The Axeman of New Orleans: Unmasking the 1918-1919 Unsolved Mystery Meta Description

 

Dive into the chilling story of the Axeman of New Orleans, a 1918-1919 unsolved serial killer case that terrorized Italian immigrants and inspired jazz lore. Explore theories, victims, and legacy.

 

Introduction: A City Gripped by Fear

In the sweltering summer of 1918, New Orleans—a city renowned for its jazz, Creole cuisine, and vibrant culture—was plunged into a nightmare. A shadowy figure, armed with an axe and a straight razor, began targeting Italian American families in their homes, leaving a trail of bloodshed and terror. Dubbed “the Axeman,” this elusive killer struck under the cover of darkness, prying open doors with a chisel and using the victims’ own tools to commit atrocities. Over 13 months, the Axeman’s reign of terror claimed at least six lives, injured countless others, and sparked mass hysteria.

Despite one of the largest manhunts in New Orleans history, the killer vanished as mysteriously as he appeared. His identity remains unknown, fueling speculation about mob ties, occult rituals, and even supernatural forces. More than a century later, the Axeman’s story endures as a haunting blend of true crime, cultural folklore, and unsolved mystery. This deep dive explores the historical context, chilling crimes, botched investigation, and lasting legacy of one of America’s most enigmatic serial killers.

 

Historical Context: New Orleans in the Early 20th Century

To understand the Axeman’s reign, we must first examine the social, cultural, and political landscape of 1918 New Orleans.

A Melting Pot Under Strain

By the early 1900s, New Orleans was a bustling port city and a cultural crossroads. African American, Creole, French, Spanish, and Italian communities coexisted, but tensions simmered beneath the surface. Italian immigrants, many from Sicily, had settled in the city in waves since the 1880s, often working as laborers, fishermen, or grocers. However, they faced rampant discrimination. Anti-Italian sentiment, fueled by stereotypes linking them to organized crime, reached a fever pitch in the 1890s after the lynching of 11 Sicilian men—a dark chapter rarely discussed in history books.

The “Black Hand” and Mafia Panic

Italian immigrants were frequently scapegoated for crime, particularly extortion by the “Black Hand” (La Mano Nera), a loose network of criminals who threatened businesses with violence unless they paid protection money. While the Black Hand was real, media sensationalism exaggerated its reach, painting entire communities as complicit. This fearmongering created a toxic environment where Italian Americans were viewed with suspicion, a prejudice that would later hamper the Axeman investigation.

The Jazz Age Dawns Amid Global Crises

The Axeman’s spree unfolded against the backdrop of World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic, which killed over 50 million globally. New Orleans, like much of the world, was under strain. Yet even as death loomed, the city’s music scene thrived. Jazz, born in the African American communities of Storyville, was gaining mainstream popularity. Speakeasies and dance halls provided an escape from hardship—a juxtaposition of joy and terror that would define the Axeman era.

 

The Reign of Terror: A Timeline of the Axeman’s Crimes

The Axeman’s attacks followed a chilling pattern: he targeted Italian-owned grocery stores and boarding houses, often striking on weekend nights. Using a chisel to pry open doors, he would attack sleeping victims with an axe or straight razor, aiming for the head and throat. Below is a detailed timeline of key events:

May 23, 1918: The Maggio Family Murders

The first confirmed Axeman attack occurred at the home of Joseph and Catherine Maggio, a Sicilian immigrant couple who ran a grocery store in the French Quarter. Around midnight, an intruder entered their bedroom, bludgeoning Joseph with an axe and slashing Catherine’s throat. Joseph’s brother, Andrew, discovered the bodies the next morning. A bloodied axe was found in the backyard, but police found no fingerprints.

The brutality of the crime shocked the city. Newspapers speculated about a “madman” or a Black Hand hit, but no arrests were made.

June 28, 1918: Louis Besumer and Anna Harriet

A month later, the Axeman struck again. Louis Besumer, a Polish immigrant, and his Italian housekeeper, Anna Harriet, were attacked in their grocery store residence. Harriet, struck in the head with an axe, died days later. Besumer survived but became a suspect due to his tumultuous relationship with Harriet. Despite weak evidence, he was charged with her murder—a decision later criticized as a rush to appease public panic.

August 10, 1918: Pauline Bruno’s Ordeal

Pregnant 19-year-old Pauline Bruno was asleep in her family’s home when the Axeman attacked. Her mother, Josephine, awoke to screams and found Pauline bloodied but alive. The killer fled, leaving behind a chisel. Bruno survived, but her unborn child did not. This attack marked a shift: the Axeman now targeted residential homes, not just businesses.

