Category Archives: General

The Woman Who Bought Her Own Tombstone: Murder of Sarah Tracy 1935

Murder Victim Sarah Delphine Tracy 79-year-old Scrubwoman 1856-1935 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Northern outskirts of Maquoketa, Iowa Jackson County February 17, 1935 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written March 2012 On the northern outskirts of … Continue reading

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“All Around Crook”: Murder of Joplin Red 1900

Murder Victim John West a.k.a “Joplin Red” Safe Cracker, Burglar, Silk Thief Age Unknown Cause of Death: Poisoned Motive: Revenge for Snitching Murder Scene and Date Northwestern Hotel Des Moines, Iowa Polk County February 24, 1900 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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Christmas Day Death on Mud Creek: Murder of Henry Stephens 1876

Murder Victim Henry Nicholas Stephens66-year-old Farmer1810-1876Cause of Death: Pushed From a HeightMotive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Railroad Bridge Over Mud CreekOne Mile East of Vinton, IowaBenton CountyChristmas Day, 1876 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy BowersWritten April 2012 On Christmas Day of … Continue reading

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Deadly Holiday Excursion: Murder of Alexander McArthur 1899

Murder Victim Alexander McArthur 22-year-old Laborer Cedar Rapids Resident 1877-1899 Cause of Death: Pushed From Train Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date West of Train Depot Davenport, Iowa Scott County September 5, 1899 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written September 2011 … Continue reading

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Halloween Homicide: Murder of Walter Schenck 1902

Murder Victim Walter D. Schenck 26-year-old Teamster City Constable 1876-1902 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Front Gate, Schenck Home 210 Second Street Adair, Iowa Adair County October 31, 1902 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written July … Continue reading

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“The Peaceable Negro”: Murder of John Allen 1864

Murder Victim John Allen Employee of the Demoine [sic] House ?-1864 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Drunken Aggression Murder Scene and Date Ensign Livery Stable Walnut between 2nd & 3rd Des Moines, Iowa Polk County July 8, 1864 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By … Continue reading

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The “Menial Drudge”: Murder of Lovina Kneeskern 1876

Murder Victim Lovina Peck Kneeskern 51-year-old Farm Wife 1825-1876 Cause of Death: Poison Motive: Love Triangle Murder Scene and Date Frankville Township South of Decorah, Iowa Winneshiek County April 28, 1876 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written April 2012 In contemporary … Continue reading

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Blood by Lamplight: Murder of Esther Alger 1872

Murder Victim Esther Alger 72-year-old Farm Wife 1800-1872 Cause of death: Gunshot, Bludgeoning Motive: Teenage Sociopathy Murder Scene and Date Alger Home Near Calamus, Iowa Clinton County September 25, 1872 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written April 2011 In 1872, life … Continue reading

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“Riding the Blinds”: Murder of Elmer Dudrey 1896

Murder Victim Willis Elmer Dudrey 22-year-old Farmhand 1874-1896 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Drunken Quarrel Murder Scene and Date Train Station Webster City, Iowa Hamilton County June 7, 1896 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written June 2011 “Riding the blinds” was … Continue reading

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After Church: Murders of Lena and Tommy Peterson 1902

Murder Victims Mary Magdalene “Lena” Peterson 1886-1902 15-year-old High School Student Thomas Hoffman “Tommy” Peterson 13-year-old Grammar School Student 1888-1902 Cause of Deaths: Bludgeoned Motive: Family Jealousy Murder Scene and Date Madison Avenue Highland Park, Iowa Lee Township Polk County … Continue reading

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