Empire of Sin (64 page)

  
1
“In the same manner …”
The opening quote is from the NOTP of June 28, 1918.

  
2
important differences between the two attacks …
 Details about the Besumer attacks come principally from the NOTP, NODI, and NODS editions of June 27 through 30, 1918. Where the newspaper accounts conflict significantly, the source of specific information is cited below.

  
3
“My God …”
and other quotes from Zanca are from the NODI of June 27, 1918. (Some other newspaper accounts say that Zanca ran to the police station to report the incident.)

  
4
“I felt like I was going to faint …”
as quoted in the NOTP of June 28, 1918.

  
5
categorically denied that there had been a quarrel …
 Harriet Besumer’s denial that Louis attacked her, and Louis Besumer’s boasts (about being rich, well educated, etc.) are from the NODI of June 27, 1918.

  
6
moved to New Orleans for a rest …
 The NODI of June 30, 1918, says that it had been two weeks since the Besumers arrived in New Orleans, though other sources give other amounts of time.

  
7
“Have you any enemies?…”
This and the rest of the exchange are from the NODI of June 27, 1918.

  
8
It was a mulatto man …
 Harriet Besumer’s account of being attacked by a mulatto is principally as reported in the NODI of July 1, 1918. Other details are from the NOTP of June 28, 1918.

  
9
“If I said so formerly …”
Harriet Besumer’s retraction of her previous accusation is from the NODI of July 1, 1918.

10
“The case has taken a peculiar turn …”
The account of the unraveling of the Maggio case and the quote come from the NODS of May 26, 1918.

11
rampant speculation in the press …
 The cited headlines are from the NODS of June 28 and the NODI of June 30, both 1918.

12
“My husband is a German …”
as quoted in the NODI of June 28, 1918.

13
spy PLOT
 … Headline and subsequent quote is from the NODI of June 30, 1918.

14
agents from the Department of Justice …
 The arrival of federal agents as per the NOTP of June 30, 1918.

15
convinced that the same assailant …
 Mooney’s discussion of possible explanations of the attacks are outlined in the NOTP of July 1, 1918.

16
“burn him down”
 … is from the NODS of July 2, 1918.

17
“The last I remember …”
Harriet Besumer’s long quote is from the NODI of July 1, 1918.

18
“born investigator” …
 The conversation with Louis Besumer at police headquarters comes principally from the NODI of July 3, 1918. Other details are from the NOTP of July 4, 1918.

19
“If I am not …”
The long conversation with Harriet Besumer and all quotes are mainly from the NODI of July 4, 1918.

20
notoriously corrupt and incompetent …
 For Mooney’s attempts to reform the police department, see the NOTP of September 8, 1917.

21
found at the Milneburg resort …
 For the incident involving the two detectives demoted for being at Milneburg, see the NOTP of July 7, 1918.

22
“one of the most baffling mysteries …”
Mooney’s quotes to the press are from the NOTP of July 7, 1918.

23
“Along toward dawn …”
Harriet Besumer’s recaptured memory of the man above her bed (with all quotes) is from the NOTP of July 7, 1917.

Chapter 18: “Almost As If He Had Wings”

  
1
It was two A.M.…
For the attack on Mary Schneider, see the NODIs of August 4 and 5, 1918, and the NODS of August 5, 1918.

  
2
a broken glass lamp …
 Details about the lamp from the NOTP of August 6, 1918.

  
3
“delicate condition” …
 as per the NODI of August 4, 1918.

  
4
a box containing $102 …
 as per the NODI of August 4, 1918.

  
5
several strands of the victim’s hair
 … and the detail about the missing ax per the NODS of August 6, 1918.

  
6
“At the present time …”
as per the NODI of August 5, 1918.

  
7
earlier incident back in December 1917 …
 Epifania Andollina attack per McQueen,
Axman
, 23

  
8
successfully give birth to a baby girl
 … as per the NODI of August 5, 1918.

  
9
“Members of the [detective] squad …”
as per the NODS of August 7, 1918.