March 10, 1919: The Cortimiglia Family Tragedy

In the most harrowing attack, the Axeman assaulted the Cortimiglia family in Gretna, Louisiana. Parents Charles and Rosie Cortimiglia were badly injured, and their 2-year-old daughter, Mary, was killed. In a bizarre twist, Rosie accused neighbors Frank Jordano and his father, Iorlando, of the crime. Both were convicted, but the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. Many historians believe Rosie, possibly traumatized or coerced, fabricated the accusation.

The Final Attack: Steve Boca (October 1919)

The last known Axeman victim was Steve Boca, an Italian grocer attacked in his home. Boca survived, but the killer disappeared afterward, leaving no trace.

 

The Axeman’s Letter: A Cryptic Taunt

On March 13, 1919, the New Orleans Times-Picayune published a letter purportedly from the Axeman. Addressed to the public, it read:

“Hell, March 13, 1919
Esteemed Mortal: They have never caught me, and they never will… I am not a human being, but a spirit and a demon from the hottest hell. I am writing this letter to warn you. 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. If everyone has a jazz band playing, I will go on a vacation.”

The letter demanded that jazz music be played in homes on the night of March 19. Remarkably, the city complied. Dance halls hosted all-night parties, and homes blared jazz records. No attacks occurred that night, lending eerie credibility to the letter.

To this day, experts debate its authenticity. Some believe it was a hoax by journalists to sell papers; others argue it matched the killer’s taunting persona. Regardless, the letter cemented the Axeman’s mythos, intertwining his legend with New Orleans’ jazz culture.

 

Investigation and Suspects: A Perfect Storm of Failures

The Axeman case was marred by systemic failures, racial bias, and the limitations of early 20th-century forensics.

Anti-Italian Bias and Scapegoating

Police focused almost exclusively on the Italian community, ignoring other leads. Innocent men like Frank Jordano and Iorlando Greco were jailed based on flimsy evidence, while the killer remained free. This bias mirrored national trends, such as the wrongful execution of the anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti in 1920.

Forensic Limitations

In 1918, forensic science was rudimentary. Fingerprint analysis was in its infancy, and blood type testing (discovered in 1901) was rarely used. The Axeman’s crime scenes yielded few clues, and evidence was often mishandled. For example, the axe from the Maggio murder was cleaned by police, destroying potential fingerprints.

Key Suspects

1. Joseph Mumfre: A career criminal with ties to the Black Hand, Mumfre was shot dead in Los Angeles in 1921 by Esther Albano, widow of Axeman victim Mike Pepitone. Albano claimed Mumfre was the killer, but the evidence was circumstantial.
2. Leopoldo Itta: A mentally unstable lodger in the Bruno household, Itta was briefly detained but released.
3. The Mafia Theory: Some historians suggest the Axeman was a hitman targeting families who refused to pay protection money. However, Mafia hits were typically precise, not random massacres.
4. Copycat Killers: The 13-month gap between attacks raises questions about multiple perpetrators.

 

Legacy and Cultural Impact

The Axeman’s story transcends true crime, influencing music, literature, and pop culture.

Jazz and the “Axman’s Jazz” Phenomenon

The killer’s demand for jazz music inspired a cultural moment. Joseph John Davilla’s 1919 song “The Axman’s Jazz (Don’t Scare Me Papa)” became a local hit, and legends claim jazz greats like Louis Armstrong played in bars that fateful March night.

Literature and Film

• Books: The Axeman’s Carnival (2014) by Ray Celestin reimagines the case through the lens of a jazz musician and a corrupt cop.
• TV: American Horror Story: Coven (2013) features the Axeman as a ghostly lover.
• Documentaries: The Axman Murders (2018) explore historical theories.

Modern True Crime Fascination

The case predates the term “serial killer,” but the Axeman’s tactics—media manipulation, targeted violence—mirror modern offenders like the Zodiac Killer. Podcasts like Lore and Criminal have revived interest, framing the Axeman as a proto-serial killer.

Tourism and Ghost Stories

New Orleans’ ghost tours thrive on Axeman lore. The Old Ursuline Convent, near the Maggio murder site, is a popular stop, with guides claiming the killer’s spirit still roams.

 

Why the Axeman Case Still Haunts Us

1. The Power of Mystery: Unsolved cases tantalize the imagination. Was the Axeman a mortal killer, or did he truly vanish into the night like a ghost?
2. Cultural Resonance: The Axeman’s story reflects America’s struggles with immigration, media sensationalism, and systemic injustice.
3. Jazz as a Lifeline: The letter’s demand for music symbolizes New Orleans’ resilience—a city that danced through the darkness.

 

Conclusion: The Demon That Never Left

The Axeman of New Orleans is more than a historical footnote; he is a specter woven into the city’s identity. His crimes exposed societal fractures, while his legend became a testament to survival. As jazz still echoes through the French Quarter, the Axeman’s story challenges us to confront the past—and to ask: Who was he?

The answer may lie buried in forgotten police files, whispered in Creole folktales, or lost to time. But in a city where the past is always present, the Axeman’s axe still swings in the shadows.