Extracted from the Onslow County column:

Jack BEASLEY (white) stole an ox from a negro a few days ago, and ran away, but soon came back, when two officers of the law, named Tom CANADAY, and Burgis WILLIAMS, attempted his capture.  BEASLEY turned upon the officers with a loaded revolver and fired several shots at them, but luckily missed his mark, when they in turn fired at him.  He then ran off, pursued by the officers, but he succeeded in making his escape in a thick swamp.

Source: New Berne Weekly Journal , 13 April 1882, page 3.