In the early seventies, a sensational message spread around the BSSR: the chairman of the Orsha District Consumer Union M. Z. Beard was arrested. The message also attracted attention because the investigation into the case was carried out by state security agencies. Even based on the insignificant news that filtered through the veil of secrecy (this is quite natural, since it was connected with the KGB secret service at that time), the “Beard case” acquired serious proportions. And since there was clearly not enough news, rumors and inventions were born, often fantastic. For example, at one time I myself heard the story of one of the “eyewitnesses” that a whole treasure of gold and diamonds was allegedly found in a tub of ficus in Beard’s apartment. And there were many such “probable” messages. The investigation lasted for almost two years, then the trial lasted six months. The amount stolen was an astronomical sum for those times - more than 730 thousand rubles. Twenty defendants received a total of 205 years in prison