21 - Death Rides the Rails, Part One

Before the infamous Villisca murders in Iowa, there was a series of other, eerily similar, axe murders across the Midwest indicating that that crime may not have been as isolated as is often thought...

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General
Getting the Axe. http://gettingtheaxe.blogspot.com/

James, Bill and Rachel McCarthy James. The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery. New York: Scribner, 2017.
Taylor, Troy. Murdered in Their Beds: History and Hauntings of Villisca and the Midwest Axe Murders. Whitechapel Press, 2012.

Colorado Springs
“Arrest is made in wholesale murder,” Anaconda (MT) Standard, September 22, 1911.
Arthur J. Burnham (1871-1912). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22917676/arthur-j_-burnham
“Burnham released,” Leadville Herald-Democrat, September 24, 1911.
“Burnham involves another man,” Elk Mountain Pilot, September 28, 1911.
“Burnham lived in Leavenworth,” Leavenworth (KS) Post, September 21, 1911.
“Discovery of gory ax,” Leadville Herald-Democrat, September 29, 1911.
“Finger mark best clue,” Leadville Herald-Democrat, September 22, 1911.
“Finger print on ax examined by expert,” Leadville Herald-Democrat, September 24, 1911.
“Former suitor is now suspected in killing of six,” Wilkes-Barre (PA) Times-Leader, September 22, 1911.
“Ghastly crime; six are slain,” Princeton (IN) Daily Clarion, September 21, 1911.
“Inquest being held,” Montrose Daily Press, September 30, 1911.
“Italian is held for wholesale murder,” Butte (MT) Miner, September 22, 1911.
“Italian nabbed for the murder,” Montrose Daily Press, September 22, 1911.
“Searching dumb evidence,” Leadville Herald-Democrat, September 27, 1911.
“Six killed with axe by unknown,” Trenton (NJ) Evening Times, September 21, 1911.
“Six murdered in Colo. Springs,” Salida Record, September 22, 1911.
“Suspects detained by police,” Lincoln (NB) Journal-Star, September 22, 1911.
“Two families murder victims,” Anaconda (MT) Standard, September 21, 1911.
“Two families not slain by an insane murderer,” Buffalo (NY) Times, September 23, 1911.
“Two families with heads split open,” Montrose Daily Press, September 20, 1911.

Monmouth
“Axe murder case,” Oak Hill (KS) Gazette, March 25, 1915.
“Killed with ax while sleeping,” Rock Island Argus, October 2, 1911.
“John Knight to prove that he was working,” Monmouth Daily Atlas, January 29, 1918.
“Lovey Mitchell, colored man, is held, charged with Dawson murders,” Monmouth Daily Atlas, March 22, 1915.
“Lovey Mitchell given freedom this morning,” Monmouth Daily Atlas, September 23, 1918.
“Mitchell is given freedom,” Monmouth Daily Atlas, May 6, 1915.
“Murder is baffling to officials,” Monmouth Republican-Atlas, October 2, 1911.
“Murder trials to commence next Monday,” Monmouth Daily Atlas, January 16, 1918.
“Three of family slain with ax while asleep,” Moline Dispatch, October 2, 1911.

Ellsworth
“Charles Marzyck caught in Canada,” Topeka Daily Capital, May 4, 1912.
“Family of five murdered in Kansas,” Boise Idaho Sunday Statesman, October 17, 1911.
“He reaches Ellsworth,” Lawrence Daily Journal-World, May 16, 1912.
“Showman family of five murdered,” Ellsworth Reporter, October 19, 1911.
“Showman murder clue has blown think officers,” Wichita Daily Eagle, June 29, 1912.
“Slayer of family of five friendly with watch dog,” Wichita Daily Eagle, October 18, 1911

Opening music by Kevin MacLeod.
Closing music by Soma.