Axeman of New Orleans
If you’re a fan of the show American Horror Story then you may have heard of this unsolved mystery. On the third season episode, Coven, they included a ghost of the Axeman, who is known as a serial killer from the 1910s. The real serial killer, known as the Axeman of New Orleans first struck in May of 1918, slaying an Italian grocer, Joseph Maggio and his wife, Catherine, as they slept above their store. He cut the couples’ throats, then bludgeoned their heads with an axe before changing into clean clothes and departing the scene of the crime. Investigators discovered a cryptic message written in chalk near the Maggio home: “Mrs. Joseph Maggio will sit up tonight. Just write Mrs. Toney”.
About a month later, the Axeman attacked grocer, Louis Besumer and his mistress in the apartment where they dwelt behind Besumer’s shop. The couple were discovered in a pool of blood. Both had been struck on the head, presumably with an axe, but this time, the victims survived. Ultimately, investigation yielded no useful clues.
The Axeman’s third victim, a pregnant woman attacked at home alone, also managed to survive axe-blows and cuts to the head and face. Authorities began to see the patterns of similarity between the three attacks, but still had no substantial leads.
After another attack on a grocer in his home, news spread and the city was gripped by fear. For weeks entire neighborhoods were alert, on edge, and there were unsubstantiated reports of sightings of the Axeman.
After months went by without any new Axeman attacks, things started to return to normal, but in March the next year, the Axeman struck again. The city was terrified once more.
This time, after his long absence, the Axeman slew a man and, when the fatal struggle was witnessed by the man’s wife, she, too was attacked. The Axeman fractured the wife’s skull and also slew their infant daughter.
Then on Friday, March 14, 1919, the editor of the New Orleans Times-Picayune received a strange letter supposedly from the Axeman. In it, the writer threatened his murderous rampage could be much worse, but he offered the town a chance to avoid further slaughter the following Tuesday, if they would play jazz in every home.
Seized by terror, New Orleans did its best to comply. Jazz was played throughout the town and no murders were reported.
It was some time before he struck again. The Axeman, or an imitator, again took his toll on August 3. Two more attacks fit the pattern, one on September 2 and another in October.
The case of the Axeman was never solved, but many stories and coincidences led to all manner of tales and speculation. Was the series of killings the job of one man or many? Why were most of the attacks on Italians?
This case, like many others, remains unsolved.
Great read……wish it was longer. Good work