The Terrifying Axeman of New Orleans

When he regained consciousness, he did not remember the details of the attack. So this is the location of the penultimate attack. And apparently the house is no longer there. - Yes. - Approximately two months later, on October 27, 1919, at the corner of South Scott and Ulloa Street, the suspicious Axeman attacked Esther and Mike Pepitone. Esther reportedly woke up around 1:00 a.m. m. when her husband screamed and ran to the bedroom. Her husband's head received 18 blows and he died two hours later. Esther saw two figures in the bedroom, but she was unable to identify them as they fled the scene.

By the way, two figures. - Razor Boy. (laughing) - Oh my God, no. - He is back. -No, we are not...-he has returned from boarding school. (laughs) - One of the apparent weapons was a bolt with a heavy nut, something used to secure a circus tent. That weekend there was a circus on the nearby two-lane avenue. - Was this the last one? - Uhhh, yeah. -If this guy survived for two hours after receiving 18 lassoes, the Axeman probably wasn't used to that kind of resistance. He probably hit him once and the guy was like, “Oh, wow, what a hit.” And he said, "Okay, I guess I'll hit you again." He said, "My God, I didn't feel much better." It was like three, four, five. -This brings us to the supposed end of the Axeman's killing spree.

And with that, let's get into the theories. The first theory is that perhaps not all of the murders were the work of the Axeman. Some speculate that the Axeman's alleged eventual murder of Mike Pepitone was actually a mob murder. Because Pepitone's father killed a man in the past. Another Axeman attack that is being examined is the second attack on Louis Besumer and Anna Lowe. If you remember, Louis Besumer was seriously injured and his partner Anna Lowe died in that same attack. However, Besumer was accused of Anna's murder, in a strange way. Police discovered that Besumer had written letters, back and forth, in Yiddish and Russian.

They eventually concluded that Besumer was part of a German spy network, or the Kaiser's spymaster. And the attack had nothing to do with the Axeman. - A spy is not going to break someone's head with an axe. -And then he will hit his head. -Well, he will lower a rope from the ceiling, put a drop of poison on it and let that poison fall into the mouth of a sleeping person. They are dead in there. - Well, if they're sleeping, then why don't you put it in their mouth as a drop? - I don't know. It's what spies do.

That's just what they do. - Never... It's the first time I've heard that. - Everyone does that. - I think you made it up. - I didn't make it up. It happens in a James Bond movie. - Which? - Um, the racist. (laughs) Where is it in Japan. -Before she died, Anna Lowe allegedly blamed her partner Louis Besumer and said he was a Nazi spy. They also theorized that this case was a domestic dispute that ended with Louis attacking Anna. However, Louis Besumer was acquitted. There were definitely things that suggested this was the Axeman's work. Mainly the fact that it happened at home at night, while they were sleeping with an axe. - It would take an enormous amount of strength to be able to, you know, really crush someone.

And then also... I have a hard time ripping off a band-aid. - Although you are a coward. And if someone had the mental strength to do something painful, he would be a spy, right? - I just think it's very nice that you're calling me a coward. - Yes. - Because you hear footsteps and you say, "Oh, I better hide under the bed." - In vain with this theory, there is also speculation on the Internet that some of the Axeman's murders could have been the work of a copycat. The second theory is that, given the context of the strange letter from him, some believe the Axeman is a supernatural figure, who could sneak through small entrances and become the large man witnesses described as the killer. - No no no no no. - Just a theory. - Well, it's nonsense. (laughing) Did he shrink like a little mouse?

Is that what you're saying? -Yo, at what point did I...-Is he like Ant Man? He's like (imitates button) courting. (laughs) "Now that I'm grown up, it's time to die." - At what point... (laughs) The last theory is actually a legitimate suspect. A man is called Joseph Mumfre. To start with Mumfre, let's go back to the Axeman's last crime. The attack on Esther and Mike Pepitone. If you remember, Esther survived the attack and her husband did not. Esther later moved to Los Angeles and remarried a man named Angelo Albano. However, on the second anniversary of her ex-husband Mike's death at the hands of the Axeman, her current husband Angelo disappeared and was never found again.

Esther remembered that before getting married, Angelo had broken off business relations with a man who had many names. Including Joseph Mumfre. On December 5, 1921, Mumfre visited Esther's home at 5554 East 36th Street in Los Angeles. He demanded $500 and Esther's jewelry. Threatening to quote: "Kill her the same way she had killed her husband." End of quote. But, like a badass, Esther then killed him with a revolver. - Oh! Good for her. - We have had two tough ladies in this story. The girl who was hit in the head gave birth and survived. And then this girl who was threatened and said, "Uh, fuck that." - "Well, you know what I'll do is shoot you." (laughs) - This is the place where Esther shot and killed Joseph Mumfre.

It's a little crazy to think that this may be the place where Axeman was actually killed. Good for you, Esther. Shoot him in the face. - Yeah, I mean, what else can you do? -If he really killed two of her husbands, whether he was the Axeman or not. Expensive. - Yes, face full of bullets. She deserved it. - Give him the bullet sandwich. Now, what does this have to do with the Axeman, given that Esther was present at the murder of her husband Mike Pepitone? , when Esther was arrested for shooting Joseph Mumfre, she claimed that Mumfre was the axe and had seen him run out of her room the night her husband was killed.

Los Angeles police noted that there was evidence linking Mumfre to the death of Mike Pepitone. And Esther was acquitted for Mumfre's death. Here are some other things that seem to suggest Joseph Mumfre was the axe. Upon investigation, police discovered that Mumfre led a blackmail ring in New Orleans, which preyed on Italians. And almost all of the Ax victims were Italian. - Is this guy racist? - Most were Italian shopkeepers. - Wow, screw this guy. (laughing) - Is this what made you spin? -If there is already a basis that he is going to kill, I don't approve, but if he is going to do it, then at least do it randomly. - I guess, how about we don't kill people? - Look Ryan, what are we here for? - I'm just... - I thought we were here to get inside the mind of a serial killer. - I know, I'm just saying, what if they were all Italian shopkeepers? - Oh, that's delicious.

It all turned out to be... Yes. That will hold up in court. - Mumfre has been in and out of prison for the last 10 years. And his stay out of prison coincided with the Axeman's attacks. That said, there was not enough evidence to directly link Mumfre to the crimes. And eyewitnesses can be wrong. Only circumstantial evidence leads people to believe that Mumfre was the murderer. If you remember, Esther Pepitone originally said that there were two men in her room the night her first husband was killed. So is she lying or is the Axeman perhaps multiple people?

What do you think? - I think... - That's all, by the way. - I think it could very well be him. I know he says there isn't much evidence. But that was the sweet spot for serial killers, right? - I think they may have been a series of copycat killers. - Yes, that seems likely. - Leading a gang of blackmailers in New Orleans that takes advantage of Italians. What a strange thing... - I've never heard of a blackmailing gang. - What does a gang of blackmailers do? - They just get together and say, "I saw this guy fucking a goat." (laughs) - In the end, there aren't many clues as to the identity of the famous New Orleans Axeman.

Was this the work of a series of imitators, or was it the result of one troubled individual? For now, the case remains unsolved. (creepy music) If someone started banging people's heads in Los Angeles, he'd say, "If you don't play Bruno Mars every Tuesday." -- - "You better play Bruno." - "I'm going to be very angry." - "If you're not going to be Bruno on Tuesday night." - "If we don't do it Bruno..." - "The devil and I are big fans of Bruno." (creepy music)