In the early hours of March 10, 1918, a man entered the home of grocer Pat O’Brien and murdered him in cold blood. Upon discovering his body in bed with his wife, he then proceeded to take their 3-year old son hostage. The man’s identity remains unknown to this day. Still, for three days following that nightmarish incident, the city was cast into terror as more people were found dead at their homes – all brutally murdered by an assailant who has since become known as “The Axeman Of New Orleans.” You can read more about this legend at Filmdaily, Axeman Of New Orleans. If it’s not enough for you, this article will do.
The Axeman of New Orleans
The Axeman of New Orleans is a name given to the unknown serial killer responsible for an estimated eleven murders in New Orleans, Louisiana, from May 1918 to October 1919. His modus operandi was always the same: he would break into homes of Italian-Americans and attack them with either a hatchet or ax while they were asleep. Most of his victims had their skulls crushed by the swing of an ax. The ax could be his own, but sometimes, he used the target’s ax.
A Killer in the Night
Although many things about him remained unclear, one thing for sure is that he constantly terrorized the city in the night. Nobody knew when he would come, but people were more afraid at night than during the day. Some of his victims came from respectable families, while others did not. He targeted Italian-Americans because they had occupied New Orleans so much from 1918 to 1919 and seemed like easy targets. However, other people debunked this theory by saying that some victims were not of Italian descent, and some did not live in the city.
The Legend Continues
This story kept getting more popular throughout the city but not for a good reason. There have been many theories about who the Axeman was, but it is most likely that he never existed. The city has its version of this story, and there are some interesting ones out there. Some people thought they had seen him with their own eyes, so you can say that he created a buzz around New Orleans from 1918 to 1919.
Myths About the Axeman’s Identity
There are many myths about the identity of the Axeman of New Orleans. The first myth is that he was a demented man who had some mental illness. Many people believe that because the Axeman would only attack at night and then disappear with no trace. Some thought that he had superhuman strength or even invisibility, but many have come to realize this as just an assumption without any evidence behind it.
Why This Story Matters to Us Today
The legend of the Axeman of New Orleans does matter to us today. It gives us a great insight into the culture of New Orleans in the early 1900s. It brings up some interesting theories about who he was and his motives for killing these women, men, and children. For example, some believe it had something to do with Italian immigrants, while others say prostitution or even voodoo could be involved! One thing for sure is that crimes and murders should never exist in the world.
The Axeman of New Orleans was never caught. He is the only serial killer in American history to elude capture and live out his days unpunished. It’s not hard to imagine why this case has become an obsession for many historians, writers, amateur sleuths, armchair detectives, true crime fans—and even Hollywood producers! What are some unanswered questions that still nag at you about the axman? Share your favorite theories in the comment section below.