Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-06-11
Crime Discovered by Neighbor Yes
terday Morning.
NO MOTIVE FOR DEED KNOWN
Either Due to Revenge os is the Act
of Madman.
ALL VICTIMS ARE PROMINENT
Mr.. Moore Was Well known Busi-
ness Man and His Guests Who
Were Slain Are Daughters
of Weaity Farmer.

' ibllSNt, Ia, juno lV-JOSepn moore,
a prominent Villisca business man, his
wife and four children and two visitors
were found murdered In their beds this
morning at the Moore home. The dead:
JOSEPH MOORE.
MRS. JOSEPH MOORE.
HERMAN MOORE, age H.
CATHERINE MOORE. aged 3.
BOYD MOORE, aged Z. ..
PAUL MOORE. aged s.
MISS BLANCHE SILLINGER, aged II.
MISS EDITH SIL'4INGER, aged 90
Their heads had been beated to pulp
and an ak covered with blood and human
hair found In the house. is supposed to
be the instrument with which the deed
was committed. There is no clue to the
mui iderer.
Owing to the terrible multiation, the
Identity of the two women last named
could not at first be established. They
were believd to be Mrs, Van Glider and
her daugher. relatives OF the Moores.
Later they were positively identified as
the Spiliinger sisters. daughters of a
wealthy farmer living one mile from
vlllisca, who had been in attendance at
church entertainment here last night
and decided to pass the night at the home
0. the Moores.
Robbery Not Motive.
No robbery was committed and 1t Is
the theory of the authorities that only
desire for revenge could have prompted
the murder unless the work was done by
a madman. .......
Horses neighins In the barn at the
Moore home caused woman neighbor
to notice that no member of the family
appeared to be up and about the house,
She Investigated and after falling to ef-
feet an entrance 20 the front door,
called her husband who also failed. The
city marshal was then summoned and
the doors, forced, ,.
Moore and his wife were the first to
| be discovered, They were lying in their
bed In a front room. Then came the
finding of the bodies OF the. two guests.
| and later those OF the children in a
third room
Moore was the manager Of aIocal inn
plement concern, and prominent In busi-
ness and social circles.
Like Colorado Tragedy.
COLORADO SPRINGS. Colo. June 10.
Police authorities here are not inclined
to think there is any connection between
the murder of the Moore family at Will
isca la. and the Burnham- Wayne mur-
der mystery here on September II last,
In which six persons lost their lives.
II is admitted, however. that there Is
striking similarity in the crimes. Lo-
cal authorities will make a careful in
vestigation of the villsca mystery In
the hope Of finding some clew to the
crime here.
The murder of the Moore family caused
a profound shock to many in Council
bluffs, where Mr. Moore had many bust
ness acquaintances. He had been a
heavy buyer from Council Bluffs immple-
ment dealers for many years. He was
also we'll known in implement circles In
Omaha. The members Of the family
were frequent visitors to Council Bluffs
and Mrs. Moore had many warm friends
there. #.E#H
Some local interest also attaches to
Misses Edith and Blanche Stillinger
Miss Blanche Still!nger, the youngest of
the victims, was IL member Of the Stan
ton automobile party whose car was
badly wrecked and two. Miss Peterson
and Mr.. Johnson. badly hurt, In colli-
sion on the White Pole road three miles
east Of Council Bluffs a week ago Sat
urday night. All of the members OF the
party were brought to the Jennie Ed
mundson hospital, and the nurses there
recall the sweet little girl, who proved
SO brave and patient and forgot her
own slight injuries in her solicitude for
the others.