We are always making light of the axe murderer, but axe murderers did exist. Here is a brief mention of an axe murderer, identity unknown, who killed four families with an axe.
Madman Murderer
During the last two years, a madman murderer has killed four whole families in the West. In each case he used an axe. The murders have been at Colorado Springs, Ellsworth, Kan., Guilford, Mo., and Villisca, Ia. The last, that of the Moores at Villisca, occurred this week. The slayer shows a terrible ingenuity in making good his escape. Villisca police arrested Sam Moyer, relative of Moore family. Produced alibi. Released.
[Source: The Day Book (Chicago, Illinois newspaper). June 14, 1912]
