Halloween is often associated with costumes, bonfires, and harmless pranks, but in 1902 the holiday ended in tragedy for the community of Adair. More than a century later, the killing of 26-year-old Walter D. Schenck remains one of Iowa’s historic unsolved murder cases.
Schenck was a hardworking teamster who had recently purchased a home at 210 Second Street, where he lived with his wife, Ida, and their three young children. In addition to his work hauling freight, he served as the City Constable for Adair.
On the evening of October 31, 1902, Schenck was assigned extra patrol duty to discourage Halloween vandalism and pranks throughout the community. Before leaving home after supper, he carried a small amount of cash and an umbrella. Witnesses last saw him making his rounds around 9 p.m.
The following morning, residents discovered Schenck’s body near the front gate of his home. He had been shot in the head, and a revolver with one spent cartridge was found nearby. His clothing was muddy, suggesting a struggle had occurred, and the money he had been carrying was gone. His umbrella was later recovered about two blocks from the scene.
Initial newspaper reports mistakenly suggested Schenck had died by suicide. However, investigators soon questioned that conclusion after observing evidence of a possible struggle and the apparent robbery. A coroner’s jury determined Schenck died from a gunshot wound to the head but stopped short of officially ruling the death either a homicide or suicide. Local authorities admitted they were “completely baffled” by the circumstances.
Today, many historians and researchers consider robbery the most likely motive, believing Schenck was attacked while returning home from his patrol.
Born on September 13, 1876, in Adair County, Walter Schenck married Ida Lillian Volz in 1897. Together they had three children: Edna, George, and Helen. At the time of his death, all three children were under four years old, and his youngest daughter was just one month old.
Walter Schenck was laid to rest in Sunny Hill Cemetery in Adair beneath a monument provided by the Woodmen of the World. More than 120 years after his death, no one has ever been charged in the case, leaving the Halloween homicide an enduring Iowa mystery.
Source: Adapted from research by Nancy Bowers. Original research published by Iowa Unsolved Murders: Historic Cases.
