Category Archives: General

What the Poultry Men Found: Murder of Ashley Downing 1933

Murder Victim Ashley Downing 77-year-old Farmer, Landowner, Cattleman 1855-1933 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Downing Farm near Westgate, Iowa Fremont Township Fayette County January 4, 1933 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written March 2012 It’s a … Continue reading

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At the Crossroads Store: Murder of George Hardy 1929

Murder Victim George Hardy 69-year-old Wayside Store Owner 1860-1929 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned and Stabbed Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Hardy Store Near Parnell, Iowa Fillmore Township Iowa County June 26, 1929 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written May 2011 … Continue reading

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Death at the Hardware Store: Murders of Harry Jones and William Laugesen 1925

Murder Victims Harry H. Jones 32-year-old Laborer Armour Packing Plant 1893-1925 William Laugesen 33-year-old Clerk C.A. Larson Hardware Store 1891-1925 Cause of Deaths: Gunshots Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date C.A. Larson Hardware Store 1102 4th Street Sioux City, Iowa … Continue reading

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Skull by the River: Murder of Jane Doe 1920

Murder Victim Jane Doe Age and Occupation Unknown Residence Unknown Cause of Death: Undetermined Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Conjunction of Des Moines & Raccoon rivers Des Moines, Iowa Polk County Date of Death: 1920 Skull found: June 7, … Continue reading

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Deadly Tramps: Murder of Allan Shoemaker 1925

Murder Victim Allan F. Shoemaker 36-year-old Special Officer Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Police Killed in the Line of Duty 1888-1925 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Avoiding Arrest Murder Scene and Date Railroad Yard Missouri Valley, Iowa Harrison County End of … Continue reading

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Chinese Tong Ritual: Murder of John “Jack” Fong 1924

Murder Victim John “Jack” Fong 40-year-old Laundry Owner 1884-1924 Cause of Death: Stabbed Motive: Chinese Tong Vendetta Murder Scene and Date Kee Quong Laundry 214 Fourth Street Sioux City, Iowa Woodbury County December 2, 1924 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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Death at the Box Company: Murder of Earl Paris 1928

Murder Victim Earl Paris 32-year-old Night Watchman 1896-1928 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Iowa Fiber Box Company Commercial Alley Keokuk, Iowa Lee County February 18, 1928 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written December 2011 When day … Continue reading

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Black Hand Vendetta? Murder of Phoebe Jane Vigoletti 1926

Murder Victim Phoebe Jane Vigoletti 46-year-old Homemaker 1880-1926 Cause of Death: Strangled Motive: Black Hand Vendetta Murder Scene and Date Third Avenue NW Oelwein, Iowa Fayette County March 14, 1926 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written May 2011 On Monday, March … Continue reading

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Charred Remains: Murder of Jane Otis 1921

Murder Victim Jane Otis 76-year-old “Spinster” Homemaker 1845-1921 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned and Set On Fire Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Otis Home Gravity, Iowa Taylor County January 4, 1921 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written December 2010 At 4:00 … Continue reading

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“Hacked to Pieces”: Murder of John McGill 1920

Murder Victim John McGill 28-year-old Laborer Motorcar Garage 1891-1920 Cause of Death: Stabbed Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date “Behind a Businessman’s Home” Sioux City, Iowa Woodbury County September 1920 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written July 2011 Despite its brutality, … Continue reading

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