The Welcome to another episode of American Hauntings, the podcast dedicated to the history,

haunting legends and lore of America's past. The show is hosted by Cody Beck and

Troy Taylor and we are continuing our third season which we call

Murdered in their bets. If you're tuned into the podcast for the first time we

recommend going back to episode

36 and start the new season from there.

It's the first part in the series and marks the beginning of the transient butcher's

reign of terror in the Midwest of the early 1900s.

Each episode will not only explore the killer horrific crimes,

but will explore the effect he had on the small railroad towns of the region,

especially the town of Volliska, Iowa.

So finally, after all this time, you could put away your scorecards and stop trying to memorize this cast of characters

as we bring the story of the drama in Volliska to an end.

We begin the final three episodes of our twisted tale,

murdered in their beds. The After the jury failed to convict Reverend Kelly of murder, Attorney General Horace Havner had a dilemma on his hands.

He knew that the chances of convicting Kelly in a second trial were virtually non-existent, but

on the other hand he had brazenly and foolishly told the newspapers that he was so convinced of

Kelly's guilt that he would try and eight times if he had to once for each of the

victims. So now, like Frank Jones in his slander case, he was bound by his word to continue pursuing a lost cause.

A second trial would be a waste of both time and money, but Havner and Fable truly believed that Kelly was the killer.

They had an obligation to continue their pursuit of the little minister, as he was known.

If Kelly was released and he killed again, the blood of his new victims would be on their hands.

...