Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-10
Special to rimes-Republican.

vfllisca, June 1o.-Joseph Moore. a
prominent Vtllisca citizen and business
man. his wife and four children and
/ two women. supposed to be Mrs. Van
Glider ana her daughter. relatives of
the Moores. were found murdered this
morning In the Moore home. Their
heads had been mashed to a pulp. and
an axe covered with blood and human
hair was found in the house and is
supposed to have been the instrument
with which the crime was committed.
Murdered in Beds.
All were murdered in their beds.
There ID no definite clue to the mur-
derers, altho search has been made, 1t
is said. for one person suspected by
the authorities.
Owing to the terrible mutilation. the
identity OF the two women could not
be absolutely established this morn
ing, but the Van Gilders. who lived a
few miles from villisca. are known to
have been visiting the Moores yester-
day. and last night all attended an en-
tsrtainmsnt. % It 10 felt certain the
yjctims are the women named.
\ l..AS No Motive Known.
'E 10 lU6Sssf5yys sisf5ys yfass consunittsd. ana it
seems clear that only desire for res
yenee= could have prompted the mur-
der. unless the work was done by
madman.
List Of Victims.
JOSEPH MOORE and wife.
HERMAN MOORE. II years old.
CATHERINE MOORE. years old.
BOYD MOORE. years old.
PAUL MOORE. years old.
MISS EDITH sP1LLlNGER. 20
wears old.
MISS BLANCHE sPILL1NGER. IS
years old.
Owing to the terrible mutilation the
identity OF the two women could not
at first be established. They were be-
lieved to be Mrs. Won Glider and her
daughter. relatives Of the Moores. but
later they were positively identified as
the Spillinger sisters, daughters OF a
wealthy farmer living few miles from
villisca.
Her.ps Neigh Gives Alarm.
Horses. neighing in the barns at the
Moore home caused woman neiehbor
to notice that no member Of the fam
lily appeared to be up and about the
house. she Investigated and after fail
ing to- effect an entrance to the front
door. called her husband. who also
failed. The city marshal was sum-
r,oned ana the doors forced
Moore and his wife were the first to
be discovered. They were lying in their
bed in q front room. Then camc the
nnding Of the bodies Of the two guests
and later those Of the children in a
Z third room. The oldest of the children.
boy, was only IL years old.
Nest piabolieai Crime.
The entire absence Of a known mo-
tive FOR the crime makes 1t one Of the
most peculiar and Giaboljcaf ever COM
mitted in the state. Showing the terri
BILE execution wrought by the person
who committed the wholesale crime.
early Identification Of the two young
women was that, they were Mrs. Won
Glider and her daughter. who were In
vilisca last night and were understood
to have remained at the Moore home
iii night. Mrs. Won Glider is a sister
Of Mrs. Moore.
Twa Killed Upstairs.
The two spillinger girls were daugh-
ters of Mr.. ana Mrs. Joseph spillinger.
wealthy people residing near town. Mr..
ana Mrs. Moore and their four children. |
were found dead In their beds on the
first floor 81 the house ana the Spill
finger stljs were murdered in their.
beds In an upper room. All were
clothed In their nightgowns and were
uindoubtediy slain ii their sleep. and
III had their heads crushed.
Aseess LeadisS Merchant.
MI. Moore was one Of the leading |
business zen 81 the town ana was en-J
xassl e ths implement trade. The