Robert Nixon (Criminal)
Los Angeles Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Los Angeles, California
TIME PERIOD
1937-1938
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
The case involves Robert Nixon, an American serial killer who confessed to five murders and multiple assaults, primarily linked to the "brick bat murders" in Los Angeles during 1937. The crimes occurred between March and April 1937, with the most notable victims being Edna A. Worden and her 12-year-old daughter, Marguerite, found murdered in their Bunker Hill apartment on April 4. Nixon was apprehended on May 28, 1938, in Chicago, where he committed another murder, and was executed by electrocution on June 16, 1939. Significant evidence included the use of bricks in the assaults, which led to his identification and conviction, as well as a pattern of similar attacks that connected him to the earlier murders in Los Angeles.
Investigators and the public theorize that Robert Nixon may have been motivated by a combination of racial hatred and a desire for power over his victims, as evidenced by the brutal nature of his attacks. Some speculate that his youth and mental health issues contributed to his violent behavior, while others believe that the media's portrayal of him as the "Brick Moron" played a role in shaping public perception and possibly influencing his trial. Additionally, there is speculation regarding potential connections between Nixon's crimes and broader societal issues of the time, including poverty and racial tensions in urban areas.
The Case of Robert Nixon: The Brick Slayer
Introduction
In the heart of America during the late 1930s, a series of brutal murders gripped the nation, casting a dark shadow over cities from Los Angeles to Chicago. At the center of this storm stood Robert Nixon, a young man whose name would become synonymous with fear and infamy. Born on July 19, 1919, in the small town of Tallulah, Louisiana, Nixon's life was marked by violence and tragedy, culminating in his execution at the age of 19 in Chicago, Illinois. This narrative unfolds the chilling details of his crimes, the controversial investigation, and the racial prejudices that influenced public perception.
The Los Angeles Murders
The terror began on April 4, 1937, when the bodies of Edna A. Worden (48) and her daughter Marguerite Estelle (12) were discovered in their Bunker Hill apartment in Los Angeles. Both had been sexually assaulted and murdered with a brick, a weapon that would become Nixon's grim signature. The crime scene was discovered by the manager of the Astoria Apartments, located near the Angel's Flight stairs. This double murder was linked to the earlier killing of Rose Valdez on March 2, a young mother murdered while her baby slept nearby.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was on high alert, searching for an African-American man connected to a string of similar assaults. These included attacks on Mrs. H. W. Koll on January 25, Elizabeth Reis on February 3, and Zoe Damrell on March 28. Each victim had been brutally attacked with a brick, and eyewitnesses reported seeing a potential assailant lingering near Valdez's home before her murder.
The Chicago Arrest
Robert Nixon, using the alias Thomas Crosby, had been living in Los Angeles, surviving through petty theft and accumulating arrests for shoplifting, purse-snatching, and suspected auto-theft. However, he eventually returned to Chicago, where another brutal murder would lead to his downfall.
On the night of May 27, 1938, Florence Johnson, the wife of a Chicago fireman, was bludgeoned to death with a brick. Her sister, sleeping in another room, witnessed two men fleeing the scene. The very next day, Nixon was arrested, his clothes stained with blood and his hands marked with scratches.
The Confession and Investigation
Under pressure, Nixon implicated his accomplice, Earl Hicks, in Johnson's murder, claiming Hicks delivered the fatal blows during a burglary gone wrong. Hicks, also in custody, accused Nixon of the murder, stating Nixon struck Johnson when she awoke and screamed.
Nixon confessed to another murder, that of nightclub hostess Florence Thompson Castle in 1936. He admitted writing "Black Legion Game" on her mirror to mislead the investigation toward the Black Legion, a domestic terrorist group. Fingerprints left at the scene linked him to the crime, forcing Nixon to admit his authorship.
The African American newspaper, The Chicago Defender, was skeptical of Nixon's confession, suggesting he was coerced through beatings and bribery with sweets. The Defender criticized the white press for its sensationalist and inflammatory coverage, which depicted Nixon as a caricature of racial stereotypes.
Fingerprint Evidence and Press Depiction
The LAPD sent fingerprints from a milk bottle found at the Wordens' apartment to Chicago, confirming Nixon's connection to the Los Angeles murders. Faced with this evidence, Nixon confessed to the Worden murders, admitting his alias, Thomas Crosby, was a facade.
