Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Sick Pilgrim

Home
Catholic
When the Angel of Death Comes, Play Jazz: The Axman of New Orleans

When the Angel of Death Comes, Play Jazz: The Axman of New Orleans

Last updated on: October 18, 2016 at 7:00 pm by Matt Lafleur

When the Angel of Death Comes, Play Jazz: The Axman of New Orleans 2016-10-18T16:33:56-05:00 Matt Lafleur

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

New Orleans, 1919.

On the cusp of national prohibition, living in the Big Easy was, overall, classy, boisterous, and, well, easy. The largest port city in the south-central US provided ample opportunity for a mix of all different types of cultures, a tasty Creole gumbo of varied ingredients.

From the suave fellows to the dapper flappers, life was good.

Until a shadowy killer terrorized the city of New Orleans and its suburbs.

The killer’s M.O. was to break into a house in the middle of the night using a chisel on the door. Then he’d grab an axe from the backyard and murder the victims in their bedrooms. He left valuables behind. He wasn’t motivated by robbery. He was in it for the kill.

picture from murderbygaslight.com

The killer was never identified or caught. A rumor circulated that the mafia was to blame, since the victims were mostly Italian-Americans. But of the more than 14 victims, only four were single men. Some believe the Axman mostly targeted women, and only killed men who interfered. Many believed, at the time, that the mafia wouldn’t kill women.

The news that a killer was breaking into people’s homes and murdering them in their beds gave the killer a supernatural, phantom-like quality. In the heart of New Orleans, a place known for its superstition and mysticism, the killer became a legend.

It sounds unbelievable, but this story is 100% true. Good old New Orleans.

The New Orleans newspaper The Times-Picayune, published this letter to the editor in March that year:

Hell, March 13, 1919

Esteemed Mortal:

They have never caught me and they never will. They have never seen me, for I am invisible, even as the ether that surrounds your earth. I am not a human being, but a spirit and a demon from the hottest hell. I am what you Orleanians and your foolish police call the Axman.

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 he whom I have sent below to keep me company.

If you wish you may tell the police to be careful not to rile me. Of course, I am a reasonable spirit. I take no offense at the way they have conducted their investigations in the past. In fact, they have been so utterly stupid as to not only amuse me, but His Satanic Majesty, Francis Josef, etc. But tell them to beware. Let them not try to discover what I am, for it were better that they were never born than to incur the wrath of the Axman. I don’t think there is any need of such a warning, for I feel sure the police will always dodge me, as they have in the past. They are wise and know how to keep away from all harm.

Undoubtedly, you Orleanians think of me as a most horrible murderer, which I am, but I could be much worse if I wanted to. If I wished, I could pay a visit to your city every night. At will I could slay thousands of your best citizens, for I am in close relationship with the Angel of Death.

Now, to be exact, at 12:15 (earthly time) on next Tuesday night, I am going to pass over New Orleans. In my infinite mercy, I am going to make a little proposition to you people. Here it is:

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 going, well, then, so much the better for you people. One thing is certain and that is that some of your people who do not jazz it on Tuesday night (if there be any) will get the axe.

Well, as I am cold and crave the warmth of my native Tartarus, and it is about time I leave your earthly home, I will cease my discourse. Hoping that thou wilt publish this, that it may go well with thee, I have been, am and will be the worst spirit that ever existed either in fact or realm of fancy.

The Axman

That night, every dance-hall in New Orleans had a jazz band playing, and almost every house blared recordings of jazz music. There were no victims.

The final victim died in October of 1919. After that, the Axman disappeared suddenly. Now he only lives in legend, the most notorious serial killer of new Orleans.

Better keep this on, just in case. Stay safe, sick pilgrims.

Previous Post

October 17, 2016

Burn the Catholic Witches! (Like Me)

Next Post

October 19, 2016 Going in Fire: Spooky Tales from the Crooked Tree

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Approaching Mystery art Book Reviews Catholic Ghost Story Catholicism community Confession Current Events Dark Devotional Deconstruction Deconstruction Fellow Travelers I Want To Believe Interview Laudato Si Lent Mary Matthew's Letters Movie Reviews Music Reviews Our Charism Personal Essay Pilgrims Pope Francis Popular Piety Prayer Publishing Richard Beck Saints Satan Sheed and Ward Sick Pilgrim Charism Sick Pilgrim Chats Sick Pilgrim Events Sick Pilgrim Travelin' Medicine Show Sick Pilgrimage to The West Sick Pilgrims Small Joys Spiritual Autobiography Spooky Files of Ave Maria Magazine Spooky October Spooky Pilgrim Spooky Pilgrimage Strange Journey The Inklings Things Keeping Us Going Trying to Say God TV Reviews Uncategorized women in the Catholic Church Wonder Podcast Write the Vision

Select a Month February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 October 2019 September 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was Paul's original name?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Matthias Simon Levi Saul