Episode 578: Clementine Barnabet & The Church of the Sacrifice & The Louisiana Axe Murders
Digest
This episode of Morbid delves into the chilling Louisiana Ax Murderer case, a series of brutal murders of black families along the Southern Pacific Railroad line between Southwestern Louisiana and Texas from 1909 to 1912. The episode highlights the similarities between the murders, including the use of an axe to fracture the victims' skulls, the targeting of black families living near the train line, and the murders occurring at night. The episode focuses on the arrest and trial of Clementine Barnabet, who confessed to murdering over 20 people, including the Randall family. However, Clementine's confession was riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions, leading to questions about her involvement and the true nature of the murders. The episode explores the sensationalism surrounding the case, the racist undertones of the media coverage, and the public's fear of voodoo and non-Christian religious practices. The episode concludes with Clementine's conviction and subsequent release from prison after undergoing a mysterious surgical procedure. The episode leaves listeners with more questions than answers, prompting them to consider the complexities of the case and the motivations behind Clementine's actions.
Outlines
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Introduction
This Chapter introduces the episode and the topic of the Louisiana Ax Murderer case. It also mentions that Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Morbid early and ad-free.
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The Louisiana Ax Murderer Case
This Chapter delves into the details of the Louisiana Ax Murderer case, outlining the brutal murders of multiple black families along the Southern Pacific Railroad line. It highlights the similarities between the murders, including the use of an axe, the targeting of black families, and the murders occurring at night. The chapter also discusses the lack of a clear suspect and the difficulty in determining when the murders began.
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The Opelousis Murders
This Chapter focuses on the first known murder in the Louisiana Ax Murderer case, the killing of Edna Opelousis and her three children. It details the gruesome scene, the lack of evidence, and the arrest of Houston Goodwill, Edna's brother-in-law, who was later released due to insufficient evidence.
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The Buyers Murders
This Chapter examines the murder of Walter Buyers, his wife Silvina, and their six-year-old son. It describes the horrific scene, the discovery of a bloody wash basin, and the arrest of Walter Jackson and his brother, who were never prosecuted for the murders.
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The Andrus Murders
This Chapter explores the murder of Alexander Andrus, his wife Meme, and their two children. It details the unusual arrangement of the bodies, the investigation into Garkon Good Godfrey, and the arrest of Raymond Barnabet, who was later released due to lack of evidence.
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The San Antonio Murders
This Chapter discusses the murder of a family in San Antonio, Texas, near the Southern Pacific Railroad line. It highlights the similarities to the previous murders, including the use of an axe and the killer leaving the weapon behind.
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Raymond Barnabet's Trial
This Chapter focuses on the trial of Raymond Barnabet for the murder of the Andrus family. It details his strange behavior during the trial, the testimony of his children, and the conflicting accounts of witnesses. The chapter concludes with Raymond's conviction and subsequent appeal.
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The Randall Murders
This Chapter examines the murder of Norbert Randall, his wife Azema, their three children, and their niece. It describes the gruesome scene, the discovery of a child's bloody footprint, and the unusual use of both an axe and a gun. The chapter also details the arrest of Clementine Barnabet, her brother Zeffrin, and two other young men.
Keywords
Louisiana Ax Murderer
The Louisiana Ax Murderer refers to a series of brutal murders of black families that occurred along the Southern Pacific Railroad line in Louisiana and Texas between 1909 and 1912. The murders were characterized by the use of an axe to fracture the victims' skulls, the targeting of black families living near the train line, and the murders occurring at night. The case remains unsolved, with no clear suspect ever identified.
Clementine Barnabet
Clementine Barnabet was a young woman who was arrested and convicted for the murder of the Randall family in the Louisiana Ax Murderer case. She confessed to murdering over 20 people, but her confession was riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions. Her story became a source of sensationalism in the press, with many speculating that she was involved in a voodoo cult or religious fanaticism. Clementine's case remains a mystery, with questions about her true involvement in the murders and the motivations behind her actions.
Voodoo
Voodoo is a religion and spiritual practice that originated in West Africa and was brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans. It is a complex and diverse tradition that involves rituals, ceremonies, and the belief in spirits and deities. Voodoo has been often misunderstood and misrepresented, particularly in the context of the Louisiana Ax Murderer case, where it was used to sensationalize the murders and create fear and prejudice against black communities.
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Railroad was a major railroad line that ran through the American West and Southwest, including Louisiana and Texas. The railroad played a significant role in the Louisiana Ax Murderer case, as the murders occurred along its route, connecting the various locations where the families were killed. The railroad's presence also facilitated the spread of information and sensationalism about the case, as news traveled quickly along its lines.
Religious Fanaticism
Religious fanaticism refers to extreme and often irrational devotion to a particular religious belief or ideology. It can manifest in various ways, including violence, persecution, and the belief in supernatural powers. In the context of the Louisiana Ax Murderer case, religious fanaticism was used to explain the murders, with some speculating that the killings were motivated by a fringe religious sect or voodoo practices. However, the evidence for this theory was largely circumstantial and based on sensationalized media reports.
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the uterus. It is often performed for medical reasons, such as to treat uterine cancer or fibroids. In the context of the Louisiana Ax Murderer case, there is speculation that Clementine Barnabet underwent a hysterectomy after her conviction, as a way to control her alleged "moral perversion" and "desire to slay." However, the details of the procedure are unclear, and the speculation remains unconfirmed.
Q&A
What were the key similarities between the murders in the Louisiana Ax Murderer case?
The murders were all characterized by the use of an axe to fracture the victims' skulls, the targeting of black families living near the Southern Pacific Railroad line, and the murders occurring at night. The victims were also all black, and the murders often involved entire families, including children.
Who was Clementine Barnabet, and what role did she play in the Louisiana Ax Murderer case?
Clementine Barnabet was a young woman who was arrested and convicted for the murder of the Randall family. She confessed to murdering over 20 people, but her confession was riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions. Her story became a source of sensationalism in the press, with many speculating that she was involved in a voodoo cult or religious fanaticism. Clementine's case remains a mystery, with questions about her true involvement in the murders and the motivations behind her actions.
What was the role of the media in the Louisiana Ax Murderer case?
The media played a significant role in sensationalizing the case, often using racist language and fear-mongering tactics to sell newspapers. They focused on the supposed involvement of voodoo and non-Christian religious practices, creating a climate of fear and prejudice against black communities. The media's coverage contributed to the public's perception of the case and the subsequent arrests and trials of the suspects.
What happened to Clementine Barnabet after her conviction?
After her conviction, Clementine was sentenced to life in Angola prison. She was later released from prison after undergoing a mysterious surgical procedure, the details of which are unclear. The procedure was described as a way to control her alleged "moral perversion" and "desire to slay." Clementine then disappeared from the public record, leaving behind a legacy of mystery and speculation.
What are some of the unanswered questions surrounding the Louisiana Ax Murderer case?
The case remains unsolved, with many unanswered questions. Some of the key questions include: Was Clementine Barnabet truly responsible for the murders, or was she falsely accused? What was the true nature of the murders, and were they motivated by religious fanaticism, personal vendettas, or something else entirely? What happened to the other suspects in the case, and were they truly involved in the murders? And what was the true nature of the surgical procedure that Clementine underwent, and did it truly "cure" her of her alleged "desire to slay"?
Show Notes
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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guys, if someone is complaining about olde timey cases they're definitely in the wrong place