Nancy Massie, 76, throat cut
Mary Massie, 40, throat cut
Robert Massie, 44, skull crushed

The Suspect:

John Beard, 18, farm hand

Scene of Crime:

Farm house and yard near Lecta,
half a mile from Gallia County line.

The Suspect Captured:

Word comes from Lawrence County this afternoon that Beard was captured by the Chicago police this morning and has agreed to return without requisition papers. He will be taken to the jail at Ironton.

I started in to work for Massie last September and worked with him all winter," he said. "I got along pretty good with them, but as a whole they treated me rather roughly. I got along with the mother and daughter pretty good, but Bob kept on fighting with me. Monday morning about 3:30 or 4 o'clock, Bob got (unintelligible) so did Mary and myself. We hitched up the horse and wagon for Bob, and Bob said he was either going to town or to Arlington to buy some furniture. After Bob went, I returned to my room. Mary followed me and when I ordered her out, we quarreled. Then her mother came and scolded me and when I tried to answer back that I was not at fault she wouldn't listen. Bob got home about 11 o'clock that night. Mary told him I had come into her room. I didn't know she had told him until at supper time; Tuesday. Then Bob came up to me and laid a hand ax up against my cheek and said: "If you ever bother my sister again, I'll cut your head off." I told him I didn't bother his sister. Bob turned around and started toward me. He raised the ax and I thought he was going to hit me. I had a long stake in my hand which I had been using in bailing hay. It had a heavy ring in one end. I hit him with the stake and busted his head in. Mary came out and when she saw Bob on the ground , she jumped at me. I hit her on the head. Then the old lady came out and I hit her too. I thought I saw the old lady move a little, so I went and got Bob's razor and cut her head off. But, I did not cut Bob's head off. I didn't look at him after I hit him the first time. I came to my sister's home, in Chicago, to get away, but you arrested me. Police say they found a gold watch and $20 in Beard's pockets. he is alleged to have admitted the watch belonged to Miss Massie, while the money was taken from her brother. The police say the boy is a degenerate.
SOURCE: The Gallipolis Daily Tribune, Saturday, May 16, 1914, page one.

How the Bodies Were Found by John Clary, a Neighbor

Lying face downward in a clump of weeds, the back of his head reduced almost to a pulp, Robert Massie, aged 48, one of the wealthiest farmers of Lawrence County was found a few yards from the front door of his home on Greasy Ridge, Friday morning by John Clary a neighbor. Within the house, Clary found Mrs. Nancy Ann Massie, aged 76, mother of the farmer, her head crushed and Mary Ann Massie, aged 44, a sister, with her throat cut. All were dead when found. Massie is known to have had almost $2,000 in the house on the day before the triple murder. The money found not be found this morning. Clary went to the Massie home early this morning to borrow a bridle. He wondered at the absence of activity about the house and a moment later stumbled over the body of Massie. Blows rained upon the back of the murdered man's head has reduced it to a mere mass of pulp. The body was covered with blood and the ground marked with signs of a desperate struggle. Horrified, Clary returned for aid. The searchers pushed open the door of a front room and found the aged woman's body on the floor. She had been beaten in the same manner as had her son and her face was almost (un)recognizable. In the kitchen, the men found Miss Mary Massie. The woman's hands were tied behind her while the floor was spattered with blood. Her head had been almost severed by a sharp instrument supposed to have been a razor. Throughout the house were evidences of the struggle which occurred before the fiendish murderer succeeded in taking his toll of three lives. Chairs were overturned; curtains torn down and dishes broken.
SOURCE: Gallipolis Daily Tribune, Friday, May 15, 1914, page one.

Draws Great Crowd Sunday to Scene of Triple Murder
A throng of people variously estimated at from one to three thousand, with over a hundred automobiles and unnumbered vehicles of other kinds, gathered at the Greasy Ridge Baptist Church Sunday to attend the funeral of the three victims of Harley Beard. Because of the mutilation of the bodies they were not uncovered at the church. Mrs. Nancy A. Massie, Miss Mary Massie, her daughter, and Robert Massie, her son, were buried side by side in the Massie lot in the cemetery on Greasy Ridge, near the little church. Much feeling was expressed against the confessed murderer by the Lawrence county people at the funeral. The Massies were among the most prominent farmers in the county. Robert Massie and his brothers were also prominent in politics. The family has lived in Lawrence County for more than a century. Late last night, Sheriff Sloan had not returned from Chicago with Beard. It was expected by the authorities there who had not been advised of the sheriff's intentions that the man would be spirited into Ironton and placed in the jail sometime during the night or early morning, in order that there would be no demonstration. The Ironton police said there is no feeling noticed in that city, but understood in Mason Township the people were still at a high pitch of excitement. It was rumored in Ironton yesterday that Sheriff Sloan would leave the train with the prisoner in Portsmouth. Whether he was on the Norfolk & Western or Chesapeake & Ohio road was not known. If Sheriff Sloan left the train at Portsmouth he was expected to bring Beard in by way of motor car. A telegram from Chicago says the Sheriff will not take Beard to Ironton until the feeling has subsided.
SOURCE: Gallipolis Daily Tribune, Monday, May 18, 1914, page one.

