This true crime history investigates the evidence behind notorious killers and mysterious murders across the South at the turn of the 20th century.From a murder-for-profit in Little Rock to a string of unsolved homicides in New Orleans, The Axman Came from Hell investigates macabre crimes that occurred between the 1880s and the 1930s. This hair-raising read includes such stories as "e;The Reprehensible Mr. Powers,"e; who murdered widows in West Virginia; "e;The Servant Girl Annihilator,"e; a serial killer in Austin; and "e;A Farce in More Ways Than One,"e; which recalls the Chattanooga actress who shot her leading man just minutes before the performance. Through meticulous research and astute conjectures, Keven McQueen attempts to unravel the truth behind these chilling cases. Presenting each in its historical context, he details the evidence and delves into theories as to what may have happened. Revelations from contemporary research offer surprising new information. In addition to documenting the crimes, the author describes the evolution of law enforcement practices and social customs of the past.
