Case file · Folklore / legend
The Axeman's letter 'from Hell'
In March 1919 a letter signed 'the Axeman' and headed 'Hell' told New Orleans he would spare any house where a jazz band was playing at 12:15 on St. Joseph's night.
1919 CE · 29.95, -90.07 · status: disputed
The account
The city's dance halls and homes filled with music that night and no one was attacked. The Axeman killed or injured at least a dozen people in 1918–19 and was never caught.
The sceptical view
The murders were real; the letter was probably written by a prankster or journalist.