Despite his confessions, Nixon claimed he was beaten into submission by police. No conclusive fingerprint or blood evidence linked him to Florence Johnson's murder, and eyewitness accounts were inconsistent.
The press, exploiting racial prejudices, dubbed Nixon "The Brick Moron," portraying him as a dim-witted African American. A notorious Chicago Tribune article likened him to a "jungle beast," using dehumanizing language to describe his actions and appearance. This coverage fueled racial tensions in Chicago, prompting white residents to flee neighborhoods bordering black communities.
The Role of Earl Hicks
Earl Hicks, also known as Howard Jones Green, occasionally partnered with Nixon in his crimes. In Los Angeles, Hicks admitted to attacking Marguerite Worden with a pistol but denied involvement in the murder or theft. He claimed they stole $8 from the Wordens, equivalent to about $175 today. Hicks confessed to attacking Zoe Damrell and received a sentence of five years to life.
In Nixon's trial, he blamed Hicks for Johnson's murder, but the court held both accountable under felony murder laws. Hicks eventually pleaded guilty to Johnson's murder and was sentenced to 14 years in prison, months before Nixon's execution.
Impact on Literature
Richard Wright, writing his novel "Native Son" in Chicago, drew inspiration from Nixon's case. In his essay "How Bigger Was Born," Wright acknowledged the parallels between his fictional character and the real-life events surrounding Nixon.
Execution
On June 16, 1939, Robert Nixon was executed by electrocution at the Cook County Jail. His story remains a haunting reflection of racial injustice and the dark underbelly of American society in the early 20th century.
Sources
For further details, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: Robert Nixon (criminal)
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Worden Murders
Edna A. Worden and her daughter Marguerite are murdered in Los Angeles with a brick.
Johnson Murder
Florence Johnson is killed in Chicago by multiple blows to the head with a brick.
Nixon Arrested
Robert Nixon is arrested in Chicago due to blood on his clothes and scratches on his hands.
Confession
Nixon confesses to multiple murders, including those of the Wordens and Florence Castle.
Fingerprint Evidence
Los Angeles police confirm Nixon's fingerprints link him to the Worden murders.
Hicks Sentenced
Earl Hicks is sentenced to 14 years for his role in the murder of Florence Johnson.
Execution
Robert Nixon is executed in the electric chair at Cook County Jail.
The case involves Robert Nixon, an American serial killer who confessed to five murders and multiple assaults, primarily linked to the "brick bat murders" in Los Angeles during 1937. The crimes occurred between March and April 1937, with the most notable victims being Edna A. Worden and her 12-year-old daughter, Marguerite, found murdered in their Bunker Hill apartment on April 4. Nixon was apprehended on May 28, 1938, in Chicago, where he committed another murder, and was executed by electrocution on June 16, 1939. Significant evidence included the use of bricks in the assaults, which led to his identification and conviction, as well as a pattern of similar attacks that connected him to the earlier murders in Los Angeles.
Investigators and the public theorize that Robert Nixon may have been motivated by a combination of racial hatred and a desire for power over his victims, as evidenced by the brutal nature of his attacks. Some speculate that his youth and mental health issues contributed to his violent behavior, while others believe that the media's portrayal of him as the "Brick Moron" played a role in shaping public perception and possibly influencing his trial. Additionally, there is speculation regarding potential connections between Nixon's crimes and broader societal issues of the time, including poverty and racial tensions in urban areas.
The Case of Robert Nixon: The Brick Slayer
Introduction
In the heart of America during the late 1930s, a series of brutal murders gripped the nation, casting a dark shadow over cities from Los Angeles to Chicago. At the center of this storm stood Robert Nixon, a young man whose name would become synonymous with fear and infamy. Born on July 19, 1919, in the small town of Tallulah, Louisiana, Nixon's life was marked by violence and tragedy, culminating in his execution at the age of 19 in Chicago, Illinois. This narrative unfolds the chilling details of his crimes, the controversial investigation, and the racial prejudices that influenced public perception.
The Los Angeles Murders
The terror began on April 4, 1937, when the bodies of Edna A. Worden (48) and her daughter Marguerite Estelle (12) were discovered in their Bunker Hill apartment in Los Angeles. Both had been sexually assaulted and murdered with a brick, a weapon that would become Nixon's grim signature. The crime scene was discovered by the manager of the Astoria Apartments, located near the Angel's Flight stairs. This double murder was linked to the earlier killing of Rose Valdez on March 2, a young mother murdered while her baby slept nearby.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was on high alert, searching for an African-American man connected to a string of similar assaults. These included attacks on Mrs. H. W. Koll on January 25, Elizabeth Reis on February 3, and Zoe Damrell on March 28. Each victim had been brutally attacked with a brick, and eyewitnesses reported seeing a potential assailant lingering near Valdez's home before her murder.
