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Hi listeners, it's Vanessa. Before today's episode, I want to take a brief moment to tell you about a show from Crime House's sister studio, Rewind, that I know you'll love. It's called Government that Doesn't Suck, hosted by professors Lindsay Cormack and Greg Jackson from History that Doesn't Suck. Ever wonder how the weather forecast on your phone is so accurate? Or how your mail still gets across the country for less than a dollar? Or who actually built the highway you drove on this morning? Each episode tells the surpr of an American institution that you'll never look at the same way again. Listen to and follow Government that Doesn't Suck every other Monday on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch video episodes on YouTube.
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This is Crime House.
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Sometimes you just want to blend into the crowd. Maybe you put on a hoodie and sunglasses to run errands, or you sit in the back of the classroom or conference room. It's normal to not feel like your best self sometimes and to avoid unwanted attention. But for some, anonymity isn't just a coping mechanism. It's a tactic, a way to avoid detection when carrying out nefarious and even gruesome acts. In 1880s Texas, a brutal killer or killers perfected the art of going incognito. And to this day, we're left to wonder if whoever was behind the violence hadn't just targeted the city of Austin, but cities all over the world. The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is Serial Killers and Murderous A Crime House original. I'm Vanessa Richardson.
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And I'm forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels. Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes a killer.
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Crime House exists because of listeners like you want even more? Join Crime House plus and get both parts of every story dropped on the Same Monday completely ad free. No waiting 3 days for part 2 plus crime house bonus episodes every month. To join, go to crimehouseplus.com or if you listen on Apple Podcasts, tap try free at the top of the Serial Killers and Murderous Minds page. Before we get started, be advised this episode contains discussions of murder and sexual violence against women and minors. So please listen with care. Today we conclude our deep dive on the Midnight Assassin, an unidentified serial killer who terrorized the city of Austin, Texas for years, shedding light not just on deep racial prejud, but inadequate investigative resources. The case of the Midnight Assassin, also known as the Servant girl Annihilator remains a haunting mystery, and nowadays people wonder if the killer may have actually been one of the most gruesome in the world.
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As Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like how distrust toward law enforcement can impact investigations, why investigators sometimes conceal key information from the public, and how some serial killers are able to blend into society and hide in plain sight.
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And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer?
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By September of 1885, six members of Austin's black community were brutally killed in their sleep. Molly Smith, Eliza Shelley, Irene Cross, Mary Ramey, who was just 11 years old Gracie Vance and her boyfriend, Orange Washington. Most of the victims died from severe head wounds, and at the most recent crime scene, when Gracie and Orange were killed, police found a bloody acts. And despite the sheer level of violence involved with each crime, some cases stood out. First, Mary and Gracie had each been sexually assaulted before they died, and Orange was the only male victim whose injuries had resulted in death. Finally, police found bare footprints at the scene of Eliza and Mary's murders, which they believed had been left by the killer. And when they looked closely at the prints outside Mary's home, it appeared her killer was missing his pinky toe. Even before the MO of the attacks began to shift, many investigators believed the murders were being carried out by different people. This was largely because at the time, the concept of a serial killer wasn't very prevalent. Despite this belief, the media and many members of the public had started to think a sole culprit was behind each crime. And the media had dubbed the Unidentified Killer the Midnight Assassin or the Servant Girl annihilator. This theory also led to outrage that police hadn't uncovered any legitimate leads or brought charges against anyone. Since each victim was black, Austin authorities mainly targeted black men as suspects. And when officers couldn't find any hard evidence linking these men to the crimes, they turned to more drastic methods by beating confessions out of a few people. But it never worked, and eventually each suspect was released. Desperate for answers, Austin's mayor eventually brought in private detectives from Houston, hoping fresh eyes could uncover new clues. But their tactics soon caused controversy. The PIs used bloodhounds to search for the killer, and the hounds only ever seemed to go after black men, which led many to believe they'd been trained to do exactly that. Fear of being falsely accused became so widespread that some black men began tying small bags of strong smelling spices around their ankles in hopes of warding off the dogs. As more and more people felt unfairly targeted and unsafe, people became unwilling to speak to the police at all, which made it difficult for investigators to learn anything about the victims lives before they died.
