If I were to describe the story of Nellie Rand and Elmer Ray Bailey, the word “tragedy” echoes repeatedly in my mind. Perhaps, it’s the notion that a pair of affluent citizens, whose forbidden affair delivered unto them the ultimate punishment for their sins. It’s as though the story could have been penned by Shakespeare himself, but in truth, reality is much more sinister.
Nellie Rand hailed from the (once) bustling city of Welch, West Virginia. It is here that she met and married dentist K.K. Rand. The pair moved to Beckley in 1932 and K.K. established a prosperous dental practice in the “New Lilly” building downtown. Nellie seemingly had the world at her fingers. Outwardly, the illusion of Kodak smiles painted the picture of a perfect family. But Nellie had always had a thirst for more, a thirst which was often insatiable and led to countless liaisons with members of the Beckley elite.
Elmer Ray Bailey, was a lifelong Beckley resident and veteran of the first Wold War. He, like the Rands, was considered a part of Beckley’s upper crust of society. He managed a local hardware and department store, and was a fixture at the Black Knight Country Club. The year prior to his death, it is known that Ray temporarily moved out of the residence he shared with his wife, Irene. However, he had recently moved back in, the month prior.
It is not known at what point Nellie and Ray Bailey struck up their affair. She was, after all, a desired woman, who always had men lined up to spend time in her company. But it is known that rumors of the pairs infidelity spread like fire through local rumor mills quickly and in hushed whispers. But were they true, or had the masses been simply blowing smoke? Typically where there is smoke, there is fire, something that in retrospect, K.K. Rand and Irene Bailey should have seen coming.
On the night of November 4, 1947, Nellie parked her 1946 Blue Chrysler Commodore along a secluded access road behind the Black Knight Country. The time was 7:30pm. She was joined shortly thereafter by a brown Buick, driven by Elmer Ray Bailey. At 8:10pm, it has been reported that a series of gun shots echoed through the winter night, though the fate of the couple would not be revealed until morning.
In succession, the Brown Buick was discovered abandoned at the Raleigh Ball Park, its interior concealing the horrors of the previous night. A father and son, report the discovery of two (2) bodies at the bottom of an embankment near the old Penman Mine. The male had been shot at close range, the bullet entering above the left ear, and making a clean exit. The female had been shot through the cheek, with the bullet traveling downward towards to right shoulder. It was determined via an identification card that the male was Elmer Ray Bailey, 50 of Beckley. It would be some time later that the female was identified as Nellie Combs Rand, 39 also of Beckley.
Shortly following the discovery of the bodies, a Beckley City Cop located the Rand’s blue Chrysler, which was still parked along the access road behind the Black Knight Country Club.
But, who killed Nellie Rand and Elmer Ray Bailey? Was it a jealous husband? Someone out to repay a debt? Or hand it merely been a random tragic event?
Join the Cold Case Crew as they re-tell “The Rand / Bailey Black Knight Country Club Murders,” a 1947 cold case local to Beckley, West Virginia available wherever you get your podcasts on October 26, 2022! And be sure to let us know, what’s YOUR theory?
REFERENCES:
Books:
“West Virginia Cold Case Homicides” by George Bragg. Vicious Murder Behind the Black Knight Country Club: Nellie Rand and F. Ray Bailey Pages 14-17. 2007.
Newspapers:
The Register Herald
The Post Register Herald
Websites:
Youtube:
Mysterious WV- Country Club Murderers
Raleigh County Courthouse: Death Records - 1947
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