Clementine Barnabet & The Church of the Sacrifice & The Louisiana Axe Murders | Morbid | Podcast

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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Пікірлер: 8

  • @MithrilMagic
    @MithrilMagic6 күн бұрын

    Doesn’t sound like a hysterectomy exactly, I think they did a female Gen. circumcision. FGM was a common practice during the early 1900’s to “cure” “female hysteria”. In some countries it’s still a practice. It’s disgusting. I don’t think she was a murderer. I think she was mentally ill and someone used her as a scapegoat.

  • @lauraleedearing7062

    @lauraleedearing7062

    6 күн бұрын

    Agreed

  • @ashleyanderson4457

    @ashleyanderson4457

    6 күн бұрын

    Ahhhhhh!!!!!

  • @briannacline324

    @briannacline324

    5 күн бұрын

    Came here to say the same thing about FGM

  • @michaelrogers6008
    @michaelrogers60085 күн бұрын

    I find it incredibly difficult to believe that Clementine Barnabet had anything to do with the axe murders she was accused of. From my perspective, the case against her is fraught with inconsistencies and questionable actions by law enforcement. Let me elaborate: Rapid Arrests and Questionable Investigation Practices When the murders began, the police made numerous arrests in quick succession. This pattern suggests that they were more focused on finding a convenient scapegoat rather than conducting a thorough investigation. In high-pressure situations, especially with such gruesome and high-profile crimes, law enforcement often seeks quick solutions to calm public panic. This can lead to hasty and flawed investigative practices, as evidenced by the rapid succession of arrests. Racism and Social Context in the 1910s Given the era and the location-Louisiana and Texas in the early 1910s-racial biases undoubtedly played a significant role in the investigation. Clementine Barnabet, a Black woman, would have been an easy target for a justice system steeped in racism. Historical records show that Black individuals were frequently scapegoated and convicted on flimsy or fabricated evidence during this period. This context makes it plausible that the apron, supposedly covered in blood and found at a crime scene, could have been planted by the police to frame her. The Convenient and Dubious Evidence The discovery of the apron is suspiciously convenient. For such a crucial piece of evidence to suddenly appear, linking Barnabet to the crimes, raises significant doubts. The chain of custody and forensic analysis of the apron were likely inadequate by today’s standards. Was there any definitive proof that the blood on the apron was from the victims? Could it have been analyzed properly at the time? Given the limited forensic capabilities of the early 20th century, it’s highly doubtful. Coerced Confessions and Mental Health Barnabet’s confession, which implicated her in 35 murders, should be viewed with skepticism. Coerced confessions were common, especially when police were under pressure to solve high-profile cases. Individuals with mental health conditions can be particularly vulnerable to coercion, leading them to confess to crimes they didn’t commit. Barnabet’s mental state and the conditions under which she confessed should have been scrutinized more rigorously. Alternatives to the Existing Evidence Multiple Perpetrators: The continuation of murders after Barnabet’s arrest suggests that there were other perpetrators involved. The existence of a cult, if real, would imply multiple members capable of committing these crimes. Copycat Killings: The sensational nature of the murders and Barnabet’s highly publicized confession could have inspired copycat killers. This would explain the continuation of the crimes after her arrest. Misinterpretation of Evidence: The blood on the apron, if it even existed, could have been misinterpreted or misattributed. Without modern forensic techniques, it’s impossible to confirm the origin and age of the blood. Racial Scapegoating: Historical examples abound of marginalized individuals being wrongfully accused and convicted. It’s entirely plausible that Barnabet was framed to quickly resolve the case. The case against Clementine Barnabet appears to be built on a shaky foundation of questionable evidence, coerced confessions, and a racially biased justice system. Given these factors, it’s far more believable that she was wrongfully convicted and that the true perpetrators either remained at large or were part of a larger, more complex network that the police failed to adequately investigate.

  • @statue98

    @statue98

    3 күн бұрын

    Good work ladies. Love the podcast. Keep them coming!

  • @niratratina
    @niratratina6 күн бұрын

    Hey,you covered it befor.episode 9..axaman of new orlen...why Again?😒