Episode 14: Ernest Bush — The Chain Man of Nebraska

In the early 1900s, the name Ernest Bush appeared quietly in Nebraska newspapers — just another name in ink.But behind that ordinary name was a story of murder, manhunts, prison escapes, and a brazen outlaw who would earn the nickname “The Chain Man.”Born in Denmark and raised in Nebraska, Bush’s life veered far from the immigrant dream. After a first-degree murder conviction, a surprising pardon, and years behind bars, he resurfaced again and again in headlines across the Midwest.He escaped from prison.He stole horses.He confronted law enforcement while shaving at a roadside camp.He forced his way into homes and cafes.And he left entire communities on edge.By 1922, the man once known as Ernest Bush was making national headlines under a different name — and standing trial before packed courtrooms.But even in death, the mystery lingered.When his grave was finally marked, it wasn’t under the name most people knew.In this episode of Headlines & Tidbits, we unravel the strange, violent, and almost unbelievable story of the man called The Chain Man of Nebraska.