Mumfre's Execution Essay: The First Axe Murders

On the morning of May 22, 1918, A baker (Joseph Maggio) and his wife, Catherine, had been brutally attacked by a maniac by an axe. After that, throughout the course of 17 months, 12 more people have been brutally murdered by almost identical techniques. In all cases, entry to the home was gained by a panel in the rear door, nothing was ever stolen from the homes, and no one who witnessed the attacker.

Victims were brutally murdered by multiple hits with an axe. In most cases, the back door of the victim’s home was smashed. One or more residents were attacked, almost always with an axe but sometimes with a straight razor as well. No items were ever stolen. Each victim was Italian, and either a grocer or a baker. Each was killed in his own home. On each occasion, the murder weapon was left behind for the police to find.

On December 2, 1920, Esther Albano (whose husband was the last known victim of the Axeman) shot a New Orleans resident named Joseph Mumfre.

Mumfre was killed instantly. She told police she had seen Mumfre running away from her husband’s room after he was murdered. Mumfre had once been the leader of a band of blackmailers in New Orleans who had preyed on Italians. He had also been sent to prison just after the first axe murders in 1911. In the summer of 1918, he was set free - at the same time the Axeman appeared again. However, police found no direct evidence that Mumfre had been involved with the attacks. Mrs. Pepitone received ten-years in

prison.

The characteristics of a person who commits such crimes by axe is that he/she must be very strong, race does not matter, and that the person could be short because he crawled through the hole in the door, the nationality could be italian because he/she could be affiliated with the Mafia and could be a hit-man to drive away italian shopkeepers.

The crimes were committed during 1918-1919. At that time, the U.S. was dealing with the end of World War 1. One heavy influence this time period had was the popularity of Jazz music. The murderer was very fond of Jazz music and wouldn't kill anyone if Jazz was playing.

There has been no mention of any investigators, however the Police Officer in charge during the time was Police Chief David Hennessy. He died when a group of Mafia assassins gunned down Police Chief David Hennessy, Police Chief David Hennessy supposedly arrested a Mafia leader which was the motive for his murder. Suspects were arrested, but at their trials jury members were threatened and bribed, so each of the men got off.

To this date, there is no forensic evidence and police are not certain who the murderer is. However some of the possibilities of today is that forensic scientists may use fingerprint analysis on the axe because the murderer always leaves his axe behind or even anywhere on the crime scene. Forensic scientists could have also used DNA to identify the murderer by inspecting hair strands and fibers.

In the end, nobody was convicted except for Mrs. Pepitone, however, many respected crime investigators believe that Mumfre truly was the Axeman of New Orleans, even though there was no forensic evidence.

There is no forensic evidence to prove anyone guilty, however I believe that the murderer was Mumfre because he was affiliated with the mafia, and the crimes were only committed when he was out of prison.