Servant Girl Annihilator
Austin Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Austin, Texas
TIME PERIOD
1884-1885
VICTIMS
8 confirmed
Between December 30, 1884, and December 24, 1885, an unidentified serial killer known as the Servant Girl Annihilator committed a series of eight axe murders in Austin, Texas, targeting primarily women and one man while they slept. The case remains unsolved, with the perpetrator evading capture despite extensive investigations and public outcry at the time. This series of crimes is noted as one of the earliest examples of a serial killer in the United States.
Theories surrounding the Servant Girl Annihilator include the speculation that the unidentified killer may have been the same person as Jack the Ripper, a conjecture that originated in 1888 after the Ripper's murders. Additionally, contemporary reports suggested that the killer was a "cunning madman" with a specific obsession with killing women, indicating a psychological profile that has been analyzed by modern criminologists. The racial demographics of the victims have also led to discussions about possible motives and societal implications of the crimes.
Servant Girl Annihilator
Overview
The Servant Girl Annihilator, also known as the Midnight Assassin, was a chilling figure in American history—an unidentified serial killer who wreaked havoc on the city of Austin, Texas, between 1884 and 1885. This series of horrific crimes claimed the lives of eight victims and left the community in a state of terror. The term "Servant Girl Annihilator" was coined by the renowned writer O. Henry, who was living in Austin at the time. The murders were infamously referred to as the Servant Girl Murders by contemporary sources.
Spanning from December 30, 1884, to December 24, 1885, the case is often cited as one of the earliest examples of a serial killer operating in the United States, predating the notorious Jack the Ripper murders in Whitechapel by three years. The New York Times reported on December 26, 1885, that the murders were committed by "some cunning madman, who is insane on the subject of killing women."
The Murders
This section truly reveals the horrific nature of the crimes. The Servant Girl Annihilator claimed the lives of seven women—five of whom were Black and two White—and one Black man. Importantly, six additional women and two men suffered serious injuries during these brutal attacks. Every victim was attacked indoors while they slept, a terrifying fact that underscores the killer’s audacity and cunning.
What’s particularly chilling is how the killer often dragged his victims, unconscious but still alive, outside to commit the final act of murder. Three women were particularly mutilated outdoors, and a disturbing pattern emerged: six of the murdered women had a "sharp object" inserted into their ears, a detail that adds an unsettling layer to the killer’s modus operandi.
The series culminated in a tragic double murder on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1885, when Eula Phillips, a mere 17 years old, and Susan Hancock were brutally killed. The aftermath of these murders saw accusations hurled at Moses Hancock, Susan's husband, who was acquitted shortly after being charged.
Interestingly, James Phillips, Eula's husband, was arrested and convicted for his wife's murder after witnesses testified to his violent tendencies and threats against her. However, his conviction was later overturned, leaving many questions unanswered and the case shrouded in further mystery.
Investigation and Theories
The investigation into the Servant Girl Annihilator was chaotic. Over the course of the year, an astonishing 400 men were arrested, yet powerful local officials dismissed the idea that one man—or even a group of men—could be responsible for all the murders. This disbelief hampered the investigation, allowing the killer to continue his reign of terror.
The African-American community, along with some practitioners of voodoo, believed the murderer was a White man with supernatural abilities that allowed him to become invisible. This speculation arose from the eerie silence of dogs in the areas surrounding the crime scenes; no barking or alarms were raised during the attacks.
The murders ceased when the city took action: additional police officers were hired, rewards for information were offered, and vigilant citizens formed patrols to keep the streets safe at night. Soon after, the killer seemingly vanished, leaving no further murders officially attributed to him.
Victims
The tragic list of victims includes:
- Mollie Smith, 25, murdered on the night of December 30, 1884. Walter Spencer was seriously wounded in this attack.
- Clara Strand and Christine Martenson, two Swedish servant girls, were severely injured on March 19, 1885.
- Eliza Shelly, murdered on May 6, 1885.
- Irene Cross, killed by a man with a knife on May 22, 1885.
- Clara Dick, seriously wounded in August 1885.
- Mary Ramey, just 11 years old, murdered on August 30, 1885; her mother, Rebecca Ramey, was also seriously injured.
- Gracie Vance and her boyfriend Orange Washington, murdered on September 28, 1885.
- Susan Hancock and Eula Phillips, both murdered on December 24, 1885.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitness testimony from the time was rife with contradictions. Some reported seeing a White man, while others described a dark-complexioned individual. There were even claims of a "yellow man" using lampblack to disguise his skin, alongside reports of a man wearing a Mother Hubbard-style dress or a slouch hat. Some witnesses suggested the killer may have worked with an accomplice or belonged to a gang, adding layers of complexity to an already bewildering case.
Nathan Elgin
Fast forward to July 15, 2014, when the PBS show History Detectives aired an episode exploring the murders. Through a mixture of historical research and modern techniques like psychological and geographic profiling, they identified Nathan Elgin, a 19-year-old African-American cook, as a potential suspect. What's particularly compelling is that Elgin worked in close proximity to many of the crime scenes and had a missing little toe, matching a footprint believed to have been left by the killer. Tragically, in February 1886, just after the last murder, Elgin was shot and killed by police while attempting to assault a girl with a knife.