The Chicago Arrest
Robert Nixon, using the alias Thomas Crosby, had been living in Los Angeles, surviving through petty theft and accumulating arrests for shoplifting, purse-snatching, and suspected auto-theft. However, he eventually returned to Chicago, where another brutal murder would lead to his downfall.
On the night of May 27, 1938, Florence Johnson, the wife of a Chicago fireman, was bludgeoned to death with a brick. Her sister, sleeping in another room, witnessed two men fleeing the scene. The very next day, Nixon was arrested, his clothes stained with blood and his hands marked with scratches.
The Confession and Investigation
Under pressure, Nixon implicated his accomplice, Earl Hicks, in Johnson's murder, claiming Hicks delivered the fatal blows during a burglary gone wrong. Hicks, also in custody, accused Nixon of the murder, stating Nixon struck Johnson when she awoke and screamed.
Nixon confessed to another murder, that of nightclub hostess Florence Thompson Castle in 1936. He admitted writing "Black Legion Game" on her mirror to mislead the investigation toward the Black Legion, a domestic terrorist group. Fingerprints left at the scene linked him to the crime, forcing Nixon to admit his authorship.
The African American newspaper, The Chicago Defender, was skeptical of Nixon's confession, suggesting he was coerced through beatings and bribery with sweets. The Defender criticized the white press for its sensationalist and inflammatory coverage, which depicted Nixon as a caricature of racial stereotypes.
Fingerprint Evidence and Press Depiction
The LAPD sent fingerprints from a milk bottle found at the Wordens' apartment to Chicago, confirming Nixon's connection to the Los Angeles murders. Faced with this evidence, Nixon confessed to the Worden murders, admitting his alias, Thomas Crosby, was a facade.
Despite his confessions, Nixon claimed he was beaten into submission by police. No conclusive fingerprint or blood evidence linked him to Florence Johnson's murder, and eyewitness accounts were inconsistent.
The press, exploiting racial prejudices, dubbed Nixon "The Brick Moron," portraying him as a dim-witted African American. A notorious Chicago Tribune article likened him to a "jungle beast," using dehumanizing language to describe his actions and appearance. This coverage fueled racial tensions in Chicago, prompting white residents to flee neighborhoods bordering black communities.
The Role of Earl Hicks
Earl Hicks, also known as Howard Jones Green, occasionally partnered with Nixon in his crimes. In Los Angeles, Hicks admitted to attacking Marguerite Worden with a pistol but denied involvement in the murder or theft. He claimed they stole $8 from the Wordens, equivalent to about $175 today. Hicks confessed to attacking Zoe Damrell and received a sentence of five years to life.
In Nixon's trial, he blamed Hicks for Johnson's murder, but the court held both accountable under felony murder laws. Hicks eventually pleaded guilty to Johnson's murder and was sentenced to 14 years in prison, months before Nixon's execution.
Impact on Literature
Richard Wright, writing his novel "Native Son" in Chicago, drew inspiration from Nixon's case. In his essay "How Bigger Was Born," Wright acknowledged the parallels between his fictional character and the real-life events surrounding Nixon.
Execution
On June 16, 1939, Robert Nixon was executed by electrocution at the Cook County Jail. His story remains a haunting reflection of racial injustice and the dark underbelly of American society in the early 20th century.
Sources
For further details, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: Robert Nixon (criminal)
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Worden Murders
Edna A. Worden and her daughter Marguerite are murdered in Los Angeles with a brick.
Johnson Murder
Florence Johnson is killed in Chicago by multiple blows to the head with a brick.
Nixon Arrested
Robert Nixon is arrested in Chicago due to blood on his clothes and scratches on his hands.
Confession
Nixon confesses to multiple murders, including those of the Wordens and Florence Castle.
Fingerprint Evidence
Los Angeles police confirm Nixon's fingerprints link him to the Worden murders.
Hicks Sentenced
Earl Hicks is sentenced to 14 years for his role in the murder of Florence Johnson.
Execution
Robert Nixon is executed in the electric chair at Cook County Jail.