Further Particulars of the Big Funeral of Murdered Family

At the funeral of the victims held Sunday in the Baptist church near the crime scene, Judge Corn was in the throng and acting for the surviving members of the family, mounted the steps of the church and addressed the great crowd. He explained that it was always better to allow the law to take its course, that in this particular case there would be no delay, that justice was certain. He spoke calmly and with dignity, and in no way compromising himself. He had made arrangements for a grand jury investigation and there was nothing in sight to indicate a delay in the trial. He assured the people that the truth would be learned by the grand jury investigation. Judge Corn said that it was the personal request of Mr. Elmer Massie that no violence be attempted, but that the law be allowed to take its course. The words of the judge seemed to meet with the approval of every one and sober second thought indicates that there will be no attempt at violence. It is now believed the youthful fiend can be brought here in perfect safety. More than 2000 persons filed past the caskets containing the bodies of the three members of the Massie family. By actual time noted by the undertaker it took one hour and thirty-five minutes for the people to file past the coffins for a last look upon the faces of the victims. As early as 6 o'clock Sunday morning Ironton people in machines and other vehicles began to leave for the scene of the funeral and a constant stream of humanity flowed through every road leading to the little church where the services were to be held. At 10:45 there was at least 3,500 people around the church and the four roads leading away from the little building were choked for a mile in every direction with automobiles and rigs. Ironton sent at least 75 automobiles, while Jackson, Wellston, Huntington, Gallipolis, Cattlettsburg, Ashland and Portsmouth each sent a limited number. Country people came from every direction and while some persons who viewed the great crowd estimated it at seven or eight thousand, a conservative estimate places the number about 3,500. J. B. Massie, a relative of the deceased, delivered the funeral oration, and his address was most impressive and solemn. At the conclusion of the services the caskets were opened and the friends invited to look the last look. The people in the church filed past the caskets first and then those from the outside came in and by actual count 1750 persons came from the outside and timed by Undertaker Chas. Jones it took them an hour and thirty-five minutes to pass.         Harley Beard, the eighteen year old farm hand who has confessed to murdering three members of the Massie family of Mason Township. He is charged with first degree murder. Thirteen witnesses were examined, Sheriff Sloan to whom Beard confessed, John Clary, the neighbor who found the bodies, A. C. Neal, a nephew of Mrs. Massie, and others. It is understood that the trial will not take place for thirty days.
Portsmouth, O., May 21. -- Harley Beard, confessed murderer of the Massie family of Lawrence County, broke down and wept bitterly today when visited by his sister. The sister, said to be his only living relative, was also much affected by the meeting. Beard will not be taken to Ironton for some days. He was informed of the action of the grand jury today and paled at mention of the crime. A prisoner developed smallpox in the Scioto county jail today. All prisoners including Beard were vaccinated. SOURCE: Gallipolis Daily Tribune, Friday, May 22, 1914, page one.

To Charge of First Degree Murder Without a Tremor

"GUILTY" -- The fateful word fell from the lips of Harley Beard this morning at 10 0'clock in answer to the query of Judge Edward E. Corn at the conclusion of the reading of the indictment charging him with first degree murder upon his arraignment in Common Pleas Court. The indictment charging him with the killing of Mrs. Nancy Massie, was the only one read to the prisoner and standing with his eyes fixed upon the Judge he answered "guilty" without a tremor.   

Is your client ready for arraignment?" inquired the court of Attorney P. C. Booth. He is, your honor," replied Mr. Booth. Stand up," ordered the court and the young man walked half way up to the judge's bench and leaned on the jury box. The handcuffs had been removed from his hands and the deputy sheriff stood directly behind him. Clerk Mountain then read the indictment and at the conclusion of the reading the court inquired of the prisoner:
"What is your plea, guilty or not guilty?" "Guilty", was the simple reply, yet how fraught with significance to this young man. The case will be passed for the present," said the judge, "until the degree of guilt can be determined. That is all" said the judge, and Deputy Sheriff Hutchinson took charge of the prisoner. Beard pulled up one sleeve of his coat while the officer adjusted the cuff and offering his other arm raised it in the air so the sleeve would fall back from his wrist. As he held out his hands and arms there was no tremor or shaking. He was as steady as a clock and seemed absolutely unconcerned in the things going on about him. Beard is a very small lad, and has been confined long enough to acquire the pallor of prison. His face is deathlike in color. There is no doubt of the low order of they boy's mentality. His hair grows low on his forehead and the forehead is not more than three inches across. His head is exceptionally small and tapers to the top.
SOURCE: Gallipolis Daily Tribune, Tuesday, June 2, 1914, page one.