True Crime Friday: The Axeman of New Orleans, an unidentified serial killer
This serial killer was active in May of 1918 through October of 1919. The attacker was never identified, and the murders remain unsolved to this very day. In the old dates it was not uncommon for people living in the countryside to have axes in their yards. They were used to cut down trees and to cut wood for fireplaces. So, every household had at least one axe in their possessions. The axes would be left outside after a hard day’s work. The killer used his victims own axes to murder them. The serial killer did not steal any items from the victims’ homes, so he was there strictly to kill.
Many of his victims were Italian Americans. Some believed the killings were racially motivated. These crimes may have been sexually motivated and the reason the males were murdered were to get to the real target of which were the women. It must also be stated that during this period Italians did not have the social standing they do today. They were not considered white and were despised as most immigrants were during that time.
A newspaper article dated March 13, 1919, supposedly sent by the serial killer suggested that if the town did not want any murders to happen, they would need to play jazz music on a particular night. On that night every home that played jazz music did not have anyone murdered. In fact, there were no murders. As with most serial killers, he was confident he would not be caught. He said in his letter to the newspapers “When I see fit, I shall come and claim other victims. I alone know whom they shall be. I shall leave no clue except my bloody axe, besmeared with blood and brains of the whom I have sent below to keep me company.” The Axeman murdered eleven people including a two-year-old child.
The Less Dead
Since the victims were immigrants, they were low on the victim scales for the police to thoroughly investigate the crimes against them. As most of you know, if you read my articles the Less Dead are people that society deems less worthy than others. And since society does not care about these victims the police do not receive public pressure or backlash to solve their cases.The Victims of The Axeman of New Orleans
- Joseph Maggio
- Catherine Maggio
- Louis Besumer
- Harriet Lowe
- Anna Schneider
- Joseph Romano
- Charles Cortimiglia
- Rose Cortimiglia
- Mary Cortimiglia was 2-years old
- Sarah Laumann
- Mike Pepitone
The Survivors of The Axeman of New Orleans
- Louis Besumer
- Harriet Lowe
Lady Justice
A man named Louis Besumer and Harriet Lowe who were lovers were attacked in the apartment connected to his grocery store. Besumer claimed the attacker was a biracial man. But Lowe accused Besumer of being the attacker. The police investigated Lowe’s claim and could not find any direct evidence that Besumer was the attacker. Other suspects were identified but police found no evidence and the cases were dropped.The Axeman was never caught or identified. His crime spree ended abruptly leaving people to believe he was in prison, moved to another city or was dead. The questions of who he was and why he committed these murders will always remain unanswered. Another case where the victims and their families never received justice.