DeepSummary
Between 1909 and 1912, a series of brutal axe murders of entire families occurred along the Southern Pacific railroad line between Louisiana and Texas. All the victims were Black, lived near the train line, were killed at night with their skulls fractured by an axe, and the bloody axe was often left at the scene. While many suspects were arrested, including teenager Clementine Barnabet, no serious suspect was ever definitively identified.
Clementine Barnabet confessed to murdering over 20 people and claimed to be part of an 'axe gang' linked to a religious sect. She was convicted in 1912 of one murder based largely on her confession and the presence of blood and brain matter on her apron. However, her story changed frequently, and murders continued while she was in prison, casting doubt on her full culpability.
After undergoing a mysterious 'delicate operation' in prison described as curing her 'desire to kill,' Barnabet was released in 1923 after only 11 years. Many details of the case remain uncertain, including the veracity of Barnabet's confessions, the existence of an 'axe gang,' and whether she suffered from mental illness that caused her to falsely confess.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Between 1909-1912, a series of brutal axe murders targeting entire Black families occurred along the Southern Pacific railroad line through Louisiana and Texas.
- Teenager Clementine Barnabet confessed to the murders and was convicted in 1912, but her stories frequently changed and murders continued while she was imprisoned, casting doubt on her full culpability.
- Barnabet claimed the murders were committed by an 'axe gang' linked to a religious sacrifice sect, but little evidence supported this sensationalized claim promoted by the media.
- Grisly crime scene details like staged bodies in praying positions and biblical quotes written in blood lent the murders a ritualistic air that fueled cult theories.
- After undergoing a mysterious medical 'operation' in prison, Barnabet was released in 1923 after only 11 years despite her life sentence, introducing further controversy.
- The full truth behind Barnabet's role and motivations remain uncertain, with theories ranging from her being part of a disturbed cult to being a mentally ill teenage scapegoat.
- The 'Louisiana Axe Murders' case highlights issues of racism, lack of criminal justice resources, and media sensationalism in the early 20th century American South.
- Enduring mysteries continue to surround who truly committed the axe murders and what role, if any, the young Clementine Barnabet played in the horrific crimes.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “We have had the woman under observation. Ever since, she has lost all traces of her old desire to kill and sings cheerfully as she works in the fields. The cure is as complete as it is wonderful.“ by Colonel Harrison Parker
- “According to the press, after they were killed, and this is a quote by the Lafayette Advertiser, the man and woman were taken up by the murderer and placed on their knees beside the bed, the woman's arm over the man's shoulder as if in the attitude of prayer.“ by Elena (narrator)
- “Clementine told the sheriff that, quote, moral perversion was responsible for a passion to shed human blood and take human life that she could not control.“ by Clementine Barnabet
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Episode Information
Morbid
Morbid Network | Wondery
7/1/24
From about 1910 to 1912, an alarming number of axe murders were occurring across the American South and Southwest. Though many would speculate as to the identity of perpetrator, including the theory that a single individual was responsible, many of these murders would remain unsolved and contribute to macabre urban legends that endure to this day. In New Orleans, however, the brutal axe murders of at least five Black families in 1911 and 1912 are attributed to Clementine Barnabet, an African American teenager who confessed to the crimes.
Despite having confessed to as many as thirty-five murders, and having been convicted and incarcerated for one, the veracity of Barnabet’s claim has long been in doubt. Tried and convicted on very little evidence, Barnabet’s story changed many times following her arrest and eventually came to include sensational and highly questionable claims of her belonging to a Voodoo religious sect that engaged in human sacrifice. Not only were these claims unsupported by any real evidence, but they also suggested the girl may have been suffering from profound mental illness and had nothing whatsoever to do with the murders in and around New Orleans. But if Clementine Barnabet wasn’t the killer, why did she confess to such brutal, wicked crimes?
Thank you to the incredible Dave White or Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research!
References
Crowley Daily Signal. 1911. "Brutal murder of negro family is discovered in West Crowley." Crowley Daily Signal, Janaury 26: 1.
—. 1909. "Rayne scene of brutal murder." Crowley Daily Signal, November 13: 1.
—. 1911. "Six murdered in Lafayette." Crowley Daily Signal, November 27: 1.
Crowley Signal. 1911. "Negro murderer was convicted." Crowley Signal, October 28: 5.
Fort Wayne News. 1912. "Seventeen murders were confessed to." Fort Wayne News, October 25: 17.
Lafayette Advertiser. 1912. "Clementine Barnabet sane." Lafayette Advertiser, October 22: 4.
—. 1911. "Horrible crime." Lafayette Advertiser, February 28: 1.
Monroe News-Star. 1911. "Butchery of human beings." Monroe News-Star, November 28: 1.
—. 1912. "Sacrifice sext slaughter 26." Monroe News-Star, January 23: 1.
New Iberia Enterprise and Independent Observer. 1913. "Blood lust cut out of Clementine Barnabet." New Iberia Enterprise and Independent Observer, August 9: 1.
Osborne, Jeffery. 2012. Preventing Lethal Violence Neighborhood by Neighborhood; Proceedings of the 2012 Homicide Research Working Group Annual Symposium. Conference Proceedings, New York, NY: Homicide Research Working Group.
The Times. 1912. "Five negroes are murdered in a Lake Charles cottage." The Times, January 22: 1.
—. 1912. "Gives names of 3 of "ax gang"." The Times, April 3: 1.
—. 1912. "Negro woman confessed to slaying 20." The Times, April 2: 1.
The Times-Democrat. 1912. "Amplifies confession." The Times-Democrat, April 4: 6.
Times-Democrat. 1912. "Blood and brain from living person spattered girl's clothes." Times-Democrat, January 18: 2.
Unknown. 1912. "Voodoo's horrors break out again." Atalanta Journal, March 11: 50.
Weekly Iberian. 1912. "Hoodoo doctor arrested and identified by Clementine Burke." Weekly Iberian, April 13: 2.
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