The Axeman of New Orleans: A Jazz-Age Nightmare
Blood in the Bayou: The Jazz-Loving Killer Who Terrorized New Orleans
What happens when jazz becomes a lifeline—and silence becomes a death sentence?
In the spring of 1919, the people of New Orleans were given an ultimatum. A killer, who had already brutally attacked multiple families with an axe, sent a letter to the local newspaper claiming he would strike again—but would spare anyone who had jazz music “in full swing” in their home that night.
That’s right. An axe-wielding maniac told an entire city to throw a jazz party… or else.
And the wildest part? They did.
In this week's Crime Clueless episode, we dig deep into the chilling, bizarre, and still-unsolved case of The Axeman of New Orleans, a shadowy figure who bludgeoned his way into the city’s most terrifying folklore. The case is infamous for its brutality, mystery, and absurd theatricality. But there’s so much more to the story than one creepy letter.
🔪 The Killer Who Hated Silence
Between 1918 and 1919, at least a dozen people were attacked in their own homes—most while they slept. Some died instantly. Others lingered in agony. A few, miraculously, survived to tell police what little they remembered: a large, silent figure who vanished into the night.
The murder weapon? Usually the family’s own axe, left bloodied at the scene.
The victims? Often Italian-American grocers, though not exclusively. Theories flew. Was this a Mafia vendetta? A sadistic psychopath? A madman obsessed with jazz?
And then, of course, came the infamous letter from Hell—a taunting, bizarre manifesto that claimed the Axeman was a “spirit and a demon” who would be out prowling the streets on March 19… unless you were playing jazz. Because, obviously, the demon from Hell loved a good horn section.
🎺 The Night New Orleans Jazzed for Its Life
On March 19, 1919, the city came alive in the most New Orleans way possible. Jazz bands played from porches, kitchens, and speakeasies. Dance halls were packed. People who’d never touched an instrument grabbed anything that could make noise. The streets throbbed with music—not out of joy, but fear.
And just like that… no one died that night.
To this day, people argue over whether the Axeman was bluffing or if the whole letter was a hoax. But the effect was real—and it turned an already terrifying case into something unforgettable.
🕵️♂️ Theories, Suspects, and a Whole Lot of Maybes
We dive into every major theory and suspect in this episode, including:
Frank “Doc” Mumphrey (aka Joseph Monfre): A shady character with mob ties, an alias, and a sudden disappearance that just so happened to coincide with the end of the attacks.
The Mafia/Black Hand Theory: Was this actually a brutal, old-school extortion racket gone public?
A Classic Serial Killer Profile: Did the Axeman kill for pleasure? Was he an early example of a lust murderer—Jack the Ripper with a jazz soundtrack?
We also examine the cultural tensions of the time, including the targeting of Italian-American families, the limits of early forensic investigation, and how a city already reeling from World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic became the perfect storm for fear, folklore, and violence.
🎬 Pop Culture’s Favorite Axe Murderer
The Axeman has never really left the spotlight. He’s been immortalized in everything from jazz sheet music (yes, really) to a terrifying arc in American Horror Story: Coven. His legacy is part true crime, part urban legend, and part cautionary tale.
He may have stopped killing over 100 years ago, but he lives on in stories, tours, books, and—now—this podcast episode.
🧠Our Hot Takes
We’re not here to regurgitate the Wikipedia summary (though you’ll get all the facts). We’re here to ask the weird questions:
Why would someone write a letter like that unless they were either totally unhinged… or wanted attention?
Could the Axeman have been more than one person?
And seriously, did a jazz band actually save lives?
Tune in as we piece together the bloody puzzle, analyze each victim’s story, challenge the most popular theories, and maybe—just maybe—get one step closer to understanding the Axeman’s twisted motivations.
🎧 Listen now to “The Axeman of New Orleans: A Jazz-Age Nightmare” on your favorite podcast platform.
And remember: Lock your doors. Hide your axes. And maybe throw on some jazz... just in case.
Have thoughts on this story or other cases you’d like to see highlighted? Share them with us in the comments or connect with us on social media. Together, we can ensure that stories like this one are never forgotten.
Don’t forget to follow us on social media, share your thoughts, and let us know what you’d like to hear about in future episodes. If you have any true crime stories of your own, send them our way crimeclueless@gmail.com to be featured on a future episode! And as always, remember: refuse to be clueless, careless, or caught off guard. Not today, murderers.
See you in the next episode of Crime Clueless!
📚 Sources and Further Reading
Davis, M. C. (2017). The Axeman of New Orleans: The true story. Chicago Review Press.
Tallant, R. (1952). Ready to hang: Seven famous New Orleans murders. Pelican Publishing Company.
Warner, R. (2008). The mystery of Vito Di Giorgio: A mafia killer in New Orleans. On the Spot Journal. Retrieved from https://onthespotjournal.com/vito-di-giorgio/
Newton, M. (2012). The encyclopedia of unsolved crimes (2nd ed.). Infobase Publishing.
Wilson, C., & Wilson, D. (2004). The mammoth book of true crime. Carroll & Graf Publishers.
History.com Editors. (2020, October 27). Jazz-loving serial killer Axeman of New Orleans tormented city in 1918–1919. History. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/news/jazz-axeman-serial-killer-new-orleans
Clifford, J. (2019, March 13). The Axeman of New Orleans Preyed on Italian Immigrants. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/axeman-new-orleans-preyed-italian-immigrants-180971655/
Hearn, L. (2018, March 13). The Axeman of New Orleans. Country Roads Magazine. Retrieved from https://countryroadsmagazine.com/art-and-culture/history/axeman-of-new-orleans/
Vice Staff. (2017, October 31). How the Axeman Terrorized a City and Escaped the Law. Vice. Retrieved from https://www.vice.com/en/article/9kbv5y/axeman-of-new-orleans-murders-true-crime
Historic New Orleans Collection. (1919). The mysterious Axman's jazz (Don't scare me Papa) [Sheet music]. Retrieved from https://www.hnoc.org/
American Horror Story Wiki. (2013). Axeman of New Orleans (Coven). Retrieved from https://americanhorrorstory.fandom.com/wiki/Axeman_of_New_Orleans_(Coven)
Infamous America. (2022). The Axeman of New Orleans [Podcast series]. Black Barrel Media. Retrieved from https://www.blackbarrelmedia.com/infamous-america
Stuff You Missed in History Class. (2018, October 10). The Axeman of New Orleans, Parts 1 & 2 [Audio podcast]. iHeartRadio. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-stuff-you-missed-in-histo-21124503/episode/the-axeman-of-new-orleans-part-1-29848725/
Celestin, R. (2014). The Axeman’s Jazz. Mantle.
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