Words of Wisdom
Some things that people have thought or believed never became "important" enough to be news worthy. But, I think differently. Read everything below, and come up with your own conclusions.
A/N: On some parts of this page, you will find random facts, information that was never deemed important, and my opinions. The random facts are not displayed in any order, and I do not plan to put them in an order of importance, for these are all important one way or another. As for the information that was never deemed important, I know a lot of you reading this are thinking that it was deemed unimportant for a reason, but as much as anyone would like to disagree, this information is important just because it is a theory or another part of the case. Now, about my opinions. My opinions should be respected for they are my opinions. If you disagree or have strong feelings about a topic and I don't view it the same way, please keep all comments to yourself.
A/N: On some parts of this page, you will find random facts, information that was never deemed important, and my opinions. The random facts are not displayed in any order, and I do not plan to put them in an order of importance, for these are all important one way or another. As for the information that was never deemed important, I know a lot of you reading this are thinking that it was deemed unimportant for a reason, but as much as anyone would like to disagree, this information is important just because it is a theory or another part of the case. Now, about my opinions. My opinions should be respected for they are my opinions. If you disagree or have strong feelings about a topic and I don't view it the same way, please keep all comments to yourself.
"Murderer caught in the retina of Stillinger girl"
"C.M. Brown of Villisca Iowa, who is in this city, declares that the detectives at Villisca, working to solve the mystery in the recent murders of eight people in Villisca, have obtained a photograph of the murderer from the retina of the eye of one of the Stillinger sisters. The girl, circumstances at the time, indicated, was the only one of the eight all of whom were killed with a hatchet, who had awakened during the attack." (Villisca Axe Murder)
"Murderer concealed in downstairs closet"
They say that if Josiah, or Sarah had looked into the downstairs closet before going to sleep, they would have found the murderer in the closet, as a bag of cotton balls found in the closet suggests that the murderer was crouched in the closet on top of the bag of cotton balls. (Villisca Axe Murders)
No shortage
"While no one was ever convicted of the Villisca Axe Murders, there seemed to be no shortage of suspects. In the days following the crime, you could have read about four possibilities in any edition of newspaper. Many of the leads, however, were quickly exhausted and as time wore on they began to dwindle." (Villisca Axe Murder)
"IT COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAVELER, HOBO, OR SERIAL KILLER"
"Still, others believed the Moore murders were the work of someone unrelated to the town of Villisca, a possible traveler, hobo, or serial killer." (Villisca Axe Murder)
"MANSFIELD RELEASED"
"Red Oak, Iowa, July 21, 1916- William Mansfield was released by order of District Judge Woodruff at 3 o'clock this afternoon after a special Montgomery county grand jury refused to invict him for the Villisca Axe Murders four years ago. The sheriff placed him in an automobile and drove into the country and it is supposed Mansfield will return to Kansas City, Kansas at once." (Villisca Axe Murder )
Other Owners
In 1930, Homer and Bonnie Ritner rented the property only soon to report of paranormal activity. "Mrs. Ritner complained of seeing an apparition of a man at the foot of the bed, as they slept at night, and of hearing foot steps through out the house when there was no one around to explain them." (Villisca Axe Murders)
"The Geeseman family who purchased the property later also experienced strange happenings on the property and John Geeseman refused to sleep in the house, but rather set up a bedroom in the barn on the property. Apparently, one night, family was staying with the Geeseman's throughout the evening, experienced the door between the parlor and patio swing open on it's own. They would close the door, only to see it swing open again shortly thereafter. Neighbors witnessed guests fleeing the home in the middle of the night, still dressed in their sleeping garments, although it's not exactly known what caused them to flee." (Villisca Axe Murders)
"The Geeseman family who purchased the property later also experienced strange happenings on the property and John Geeseman refused to sleep in the house, but rather set up a bedroom in the barn on the property. Apparently, one night, family was staying with the Geeseman's throughout the evening, experienced the door between the parlor and patio swing open on it's own. They would close the door, only to see it swing open again shortly thereafter. Neighbors witnessed guests fleeing the home in the middle of the night, still dressed in their sleeping garments, although it's not exactly known what caused them to flee." (Villisca Axe Murders)
"IOWA MARKS ANNIVERSARY"
On June 9th and 10th of the year 2012, all across the state of Iowa, people were remembering the family who had fallen a hundred years ago in Villisca, Iowa. The family, being the Moore family, and two young neighbor girls, who were all brutally murdered in their sleep. On days like this, many people from the town of Villisca and all around the state come to one of the most haunting houses in their state--The Murder House. Most of them can't stand the glaring eyesore yearly, but when it comes around to the day the murder was committed, they pay their respects for the fallen. Six children, and two adults were murdered that night...... (Dvorak)
Back in 1912, this story captivated the whole country, knocking the headline news of the White Star liner ship called the "RMS Titanic" sinking right off of the front page. It was one of the most tragic events in history, and the house has recently been added to the list of "Most historic places in the United States", saving the house from being destroyed. (Dvorak)