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We've already talked about how prejudice can narrow an investigation and damage trust in episode one. But there's another issue that often gets overlooked. Bias can spread. If local investigators already had assumptions about who was responsible, it's possible those assumptions influenced the private detectives who were brought in. If they were told that a particular group is suspicious, that can affect what they notice, what questions they ask, and how they interpret ambiguous evidence. It's also possible they already had existing biases, given the era. But either way, if they entered the investigation after hearing that black men were primary suspects, that can shape expectations and theories can become contagious, and that can influence investigators, witnesses, and even entire institutions. The danger is that people may feel they're independently reaching the same conclusion, when in reality, they all started from the same set of assumptions.
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How do you think law enforcement can earn back public trust after something like this?
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Trust is restored by behavior. If a community believes it's being unfairly targeted. Law enforcement has to demonstrate that through behavior they have to show that investigations are being guided by the evidence, not assumptions, and that they are being done fairly and humanely. That means following leads wherever they go, being transparent about what is known and unknown, and applying the same standards to everyone. And one thing research consistently finds is that people are more willing to trust authorities when they believe the process is fair, even when they don't like the outcome. People want to know that they're being treated with dignity, that they're being heard, and that that decisions are being made Objectively, they've done a lot of harm to a community that has been systematically harmed for so long. It's going to take a lot of time for the community to trust again as it was, but certainly more now.
- [09:25]
A
Well, despite all the arrests, interrogations, bloodhounds and public pressure, the police still weren't any closer to identifying the real killer. Sometimes they even circled back to the same people they'd already cleared to take a harder look at them. One of those people was Walter Spencer, the live in boyfriend of the first known victim, 25 year old Molly Smith. Walter had originally come under suspicion immediately after Molly's murder, but there wasn't enough evidence linking him to the crime. However, since there were no other suspects, authorities decided to arrest him anyway. And In December of 1885, nearly a year after Molly was killed, Walter went on trial for her murder. At first, the news made people wonder if authorities were actually making progress. But they soon realized how wrong they were. Because the case against Walter was extremely weak, prosecutors presented zero physical evidence and they never found any witnesses who could connect him to the killing. So after two days, the jury acquitted Walter. And while the police continued to pursue the wrong suspects, the violence continued. This time it struck where people least expected. Susan Hancock was known as one of Austin's most refined white women. She was educated, well off, and the wife of a respected mechanic named Moses. On Christmas Eve of 1885, almost a year after the violence began, Susan's daughters went out to a party. She left the front door unlocked for them, then went to bed in her own room. At the time, it wasn't unusual for married couples to sleep separately. Still, Moses seemed attuned to his wife because at some point during the night, he woke up feeling like something was wrong. It's unclear exactly what woke him. Maybe he heard a noise. But whatever it was, Moses got out of bed to check on Susan. When he entered her room, he was horrified. Susan's bed sheets were covered in blood and he didn't see her anywhere. He searched the house in a panic before running into the backyard where he finally found Susan and lying in a pool of blood, barely conscious. Her head was badly wounded and blood poured from her ears. Moses picked her up and screamed for help. Neighbors rushed to the scene and someone quickly alerted the authorities. This time, doctors accompanied the police. They noticed that Susan's skull had been fractured in two places. Moses told them that he'd seen a pair of men fleeing the scene and jump over a fence. Police immediately released bloodhounds to track the scent, but they Weren't able to follow it soon after, Susan died of her injuries. Like all the other victims, her death had been sudden and tragic. The only difference was that Susan was the first white victim.
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C
It's not uncommon for serial killers to expand their victim pattern, like going from adults to children, for example. Most of the time, this is due to circumstances, opportunity, or escalation of behav. But this is unusual. Not only has this offender changed races, he's changed socioeconomic class as well. Serial offenders choose victims who are available, vulnerable, and desirable. And he's been primarily targeting marginalized black women. One black child, Mary, and what I believe was a secondary male victim. But now he's targeted an affluent, high status white woman. So let's recap a minute. We have been operating on the theory that the offender is a black male Based eyewitness accounts. And that theory is actually very likely, statistically speaking, because most serial killers are intraracial, meaning they target individuals within their same race. Does that mean that's always the case? No, but it's not common to go outside of that. So this is very unusual.
- [13:22]
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If Susan's murder was committed by the same person responsible for some or all of the murders in the black community, Then what might that signify about the killer from a psychological or behavioral standpoint? Could this shift in victim pattern have been a way to throw off investigators?
