The Axeman of New Orleans (1918-1919)

In the shadowy streets of early 20th-century New Orleans, a figure emerged who would become one of the most infamous and terrifying criminals in the city’s history. The Axeman of New Orleans was a serial killer who terrorized the city from May 1918 to October 1919, leaving behind a trail of blood and mystery that remains unsolved to this day.

New Orleans in the early 1900s was a vibrant but troubled city. It was a melting pot of cultures, music, and food, but also rife with crime and poverty. Many of the city’s residents were Italian immigrants or Italian-Americans, who were often the target of prejudice and violence. It was within this tense atmosphere that the Axeman began his reign of terror.

The Axeman’s attacks were particularly brutal and seemed to follow a pattern, yet the randomness of his victims added to the terror. He would typically break into homes at night by removing a panel from the back door, a method that allowed him to slip into the house silently. Once inside, he would use an axe—often taken from the victim’s own home—to bludgeon them, sometimes as they slept.

Here are some of the key incidents:

1. May 22, 1918: The first known attack occurred at the home of Joseph and Catherine Maggio, who were brutally attacked while they slept. Joseph was a grocer, and Catherine was a housewife. The killer slit their throats with a straight razor before bashing their heads with an axe. The couple’s brother discovered their bodies, and the straight razor used in the attack was found in his possession, leading to initial suspicions, but he was eventually cleared of any involvement.

2. June 27, 1918: Louis Besumer, a grocer, and his mistress, Harriet Lowe, were attacked in the early hours of the morning. Both were struck in the head with an axe. Louis survived, but Harriet died of her injuries. The police initially arrested Louis, suspecting him of the crime, but there was no concrete evidence linking him to the attack.
3. August 5, 1918: Mrs. Anna Schneider, who was pregnant at the time, was attacked while asleep. She was struck in the face repeatedly with an axe but survived the assault. She later gave birth to a healthy child, adding to the bizarre nature of the case.

4. March 10, 1919: The most high-profile attack involved an Italian grocer named Charles Cortimiglia, his wife, Rosie, and their two-year-old daughter, Mary. The Axeman entered their home and attacked them while they slept. Rosie and Charles survived, though severely injured, but little Mary was killed. Rosie initially accused a neighbor, but later retracted her statement, leaving the crime unsolved.
5. March 13, 1919: Just days after the Cortimiglia attack, a letter was received by the local newspaper, purportedly from the Axeman himself. The letter was filled with taunts and threats, claiming that he was a “demon from the hottest hell.” In the letter, the Axeman stated that he would kill again at 12:15 AM on the following Tuesday, but would spare anyone who was playing jazz music in their home.

6. March 19, 1919: The night described in the letter came, and New Orleans was alive with the sound of jazz. Dance halls were filled to capacity, and homes throughout the city played music. True to his word, the Axeman did not strike that night, further deepening the mystery.
7. August 10, 1919: The final confirmed attack attributed to the Axeman occurred at the home of grocer Steve Boca. He was attacked in the same manner as the previous victims but managed to survive. Like many others, he could not provide any details about the attacker.

The Axeman’s Letter

The letter, which became a sensation in the media, is one of the most bizarre aspects of the case. It was published in full by newspapers and is believed to have been genuinely written by the Axeman, though some speculate it might have been a hoax. The letter’s content combined taunts, threats, and an odd admiration for jazz music. The idea that playing jazz could ward off the killer captured the public’s imagination, and the entire city seemed to join in an effort to avoid becoming the next victim.

Here is an excerpt from the letter:

“They have never caught me and they never will. They have never seen me, for I am invisible, even as the ether that surrounds your earth. I am not a human being, but a spirit and a demon from the hottest hell. I am what you Orleanians and your foolish police call the Axeman.”

“Now, to be exact, at 12:15 (earthly time) on next Tuesday night, I am going to pass over New Orleans. In my infinite mercy, I am going to make a little proposition to you people. Here it is: I am very fond of jazz music, and I swear by all the devils in the nether regions that every person shall be spared in whose home a jazz band is in full swing at the time I have just mentioned.”

The Investigation and Theories

The police were baffled by the Axeman’s crimes. The randomness of the victims, combined with the lack of clear motive or pattern, made it difficult to predict his next move or to develop a profile of the killer. Various theories were proposed, including that the Axeman was targeting Italian grocers specifically, possibly out of some grudge, or that he was a deranged individual with no specific victim type in mind.

Several people were arrested in connection with the murders, but none were ever definitively linked to the crimes. Some speculated that the Axeman might have been connected to organized crime, given the prevalence of Mafia activity in New Orleans at the time, but no solid evidence supported this theory.

The case also attracted the attention of amateur sleuths and psychics, but their efforts yielded no results. Despite numerous leads, the Axeman was never caught, and the attacks stopped as suddenly as they began.

Aftermath

The identity of the Axeman remains a mystery to this day. The case has become part of New Orleans folklore, with the image of the axe-wielding killer still haunting the city’s collective memory. The case has inspired numerous books, documentaries, and even fictionalized accounts, cementing its place as one of the most chilling unsolved mysteries in American history.

The Axeman of New Orleans left behind a legacy of fear and unanswered questions. Was he truly a deranged killer, or was he something more sinister? The truth may never be known, but the tale of the Axeman continues to captivate and terrify, nearly a century later.