The Axeman

The Axeman was a serial killer in New Orleans, Louisiana. His killings started around May 1918 and ended around October 1919, but press reports say there were similar murders around 1911. He was known for his famous method of operation by either using an axe or straight razor which he would find in his victims home and use murder them. Before entering his victim’s home, he would smash the back door. The Axeman had many victims, majority being Italian Americans.

The Axeman was also known for his famous letter which he had used to scare his victim’s into playing jazz on Tuesday night. He also dares them to not play jazz as they would face the consequence of having the axe smashed into their head. A probable cause of the murders was to promote jazz music because the Axeman stated in his famous letter he wouldn’t punish those who played jazz.

Joseph Maggio was attacked on May 22, 1918 while in bed with his wife, Catherine, in their home. The killer broke into their home and killed them by using a straight razor to cut the victims throat. As the Axeman was leaving he smashed an axe into the couple’s head perhaps trying to hide the real cause of death. The wife of Maggio, Catherine, was found by her husband brothers; Jake and Andrew Maggio. Her head covered in blood and almost dismantled from her body. Her husbands throat was also slit too but not as bad as hers.

On June 27, 1918, Louis Besumer, a German spy and his mistress Harriet Lowe were attacked early in the morning, maybe minutes before 7 AM. Besumer was smashed above his right temple by a hatchet, resulting in a skull fracture. Lowe was slashed over the left ear which later resulted in partially paralyzing her face. John Zanca was making a routine delivery around 7AM when he discovered the couple covered in their blood, bleeding from their heads. The victims were still unconscious when the police arrived on the scene. On August 5, 1918, Lowe had passed away two days after doctors tried to repair her face. Just before her death Lowe told authorities Luis Besumer was her attacker. Besumer had to serve nine months in prison because he was charged with murder but was later released on May 1, 1919 after the jury took ten minutes to carefully analyze the situation.

He had at least a dozen victims or more but there was never any arrest made. The Axeman last known killing was on the night of October 27, 1919. Mike Pepitone was smashed in the head and found covered in his own blood by his wife. She was awakened by a loud noise and saw a man fleeing the scene Mrs. Pepitone was unable to describe the killer. This was the last known killing by the Axeman. The Axeman was never caught.