Marshal Rufus Springs was shot and killed by moonshiners as he and several revenuers raided a still in South Carolina. During the raid Marshal Springs stood outside of the still looking for suspects when a shot rang out, striking him. The rest of the officers on the scene fled the area.
It is believed that the suspect had also been acquitted of killing Deputy Marshal Martin Van Buren Hendrix in 1877.
Marshal Springs is buried in Sardis Methodist Church Cemetery, Buncumbe County, North Carolina.
