The Midnight Assassin

Dark Histories

In 1885 a terrifying string of attacks in Austin, Texas erupted through the city, preying on the servant class. An unknown attacker, or band of attackers, broke into the residences of servants across the city, striking many of them in the head with an axe. The attacks carried on for months with police making little advancement until the night of Christmas Eve saw two of the city's gentry struck down forcing the authorities to act. Queue a flock of noseblind bloodhounds, a trio of fake Pinkertons and a mayor with far too much on his plate. SOURCES Galloway, J.R. (2010) The Servant Girl Murders: Austin, Texas 1885. Booklocker.com, inc. USA. Galloway, J.R. (2021) About The Victims | The Servant Girl Murders Austin, Texas 1885. [online] Servantgirlmurders.com. Available at: [Accessed 23 May 2021]. Hollandsworth, Skip (2017) The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, and The Hunt For America’s First Serial Killer. Picador Publishing, USA. Fort Worth Daily Gazette (1885) A Colored Woman Murdered - Birth of the Daily Sun. 01 Jan, 1885, p.5. TX, USA Austin American Statesman (1885) Bloody Work. 01 Jan, 1885, p.4. TX, USA Austin American Statesman (1885) Still A Mystery. 02 Jan, 1885, p.4. TX, USA Austin American Statesman (1885) A Day And Deed. 03 March, 1885, p.4. TX, USA Austin American Statesman (1885) At It Again. 30 April, 1885, p.4. TX, USA Austin American Statesman (1885) More Butchery. 23 May, 1885, p.4. TX, USA Austin American Statesman (1885) Slain Servants. 30 Sep, 1885, p.4. TX, USA Austin American Statesman (1885) Blood! Blood! Blood! 26 Dec, 1885, p.4. TX, USA Austin American Statesman (1885) The Assassinations. 14 Jan, 1885, p.4. TX, USA A collection of historical Photographs and Maps were found here: https://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/AHCP/browse/?fq=untl_decade%3A1880-1889&start=24

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The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye

Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017

Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.