. R. Rust, of Bridgewater, Shot and Killed by Lenoir Berry ---Killing Claimed to Have Been Accidental"
"One of the saddest tragedies in the history of Burke county occurred at Thomas' blacksmith shop, the voting place in Linvile (sic) towhship (sic), on Tuesday ---election day, when Mr. J. R. Rust, a justice of the peace and one of the best citizens of the county, was shot and killed by Mr. Lenoir Berry, also a prominent citizen and brother of Mr. F. C. Berry, sheriff of the county.
"It seems there had been some trouble over politics between Berry and a nab by the name of Curtis, and Amos Conley, and that whiles Berry was having some words with Amos Conley, a brother of the latter, Ed Conley, caught hold of Berry and the two got into a scuffle. During the scuffle Berry drew a pistol. While Ed Conley was trying to wrench the pistol from Berry's hand the weapon was discharged, the ball striking J. R. Rust in the abdomen and passing entirely through the body. It is said that Rust, hearing of the trouble, had stepped into the shop to try to make peace when the pistol fired. He died in about five minutes after he was shot.
"Mr. Rust was about 45 years of age and leaves a family, besides an aged mother and several brothers and sisters. He occupied the Joseph Rust old homestead at Bridgewater, where the funeral was held Wednesday afternoon, the remains being alid to rest at the Rust family burying ground. Rev. Mr. North, of Marion, conducted the funeral services.
"Mr. Berry came to Morganton Tuesday and surrendered to the authorities. . . . Mr. Berry says Mr. Rust and himself were good friends and he seems much grieved over the affair."
(Note: Lenoir Berry was found not guilty in a jury trial the following March.)
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