Category Archives: General

Corpse in the Pump House: Murder of Mary Gilfillan 1896

Murder Victim Mary E. Gilfillan 30-year-old Waitress Howe Hotel 1866-1896 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Love Triangle Murder Scene and Date Pump House Chicago Burlington Quincy Railway Depot Osceola, Iowa Clarke County December 26, 1896 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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“Bones In A Haystack”: Murder of Justus Herwig 1903

Murder Victim Justus Herwig 57-year-old Farmer 1846-1903 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned, Burned Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date R.D. White Farm Sperry Township 2 miles South of Volga City, Iowa Clayton County October 29, 1903 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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Horse Medicine: Murder of James Banda 1904

Murder Victim James Banda Occupation Unknown ? – 1904 Cause of Death: Poison Motive: Drinking Party Gone Wrong Murder Scene and Date Duncan, Iowa 4 Miles East of Britt, Iowa Hancock County May 1, 1904 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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The Money Lender: Murder of Gustav Rechfus 1881

Murder Victim Gustav Rechfus 54-year-old Farmer Money Lender 1826-1881 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Business Quarrel Murder Scene and Date Rechfus Home Pleasant Ridge Community Giard Township 14 Miles Northeast of Elkader Clayton County, Iowa March 31, 1881 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By … Continue reading

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The Scarred Man: Murder of Arnold Sansgaard 1984

Murder Victim Arnold L. Sansgaard 59-year-old Farmer WWII Veteran 1925-1984 Cause of Death: Stabbed Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Sansgaard Home 1 mile west of Story City, Iowa Boone County July 15, 1984 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written July … Continue reading

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Apparition: Murder of Edwin Hughes 1898

Murder Victim Edward D. “Ed” Hughes 34 year-old Plumber Windmill and Pump Salesman Merry-Go-Round Operator 1863-1898 Cause of Death: Poisoned Motive: Love Triangle Murder Scene and Date Marilda and Patrick Hughes Home Oak Street Mason City Cerro Gordo County April … Continue reading

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A Spoonful of Medicine Makes the Poison Go Down: Murder of Sarah Kirker 1897

Murder Victim Sarah Ann “Sally” Kirker 51-year-old Farm Wife 1845-1897 Cause of Death: Poison Motive: Spousal Abuse Murder Scene and Date Kirker Home Lincoln Township Near Guernsey, Iowa Poweshiek County April 1, 1897 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written March 2014 … Continue reading

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Unwitnessed: Murder of Washington Irving Crow 1875

Murder Victim Washington Irving Crow 28-year-old Farmer Civil War Veteran Company C, IL 133rd Infantry Regiment 1847-1875 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Argument Murder Scene and Date Stephen Crow Barn Near Woodbine Boyer Township Harrison County, Iowa December 6, 1875 … Continue reading

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Assassination: Murders of Lizzie and Andrew Brownlie 1874

Murder Victims Lizzie Thomson Brownlie 32-year-old Farm Wife 1841-1874 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Personal Assassination Andrew J. Brownlie 4-year-old Son Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Collateral Damage 1869-1874 Murder Scene and Dates Brownlie Home Winfield Township Near Long Grove, … Continue reading

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On This Day

OCTOBER The body of 37-year-old Newton baker Otto H. Samp — who was visiting Des Moines with friends — was found “slashed into ribbons” in the backyard of a house at 618 E. 2nd Street in Des Moines on October … Continue reading

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