" "It was the kind of thing that was unheard of at the time for a small rural town in Iowa," said Judy Schroeder, who is helping organize the anniversary. "People came here from all over Iowa and the country just to see, people on horses, in cars, wagons stuffed with so many people they were hanging over the edge"." (Dvorak)
News casters all over Iowa, and even some in other parts of the US, covered the story, going to the house, talking about the suspects, etc. (Dvorak)
The house is now used as a "Haunted House" and they say over a thousand people a year visit the now famous murder house, that holds the secrets of that night in her walls, and forever keeping the indentity of the murderer a secret. (Dvorak)
Back in 1912, this story captivated the whole country, knocking the headline news of the White Star liner ship called the "RMS Titanic" sinking right off of the front page. It was one of the most tragic events in history, and the house has recently been added to the list of "Most historic places in the United States", saving the house from being destroyed. (Dvorak)
" "It was the kind of thing that was unheard of at the time for a small rural town in Iowa," said Judy Schroeder, who is helping organize the anniversary. "People came here from all over Iowa and the country just to see, people on horses, in cars, wagons stuffed with so many people they were hanging over the edge"." (Dvorak)
News casters all over Iowa, and even some in other parts of the US, covered the story, going to the house, talking about the suspects, etc. (Dvorak)
The house is now used as a "Haunted House" and they say over a thousand people a year visit the now famous murder house, that holds the secrets of that night in her walls, and forever keeping the indentity of the murderer a secret. (Dvorak)
In my opinion...
Based on what has been given me by the sources you will find on the citations page, in my opinion, I can come up with a great list of things about the murder, the house, the suspects, and the victims. In my opinion State Senator Frank F. Jones could have been angry with his former employee and could be a likely candidate for the killings, but thinking logically it doesn't seem right for this reason: He at the time was running to be state Governor, why would he want to make enemies, especially when he's a suspect in a murder? Why would he want to give up more than half of his followers? (Villisca Axe Murders)
Also in my opinion from what's been given to me, Andy Sawyer could have committed the crime. He was a disoriented person and half the time sources say he didn't even know where he was, or what he was doing. He slept with an ax, and one day when his boss went up to him, he was rubbing his head, and when his boss placed a hand on his shoulder, he jumped up and screamed "I'm gonna cut all your god (expletive) heads off!" before making swinging motions with an ax. (Villisca Axe Murders)
Also in my opinion Reverend George Jacklin Kelly could have committed the crime, but only barely. The only reason for me believing that is because one of my sources, the official site of the Villisca Axe Murders, said that he was "deranged" and "perverted".
Also in my opinion, if they had the technology there then as we do today, this case would have been solved and the spirits of the Moore family and the two Stillinger girls could finally rest. With the advancements we have today, I have no doubt that this case would be solved. There would be no place for the murderer to run, he would get caught.
And it breaks my heart every time I read something about this murder and see it was never solved. The families of the victims never got the closure or justice they deserved, they died knowing that the case will never be solved, and it hurts to think about that. Maybe if the police had pushed a little harder to find the murderer, or maybe looked a little closely at some of the suspects, maybe, just maybe the case would be solved. But, they didn't, and they've forever left a gaping hole in a mystery, since it will never be solved.
This crime to me could have been committed by anyone with the taste for spilled blood, it could have been anyone, literally anyone which made it even harder to figure out. It could have been anyone on the ever growing list of suspects.
Or it could have been no one on the list at all.......
Also in my opinion from what's been given to me, Andy Sawyer could have committed the crime. He was a disoriented person and half the time sources say he didn't even know where he was, or what he was doing. He slept with an ax, and one day when his boss went up to him, he was rubbing his head, and when his boss placed a hand on his shoulder, he jumped up and screamed "I'm gonna cut all your god (expletive) heads off!" before making swinging motions with an ax. (Villisca Axe Murders)
Also in my opinion Reverend George Jacklin Kelly could have committed the crime, but only barely. The only reason for me believing that is because one of my sources, the official site of the Villisca Axe Murders, said that he was "deranged" and "perverted".
Also in my opinion, if they had the technology there then as we do today, this case would have been solved and the spirits of the Moore family and the two Stillinger girls could finally rest. With the advancements we have today, I have no doubt that this case would be solved. There would be no place for the murderer to run, he would get caught.
And it breaks my heart every time I read something about this murder and see it was never solved. The families of the victims never got the closure or justice they deserved, they died knowing that the case will never be solved, and it hurts to think about that. Maybe if the police had pushed a little harder to find the murderer, or maybe looked a little closely at some of the suspects, maybe, just maybe the case would be solved. But, they didn't, and they've forever left a gaping hole in a mystery, since it will never be solved.
This crime to me could have been committed by anyone with the taste for spilled blood, it could have been anyone, literally anyone which made it even harder to figure out. It could have been anyone on the ever growing list of suspects.
Or it could have been no one on the list at all.......