Villisca, Iowa is a small community whose name means ‘Pleasant View”. It’s main claim to fame however, lies in the horrendous axe murders that happened there almost a century ago. On the night of June 10, 1912 eight people, six of them children, were brutally hacked to death. The murderer was never caught and speculation remains to this day as to who might have committed this heinous crime.

Sunday, June 9th was a normal day in the town, except for the Children’s Day program at the local church that evening. Two friends of the children, Lena and Ina Stillinger were invited to come home with the Moore family and spend the night after the program. The family along with the two girls arrived at the Moore house between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. At some point after everyone was in bed and asleep they were brutally axed to death in their beds.

The next morning their neighbor Mary Peckham realized while out doing chores that there was no movement at the Moore house as usual. The chickens we not let out of the hen house and the horses had not been fed. Concerned, she went over and knocked on the door but received not answer. Mary then decided to call Josiah Moore’s brother Ross and let him know there was a problem. When Ross Moore arrived at the house he knocked and attempted to look into some windows, all of which were covered. Receiving no response he then took his keys for the house, unlocked the parlor door, and entered the house, leaving Mary Peckham on the porch. He found the two Stillinger girls first and immediately left the house, telling Mary to call the Marshal immediately.

When City Marshal Hank Morton arrived he entered the house, finding the family upstairs, also hacked to death with an axe. Josiah and Sarah Moore were in their bed, as were all four Moor children. After they were killed their faces were covered with clothing. The curtains on all windows were tightly closed, and the two windows that did not have curtains had clothing covering them. Kerosene lamps with the wicks turned back and the chimneys off were found at the foot of two of the beds. The axe was found in the downstairs room Lena and Ina had been sleeping in. The Doctor estimated the time of the deaths to be shortly after midnight.

There were several suspects and a few arrests in this case. The suspects ranged from State Senator Frank F. Jones, whom Josiah used to work for before leaving to start his own business. It is said that Jones held a grudge as when Josiah left he took the John Deere franchise with him, therefore causing Jones to lose a great deal of Money. Also William Mansfield aka “Blackie”, whom some say was hired by Jones to kill the family in retribution.

Reverend George Jacklin Kelly was a travelling preacher who was looked at for the murders as well. He was helping with the Children’s Day festivities. He was arrested and went to trial but was acquitted. Henry Lee Moore was also a suspect as he was convicted of killing a mother and grandmother a few months later, but this was never proven. There were several other suspects looked closely at for various reasons, but no one was ever convicted of the crime. There were several similarities to several other axe murders during this time period that does make one wonder if a serial killer was stalking the country.

Today the Villisca Axe Murder House still stands and has been renovated for historical accuracy for the time period of the murders. It has since been added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is open for tours and overnight stays are available. One of the biggest draws to this home is the claim that is haunted, bringing in ghost hunters and enthusiasts from all over the country. If you would be interested in visiting the home for any reason you can stop by for a tour anytime you are in Villesca, Iowa.