In Popular Culture
The Servant Girl Annihilator case has left an indelible mark on popular culture. O. Henry, then known as William Sydney Porter, was living in Austin during this dark chapter. He coined the term "Servant Girl Annihilator" in a letter to a friend in May 1885, describing the murders as adding some much-needed excitement to a "fearfully dull" town.
In 2000, author Steven Saylor published A Twist at the End, a fictional account that reconstructs the murders and trials, featuring a young William Sydney Porter in a fictional role.
The mystery has also inspired various podcasts, including the sixth episode of the 2015 docudrama Tanis, and a 2022 four-part series titled Devilish Deeds, which delves into the victims' lives and the theories surrounding the killer.
Sources
- Hollandsworth, Skip (July 2000). "Capital Murder". Texas Monthly.
- "How the 'Servant Girl Annihilator' Terrorized 1880s Austin". Mental Floss. April 25, 2017.
- Hollandsworth, Skip (2015). The Midnight Assassin. New York: Henry Holt.
- Galloway, Skip J. R. (2010). The Servant Girl Murders: Austin, Texas 1885. Booklocker.com, Incorporated.
- "Three Murders in One Night". New York Times. December 26, 1885.
- Sugden, Philip (1995). The Complete History of Jack the Ripper. Carroll & Graf.
- Ramsland, Katherine. "Servant Girl Annihilator". truTV Crime Library.
For more details, you can view the original Wikipedia article here.
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First Murder
Mollie Smith is murdered, marking the start of the Servant Girl Annihilator's killing spree.
First Attack on Servants
Clara Strand and Christine Martenson are seriously wounded, indicating the killer's pattern of targeting servant girls.
Eliza Shelly Murdered
Eliza Shelly is murdered, adding to the growing list of victims.
Mary Ramey Murdered
Mary Ramey, an 11-year-old girl, is murdered, highlighting the killer's brutality.
Gracie Vance Murdered
Gracie Vance and her boyfriend are murdered, further escalating the terror in the community.
Final Murders
Eula Phillips and Susan Hancock are murdered, marking the end of the killing spree.
Mass Arrests
Over 400 men are arrested in connection with the murders, reflecting the panic in the city.
Case Goes Cold
The series of murders officially ends, and the case remains unsolved, becoming a part of Austin's folklore.
Investigation Stalled
Despite numerous arrests, the investigation stalls as officials refuse to believe one man is responsible.
Nathan Elgin Killed
Nathan Elgin, a suspect in the murders, is shot by police while attempting to assault a girl.
Between December 30, 1884, and December 24, 1885, an unidentified serial killer known as the Servant Girl Annihilator committed a series of eight axe murders in Austin, Texas, targeting primarily women and one man while they slept. The case remains unsolved, with the perpetrator evading capture despite extensive investigations and public outcry at the time. This series of crimes is noted as one of the earliest examples of a serial killer in the United States.
Theories surrounding the Servant Girl Annihilator include the speculation that the unidentified killer may have been the same person as Jack the Ripper, a conjecture that originated in 1888 after the Ripper's murders. Additionally, contemporary reports suggested that the killer was a "cunning madman" with a specific obsession with killing women, indicating a psychological profile that has been analyzed by modern criminologists. The racial demographics of the victims have also led to discussions about possible motives and societal implications of the crimes.
Servant Girl Annihilator
Overview
The Servant Girl Annihilator, also known as the Midnight Assassin, was a chilling figure in American history—an unidentified serial killer who wreaked havoc on the city of Austin, Texas, between 1884 and 1885. This series of horrific crimes claimed the lives of eight victims and left the community in a state of terror. The term "Servant Girl Annihilator" was coined by the renowned writer O. Henry, who was living in Austin at the time. The murders were infamously referred to as the Servant Girl Murders by contemporary sources.
Spanning from December 30, 1884, to December 24, 1885, the case is often cited as one of the earliest examples of a serial killer operating in the United States, predating the notorious Jack the Ripper murders in Whitechapel by three years. The New York Times reported on December 26, 1885, that the murders were committed by "some cunning madman, who is insane on the subject of killing women."
The Murders
This section truly reveals the horrific nature of the crimes. The Servant Girl Annihilator claimed the lives of seven women—five of whom were Black and two White—and one Black man. Importantly, six additional women and two men suffered serious injuries during these brutal attacks. Every victim was attacked indoors while they slept, a terrifying fact that underscores the killer’s audacity and cunning.
What’s particularly chilling is how the killer often dragged his victims, unconscious but still alive, outside to commit the final act of murder. Three women were particularly mutilated outdoors, and a disturbing pattern emerged: six of the murdered women had a "sharp object" inserted into their ears, a detail that adds an unsettling layer to the killer’s modus operandi.
The series culminated in a tragic double murder on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1885, when Eula Phillips, a mere 17 years old, and Susan Hancock were brutally killed. The aftermath of these murders saw accusations hurled at Moses Hancock, Susan's husband, who was acquitted shortly after being charged.
