The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-13
KILLS EIGHT WITH AK
Continued from Page ~

\NOAIlhuOu LAoAAA l. NSS ~
than five minutes after the dog!
were taken to the scene of the crime
they made a break for the door O
the house. Since that time the!
have been Juggling on the chains o
the men following them. The trai
led to the timber lands at the forks
of the West and Middle Nodawa!
rivers, about one and one-half mile!
southwest of the town.
When O. E. Jackson, sheriff O
Montgomery county, arrived here a
noon today he ordered the Moore
home closed to all persons. UP tt
that time only few persons ha(
been permitted to view the bodie!
of the eight murdered persons, a!
the city marshal believed it best tt
keep the place clear of visitors. A
guard of citizens was stationed neal
the house.
Militia on Duty.
At 6 O'Clock tonight Company 3
of the state militia was called out
to keep the curious from the place
A strict guard was kept for blocks
from the house. No one was allow
ed inside the dead line. The streets
along the line were crowded with
persons anxious to learn something
new of the crime. Everyone was
talking about it and each had diff
ferent version of the possible mean
ing of it.
The arrival of the bloodhounds
from Beatrice, Neb., was anxiously
awaited. They came on the sched-
uled train. Sheriff Jackson piloted
the crowd to the house at once. The
dogs were taken in at the front door.
In a few minutes after they had
been given a chance to smell the
handle of an ak used by the murder
er they came out the front door,
turned around the porch and took
a northerly direction to Second St..
They followed this path to First
Avenue, then they went south on
First Avenue to the John Green
farm. From this farm they ad-
vanced southwest to the Nelson
farm. Then they took to the river
and followed it to the forks of the
two rivers.
Mystery Unsolved.
Villisca has not yet reached So
luton of the mystery. One man that
it was felt might be responsible is
said not to have been here for more
than thirteen years. A man who
has known this person intimately
says that he cannot believe him to
be the guilty one. Some think that
a maniac is to blame.
81 foniuhf Th q
streets were crowded until the early
morning hours. Hundreds of people
tried to follow the dogs and quit
only when they were worn out.
Many followed as nearly as possible
with autos, horses and other vehi-
cles.
The bodies of the victims had not
been moved at midnight. DR.. A. L..
Linquist the county coroner, follow
ed the dogs. The militia refused to
allow the bodies removed until the
coroner was present to give the Or
ders.
The coroner's jury viewed the
bodies in the house last night. The
inquest will be held at 9 o'clock this
Dozens of witnesses have
been called. 1t was morbid crowd
that watched the guardsmen carry
the bodies of the murdered persons
from the house to the undertaker's
wagon, and then from the wagon to
the mOrgue.
Signs of a Struggle.
Only one of the bodies showed any
indications of the least struggle.
One of the Stillinger girls lay with
one arm thrown out as though she
had awakened and tried to ward off
the murderer's blow. A small cut
on her arm seems to confirm this
impression. All the other bodies,
including that of the other Stillinger
girl, who occupied the same bed
with her sister, lay in the natural
position of slumber. The bed covers
had not been disarranged in the
least.
A lighted kerosene lamp was
found on the floor in the middle of
the room occupied by Mr.. and Mrs.
Moore.
The only clue to the perpetrator
of the crime so far discovered con-
sists of a number of bloody finger
prints found in different parts of the
house. Some of these blood stains
were found near the knob of the
front door and indicate that the
murderer locked the house on leav-
ing it. The key has not been found.
All finger prints are being carefully
preserved, and an expert has been
summoned to take Impressions of
them.
All Doors Locked.
All outside doors were locked and
all windows fastened, except two in
the room occupied by the Stillinger
girls. Window shades all over the
house were carefully drawn.
Careful inquiry has convinced the
that no other visitor was
at the Moore home last night up to
the time the family retired.
The parents of the Stillinger girls
are Frustrated by the awful shock,
and Mrs. Stillinger is reported to be
in serious condition. Neither has
been able to leave home to come to
Villisca today.
No Cries Were Heard.
There were no cries from the