There were a string of murders and attempted murders going on in Austin, TX, starting in December of 1884 and continuing through 1885. This is their stories I have gathered from newspaper articles and Wikipedia.
The first known victims were Walter Spencer, who was seriously wounded and Mollie Smith who died. They were attacked on 30 Dec 1884. I found the following newspaper articles, just click on the links to read them. I did not find out too much about Walter.
An axe was used to murder Mollie. She was a cook for Mr. W. F. Hall.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-daily-gazette-mollie-smith/179688786/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-mollie-smith/179686808/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-mollie-smith/179687394/
They indited Walter, thinking he was the murderer. He had shared a room with Mollie and had a head injury from the attack. He was not found guilty.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-mollie-smith/179687262/
Map of Austin, TX where Mollie was murdered.
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| Made by Gwen Kubberness on Google Earth |
Seems the authorities blamed several men victims in this case. Then you don't hear anything about them again.
The next victims were attacked on the night of 19 Mar 1885 and were from Sweden, they were Christine Martenson & Clara Strand, both seriously injured but survived. I did not find any newspaper article on them; I do not know where they were attacked.
6 May 1885 Eliza Shelly was murdered, she was about 30 yrs old, and the killer told her son to be quiet, or he would come back and kill him. They boy said the killer was a black man. Eliza had three small children. Her Findagrave memorial is #7309434. An axe was used to kill her. The scene of the crime was 302 East Cypress St. As you can see on the map below there are two other victims on the map as well.
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| Map made by Gwen Kubberness on Google Maps |
Here's a few newspaper articles on Eliza's Murder. They arrested Ike Plummer for her murder, who was most likely not guilty. Eliza's husband was in prison at the time of her death.
There was a second man arrested for her death he was Jack Ross.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/364649996/match=1&clipping_id=197251982
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1279070384/?match=1&clipping_id=197252133
https://www.newspapers.com/image/71135662/?match=1&clipping_id=197252074
https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-eliza-shelly/197279368/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-eliza-shelly/197279473/
The next person murdered was Irene Brown-Cross, she was about 33 years old and was attacked 23 May 1885 with a knife. Her spouse was Haywood Cross. They had a son Washington Cross born 1862.
Below are links for newspaper articles:
https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-irene-cross/197279735/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-weekly-statesman-irene-cross/197279788/
No one was ever accused of her murder. Then in August 1885 Clara Dick was attacked and seriously injured. Her mother was also there attacked. I found several article on her attack. The husband Chales Dick was blamed at first, also for kidnapping their baby daughter. He had a solid alibi.
This happened at 203 North Ave East It's no longer a street in Austin so I have no map of it.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-claradick/196846192/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-antonio-express-news-clara-dick/196846601/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-clara-dick/196846337/
30 Aug 1885 an 11year old girl was raped and murdered as well as her mother Rebecca Ramey who age 50 was also attacked. Below is a map of where they were Little Mary died and her mother Rebecca seriously injured. Even sadder still, Rebecca's husband was Jacob Ramey died at age 44 on 26 May 1874. Then her son Edwarrd Ramey died 27 Aug 1888. He was cleaning the windows on the second story of the billiard hall and was killed by an electric wire.
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| Little Mary Ramey |
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| Map created by Gwen Kubberness on Google Earth |
On the night of 28 Sep 1885 Gracie Vance was 25 years old killed with an axe while sleeping in the servant quarters with her boyfriend 20-year-old Orange Washington who was struck in the head also while sleeping and carried out to the back yard. At the home of William B. Dunham.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-antonio-light-grace-vance/197281890/
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| Map created by Gwen Kubberness on Google Earth |
Susan Hancock was born 27 Dec 1840 in Alabama; she was married to Moses Hancock who was born 28 Jan 1823. She was murdered and he was seriously injured 24 Dec 1885. He was tried and acquitted.
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| Map created by Gwen Kubberness with Google Earth |
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| Moses Hancock |
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| Susan Hancock |
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| Findagrave.com |
Here's a link to a blog post that has some interesting information and outlook as to who may have been guilty party.
https://www.servantgirlmurders.com/the-servant-girl-annihilator/
Eula Burditt-Phillips was born 22 Apr 1868; she married Thomas Lawrence Phillips 14 Jan 1883. She was murdered 24 Dec 1885, she was found nude, a wound on the side of her head and a heavy piece of wood lay on her chest to keep her arms down.
Eula Phillips
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| Map made by Gwen Kubberness with Google Earth |
Here's some newspaper articles:
https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-eula-phillips/179686119/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-eula-phillips/179686433/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-eula-burditt-p/179639103/
This is such a sad case that has never been solved. I understand they didn't have the tools back then; they didn't even know what a serial killer was. There were pretty much two solid things they knew, it was a man and he was black. I found a wonderful video on this; I posted it below.
There's also book you can order I will leave you the link for that as well.
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