John Morse

[Busterwiggle]

Hi, I'm new and trying to learn my way around here. I am trying to find some information regarding John Morse and any connection with Villisca Iowa. I am shirt tail related to the Stillinger family. I had only heard rumors as a child about the Stillinger girls. It was my fascination with Lizzie that brought both cases to light for me. If anyone can suggest topics or threads to read, please do. Thanks

[joe]

Hi, I'm new and trying to learn my way around here. I am trying to find some information regarding John Morse and any connection with Villisca Iowa. I am shirt tail related to the Stillinger family. I had only heard rumors as a child about the Stillinger girls. It was my fascination with Lizzie that brought both cases to light for me. If anyone can suggest topics or threads to read, please do. Thanks

Hi Busterwiggle! Happy to meetcha, and welcome to the board. I wrote an article for The Hatchet about Uncle John (June-July 2004). He lived in Hastings, Iowa, but I don't know where Villisca is relative to Hastings. You are referring to the 1912 Villisca axe murders where 8 people were murdered. I believe the dead were family members of J.B. Moore and the Stillinger sisters. Check out http://www.villiscaiowa.com/ for more info.
Who knows, maybe Uncle John spent time there in the winter of 1911-1912 teaching the murderers how to murder with an axe. It is unlikely that he killed the Moore-Stillinger family because he died in March 1912, and the murders happened on June 10, 1912!
Joe