SA, necrophilia, gore; if you are sensative to this content, it would be wise not to read what is on this page.
This serial killer was particularly gruesome; any sexual assault and the manner of killing will be described in the least amount of detail.
Targeting family homes within walking distance of the train tracks;
He would enter through an unlocked window or door;
He would illuminate his crime scene with a lamp from the home;
Quickly killed and used excessive blunt force trauma to the head and face, ususally used the blunt side of an axe acquired from the homes;
Usually was active on Sunday nights;
He would cover the faces of his victims as well as windows, mirrors, and sometimes telephones;
He would pose the young girls or women in a suggestive manner on the bed and assault them after death;
He would clean up after himself, wiping away any fingerprints from the weapon and washing his hands;
Nothing would be stolen or missing from the houses, the targets not being rich to begin with;
Before he would flee the scene, he would jam the house shut and leave by train
Bill James and Rachel McCarthy wrote a book investigating other murders as well, connecting them as more possible murders that are by the Axeman.
The Axeman has killed over 90 people if you factor in the larger timeframe; but he was more well-known for closer to 24-30 kills around 1911-1912 that the newspapers and police started to connect towards the end of his spree.
With most of these murders, the police treated tham as local killings, only looking into local suspects. Giving the Axeman more of an advantage in continuing to activities.
William Hill age 35, Ruth Hill 33, and Ruth's children from a previous marraige; Philip Rintoul 9 and Dorothy Rintoul 4.
They were found killed by blunt force trauma to the head in their beds, all using an axe. From witness reports of a dog barking, time of death is placed at around midnight. Their faces covered along with the windows and Ruth and Dorothy were posed with signs of further assault after being killed.
The Hills were found the next morning by their neighbor who noticed that William did not go to work.
A different neighbor, Nathan Harvey, being arrested and later acquitted for the killings.
Archie Coble age 28, and Nettie Coble 18.
Archie would usually walk to work along the tracks, making one wonder if the Axeman may have followed him home that way.
Signs pointed to an axe being the murder weapon, oth found in bed with blunt force head trauma. Archies face was covered and Nettie was posed and treated the same way as the previous victims. There was also a lamp that had the chimney removed to allow for more light for him to see.
George Wilson was convicted of commiting the crime, but many did and still do doubt him being guilty.
A different neighbor, Nathan Harvey, being arrested and later acquitted for the killings.
Two families were discovered from this spree.
The Burnhams; Alice 35, Nellie 7, and John 2.
The Waynes; Henry 24, Blanche 22, and Lula 18 months.
Both visiting the local Sanatorium that was run by Modern Woodmen of America. Typically while visiting, the men would stay at the sanatorium and their families would stay in cottage-houses that was a ways away.
The father in the Burnham's family was spared due to this, but Henry seems to have chosen to be with his family that night.
Both of the families were found on the 20th of September.
Each with blunt force trauma caused by an axe from a nearby house, windows and bodies covered. There were signs he stayed to clean up, the axe was left behind and wiped clean.
He jammed the entrances shut before leaving.
Nothing was stolen and the houses were located next to eachother, closest to the train tracks. Mr. Burnham was a suspect for a short time but his alibi was confirmed to be at the sanatorium and sick with tuberculosis.
No one was arrested for the killings.
William Dawson age 56, Charity Dawson 52, and Georgia 12.
They lived in a part of town referred to as "colored" part of town. Many of the murders by the Axeman are suspected to be racially motivated.
He does seeme to target more poverish towns and families in general.
Found killed in bed from blunt force trauma to their heads from a gas pipe this time. The house's windows and faces covered along with the signature posing of the young girl.
Dicovered by using bloodhounds to track the killer, found near a pond close by the tracks, the pipe and a pocket flashlight with the engraving "Loving" or "Lovey" carved into it and a place and date, "Colorado Springs" and "Sept 4, '11."
By this time, the newspapers started to connect the murders but the police still looked more local.
Two men were charged, John Wesley Knight and Lovey Mitchell. Lovey got acquitted after several trials and John got sentenced to 19 years in prison.
The motive was said to be some kind of revenge.
William Showman age 31, Pauline Showman 26, Lester Showman 6, Fern 4, and Fenton 1. William worked as a Chauffeur in town.
Discovered the afternoon of the 16th. Blunt force trauma to the heads with an axe and Pauline staged as the past others were. Windows and telephone covered.
Nothing was stolen and the lamp cover was removed and the weapon, wiped clean, was found on the property. The Showman's house was located close to the railway.
That same night, there was another attempted break in at the Marshall's house a few doors down. Marshall Morris Merrit found the screen removed from a window and signs of attempting to force the window open.
While the police were unsuccessful in apprehending anyone local, the press had connected this killing to "Billy the Axeman."
Rollin Hudson age 21 and Anna Hudson 22.
Moved to town in the spring and were reported to seem to be having marital problems due to rumored infidelity on Anna's part.
Discovered June 6th because of Rollin's absence at work that day eventually resulting in a group of women forcing the door open.
Killer entered through the rear window, having removed the screen and leaned it on the house. Something he did at most of the houses with this same treatment.
He lit a coal lamp on the wasy in, removing the cover and putting it under the bed again to allow for more visibility.
Rollin and Anna were found killed by blunt force trauma with an axe, their faces covered and Anna posed.
Again, nothing was stolen, the weapon was missing but suspected to be an axe or pickaxe, and the house was jammed shut. Their house also located a few minutes away from the railway.
That same night, there was another attempted break in a few houses down at the Longmeyer's home.
Josiah Moore age 43, Sara Moore 39, Herman 11, Kathrine 10, Boyd 7, and 2 visiting girls that were friends of the Moore children; Lena Stillinger 11, and Ina Stillinger 8
Discovered by Josiah's Brother after making his way inside. the killer entered from the unlocked back door. A lamp was lit and thr chiminey removed and found under a chair inside the house
All suffered from blunt force trauma to the face from the blunt side of an axe. With the amount of people and the fact that everyone passed away in their beds; the killer's actions had to be fast.
After the killings; the victims faces were covered, mirrors, windows, and the telephone were covered as well. Afterwhich he did clean up, he staged Lena, masturbated, then left after making sure the house was locked up.
The axe he used was left behind. Nothing was stolen from the house.
On the same night, there was another possible attempt made by the Axeman around 2 a.m.
Xenia Delaney had woken up to someone walking up the stairs in her home. When the door was tried and found locked, the person left the way they came.
The police's bloodhounds were able to track the killer to the train tracks and it was connected to the Axeman serial killer innitially.
But police ultimately ended up arresting a local immigrant man; George J. Kelly, who was later acquitted.