10
chief and other police officials were on the record …
 as per the NODI of August 5, 1918.

11
ARMED MEN GUARD SLEEPING FAMILIES …
 as per the NODI of August 5, 1918.

12
“all-night vigils” …
 as per the NODS of August 7, 1918.

13
“some insane beast” …
 as per the NODI of August 5, 1918, and the NOTP of August 6, 1918.

14
“More than 12 victims have fallen …”
as per the NODI of August 5, 1918.

15
detail of the 1910 Crutti attack …
 For the mockingbird incident, see the NOTP of August 14, 1910, as reported in McQueen,
Axman
, 11–12.

16
assigning as many patrolmen as could be spared …
 Mooney sending men to thinly settled areas per the NODI of August 5, 1918.

17
“study of criminals …”
Letters from forensic expert per the NODI of August 8, 1918.

18
“The man seems to know considerable …”
as per the NOTP of August 9, 1918.

19
“I’ve been nervous about this axman …”
as per the NODI of August 10, 1918.

20
“There at the foot of the bed …”
as per the NOTP of August 11, 1918.

21
“almost as if he had wings” …
 McQueen,
Axman
, 30.

22
“I’ve been hit …”
as per the NODI of August 10, 1918, and the NOTPs of August 11, 1918.

23
a wallet, which was now missing
 … The NOTP said the wallet had been taken; the NODS (of August 10, 1918) claimed it was not taken.

24
much more was left behind
 … Gold watch on the mantelpiece, etc., as per the NODI of August 10, 1918.

25
“I’m convinced that the Romano murder …”
as per the NODI of August 10, 1918.

26
decision to consult with expert criminologists …
 as per the NODS of August 11, 1918.

27
“This series of ax outrages …”
as per the NODI of August 11, 1918.

28
WHO WILL BE NEXT …
 as per the NOTP of August 11, 1918.

29
“A literal reign of terror …”
as per the NODI of August 10, 1918.

30
reports of alleged axman sightings …
 as per the NODI and the NODS of August 10, 1918, and the NOTP of August 11 and 12, 1918.

31
Everyone seemed to have a different theory …
 Speculation about axman identity per the NODI and NODS of August 11, 1918.

32
“Although practically all the victims …”
Dantonio interview per the NOTP of August 13, 1918.

33
shooting at suspicious figures …
 as per the NOTPs of August 12, 1918, and the NODI of August 16, 1918.

34
“a badly frightened Negro woman” …
 Cardajal incident per the NOTP of August 17 and 19, 1918.

35
“I believe it is criminal …”
as per the NODS of August 16, 1918.

36
“scathing criticism” …
 Public response to the absence of any arrest per the NODI of August 12, 1918.

37
“recovered from the trance …”
as per the NODS of August 19, 1918.

38
“On the night I was assaulted …”
as per the NOTP of August 20, 1918.

39
Louis Besumer arrested on a charge of assault
 … as per the NODI of August 19, 1918.

40
confirmed this last claim …
 Confirmation of Mrs. Lowe’s accusations as per the NODI and NODS of August 19, 1918, and the NOTP of August 20, 1918.

41
“Mrs. Lowe is a good woman …”
as per the NOTP and NODS of August 20, 1918.

42
“dangerous and suspicious character” …
 Mooney’s grounds for protesting Besumer’s bail per the NODI of August 23, 1918.

43
“some weight to the theory …”
as per the NODS of August 20, 1918.

44
ATTENTION MR. MOONEY …
 Text of ad per the NODI of August 22, 1918.

45
cresting of the Spanish flu epidemic …
 Effects of flu on nightlife per McCusker,
Creole Trombone
, 130.

46
great number of funerals …
 Brothers,
Armstrong’s New Orleans
, 239.

47
“itchy feet” …
 Chilton,
Bechet
, 24–25.

48
“A whole lot of musicianers …”
Bechet,
Treat It Gentle
, 116.

49
joined the band led by Lawrence Duhe …
 McCusker,
Creole Trombone
, 25.