The Axeman of New Orleans
New Orleans, Orleans County, Louisiana · 1918–1919
An unidentified axe-wielding intruder terrorized New Orleans for over a year, then sent a letter signed from 'Hell' promising to spare anyone whose home had a jazz band playing in full swing.
Overview
Between May 1918 and October 1919, an unidentified serial killer attacked at least a dozen people in New Orleans and its surrounding parishes, killing at least six, often breaking in at night and striking sleeping victims with an axe found on the premises. Many of the victims were Italian-American grocers, which led police to theorize Mafia or 'Black Hand' involvement, though attacks on non-Italian victims weakened that theory. In March 1919 a letter purporting to come from the Axeman was published in New Orleans newspapers, claiming he would spare anyone with a jazz band playing at a set hour; the city responded with jazz parties and no murders occurred that night. The attacker was never identified, caught, or charged, and the case remains unsolved.
Where it stands
The case remains officially unsolved; the killer was never identified, arrested, or charged, and Country Roads Magazine concludes 'the mystery remains unsolved.' According to Wikipedia, scholar Richard Warner identified Frank 'Doc' Mumphrey (1875–1921), who used the alias Leon Joseph Monfre/Manfre, as the chief suspect. NOLA.com (The Times-Picayune) reports that a man named Joseph Mumfre, a previously convicted 'Black Hander,' was shot and killed in Los Angeles by Esther Pepitone, widow of the Axeman's apparent last victim Mike Pepitone, though this account is disputed and has never been confirmed as linking him to the murders. Some historians, including Miriam Davis, argue the famous jazz letter was not written by the actual killer.
Persons of interest
The theories below are reported strictly as attributed to the cited sources. Naming a person here is not an accusation. Individuals are named only where they are deceased, were formally charged, were officially named by authorities, or have been publicly cleared.
- Frank 'Doc' Mumphrey (also recorded as Joseph Mumfre), a suspect named by researchersDeceased
Per Wikipedia, scholar Richard Warner identified Frank 'Doc' Mumphrey (1875–1921) as the chief suspect. NOLA.com reports a man named Joseph Mumfre, a previously convicted 'Black Hander,' was shot and killed in Los Angeles by Esther Pepitone, widow of apparent last victim Mike Pepitone; he was never charged in connection with the Axeman killings and the link remains unproven.[1]
Sources
- Axeman of New Orleans
“On March 13, 1919, a letter purporting to be from the Axeman was published in newspapers.”
- The Mysterious Axman's Jazz
“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.”
- The Axeman of New Orleans
“Unsatisfyingly, the mystery remains unsolved.”
- A jazz-loving, sadistic serial killer called Axman terrorized New Orleans. Then he disappeared.
“He was never seen again after his final recorded killings.”