Interestingly, James Phillips, Eula's husband, was arrested and convicted for his wife's murder after witnesses testified to his violent tendencies and threats against her. However, his conviction was later overturned, leaving many questions unanswered and the case shrouded in further mystery.
Investigation and Theories
The investigation into the Servant Girl Annihilator was chaotic. Over the course of the year, an astonishing 400 men were arrested, yet powerful local officials dismissed the idea that one man—or even a group of men—could be responsible for all the murders. This disbelief hampered the investigation, allowing the killer to continue his reign of terror.
The African-American community, along with some practitioners of voodoo, believed the murderer was a White man with supernatural abilities that allowed him to become invisible. This speculation arose from the eerie silence of dogs in the areas surrounding the crime scenes; no barking or alarms were raised during the attacks.
The murders ceased when the city took action: additional police officers were hired, rewards for information were offered, and vigilant citizens formed patrols to keep the streets safe at night. Soon after, the killer seemingly vanished, leaving no further murders officially attributed to him.
Victims
The tragic list of victims includes:
- Mollie Smith, 25, murdered on the night of December 30, 1884. Walter Spencer was seriously wounded in this attack.
- Clara Strand and Christine Martenson, two Swedish servant girls, were severely injured on March 19, 1885.
- Eliza Shelly, murdered on May 6, 1885.
- Irene Cross, killed by a man with a knife on May 22, 1885.
- Clara Dick, seriously wounded in August 1885.
- Mary Ramey, just 11 years old, murdered on August 30, 1885; her mother, Rebecca Ramey, was also seriously injured.
- Gracie Vance and her boyfriend Orange Washington, murdered on September 28, 1885.
- Susan Hancock and Eula Phillips, both murdered on December 24, 1885.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitness testimony from the time was rife with contradictions. Some reported seeing a White man, while others described a dark-complexioned individual. There were even claims of a "yellow man" using lampblack to disguise his skin, alongside reports of a man wearing a Mother Hubbard-style dress or a slouch hat. Some witnesses suggested the killer may have worked with an accomplice or belonged to a gang, adding layers of complexity to an already bewildering case.
Nathan Elgin
Fast forward to July 15, 2014, when the PBS show History Detectives aired an episode exploring the murders. Through a mixture of historical research and modern techniques like psychological and geographic profiling, they identified Nathan Elgin, a 19-year-old African-American cook, as a potential suspect. What's particularly compelling is that Elgin worked in close proximity to many of the crime scenes and had a missing little toe, matching a footprint believed to have been left by the killer. Tragically, in February 1886, just after the last murder, Elgin was shot and killed by police while attempting to assault a girl with a knife.
In Popular Culture
The Servant Girl Annihilator case has left an indelible mark on popular culture. O. Henry, then known as William Sydney Porter, was living in Austin during this dark chapter. He coined the term "Servant Girl Annihilator" in a letter to a friend in May 1885, describing the murders as adding some much-needed excitement to a "fearfully dull" town.
In 2000, author Steven Saylor published A Twist at the End, a fictional account that reconstructs the murders and trials, featuring a young William Sydney Porter in a fictional role.
The mystery has also inspired various podcasts, including the sixth episode of the 2015 docudrama Tanis, and a 2022 four-part series titled Devilish Deeds, which delves into the victims' lives and the theories surrounding the killer.
Sources
- Hollandsworth, Skip (July 2000). "Capital Murder". Texas Monthly.
- "How the 'Servant Girl Annihilator' Terrorized 1880s Austin". Mental Floss. April 25, 2017.
- Hollandsworth, Skip (2015). The Midnight Assassin. New York: Henry Holt.
- Galloway, Skip J. R. (2010). The Servant Girl Murders: Austin, Texas 1885. Booklocker.com, Incorporated.
- "Three Murders in One Night". New York Times. December 26, 1885.
- Sugden, Philip (1995). The Complete History of Jack the Ripper. Carroll & Graf.
- Ramsland, Katherine. "Servant Girl Annihilator". truTV Crime Library.
For more details, you can view the original Wikipedia article here.
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...
First Murder
Mollie Smith is murdered, marking the start of the Servant Girl Annihilator's killing spree.
First Attack on Servants
Clara Strand and Christine Martenson are seriously wounded, indicating the killer's pattern of targeting servant girls.
Eliza Shelly Murdered
Eliza Shelly is murdered, adding to the growing list of victims.
Mary Ramey Murdered
Mary Ramey, an 11-year-old girl, is murdered, highlighting the killer's brutality.
Gracie Vance Murdered
Gracie Vance and her boyfriend are murdered, further escalating the terror in the community.
Final Murders
Eula Phillips and Susan Hancock are murdered, marking the end of the killing spree.
Mass Arrests
Over 400 men are arrested in connection with the murders, reflecting the panic in the city.
Case Goes Cold
The series of murders officially ends, and the case remains unsolved, becoming a part of Austin's folklore.
Investigation Stalled
Despite numerous arrests, the investigation stalls as officials refuse to believe one man is responsible.
Nathan Elgin Killed
Nathan Elgin, a suspect in the murders, is shot by police while attempting to assault a girl.