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That's the question I immediately had. So why the change? It doesn't seem as if she was a secondary victim because she was taken outside just like the rest. She was killed in the same method than all the previous victims were. And you didn't mention any confirmation that he sexually assaulted her, though, which is very telling to me. Because if the other sexual assaults were an escalation of his methods, and he didn't sexually assault her, she may have been killed for a different purpose Rather than for personal gratification. Targeting Susan is going to draw more attention from the public, law enforcement and the media, which doesn't seem like a smart choice if he wants to avoid detection. But at the same time, if he's in fact a black man, like we are theorizing he is, he was already living under the threat of being identified, arrested, or swept up in the investigation like the rest of his community. So it's very probable that this pattern change was circumstantial or strategic to preserve his anonymity. This is a theory. And just that since I have absolutely no proof, but given how atypical this is, it feels like he did this to draw attention away from the black community. I think he felt like it would take heat off himself in some strange way, but in fact, it was just going to amplify it.
- [14:59]
A
Susan's death marked a significant shift in the crimes, and it was only just the start of the horror. That night, while reporters and police were still gathered at the Hancocks home, speaking to witnesses and analyzing the scene, they learned about another crime scene just a 15 minute walk away. Eula was just 17 years old and had recently given birth to a son. Officers and neighbors thought maybe something had happened to the baby and they rushed over. However, when they entered the house, they were completely stunned. Eula's baby was safe, but her husband James was sitting in a blood soaked bed with a severe wound to his head. And Eula was gone. Police quickly noticed a bloodied ax on the bed near James, as well as bloody footprints leading outside. They rushed to find Eula, and near a fence in the yard, they saw her on the ground. The officers ran to her, but it was too late. Eula was already dead. Not only was her head badly injured, but she'd been completely stripped of her clothes. And investigators noticed something deeply disturbing that hadn't happened at other scenes. A large piece of wood had been deliberately placed across Eula's body and the killer posed her arms so they stretched outward. Investigators had never seen anything like it. And upon further examination, it became clear that Eula had been sexually assaulted before she was killed, Just like two of the victims before her. Police scoured the scene for any other possible clues, but didn't find any. However, they pried up one of the floorboards from inside the home so they could preserve the bloody footprints as evidence.
- [16:42]
C
Two murders in one night is significant, and even more so when you consider the circumstances. Firstly, this was a very risky situation because with every murder, there's a risk of interruption, detection, or identification. But at the same time, if this is him, he already committed one murder at an affluent house. And he likely knew that most people would be distracted by the news of that or the majority of the police department would likely be there and that would buy him time. Second, both victims were white, and like I mentioned, that's going to influence public perception. This is going to start challenging assumptions, but also instilling more fear within the community as a whole. But now we have body positioning or staging that's also new because he likely felt he had more time to spend with Eula's body than he historically has had with any victim in the past. He took advantage of that and he posed her these back to back murders could signal compulsion, but they could also signal urgency, opportunity, or confidence as well. There are multiple explanations here that can produce the same behavior. And if he is, in fact murdering these women for strategy, he's got a small window of time to do it. He knows that these will be taken more seriously than the victims he's previously targeted. So the urgency is certainly there. But of course, it's equally possible that this was more about confidence or that this was a copycat. But if it is him, he is disorganized. But he also knew that women lived in these homes. He's not arbitrarily choosing these homes, Hoping to find a desirable victim living there.
- [18:23]
A
What do you think it says about the killer having posed eula's body and adding that piece of wood on top of her? That's so strange.
- [18:31]
C
Generally, when an offender spends additional time with a victim, Post mortem, investigators and psychologists begin considering whether that behavior served a psychological purpose. We can't know exactly what that purpose was without them telling us. It's possible the positioning of the body and the placement of the wood were symbolic. It's possible they reflected a fantasy, a desire for control, or some other form of psychological gratification, which is not uncommon in sexually motivated offenses. It's also possible that behavior. Behavior served a more practical purpose. One thing to consider, however, is that this may not reflect a change in the offender as much as a change in circumstances. His earlier attacks often involved surviving witnesses, Interruptions, or a need to flee quickly because he was avoiding detection here. He may simply have had more time, like I mentioned, Than he did in any prior offenses. So if investigators and community members were focused on Susan's murder, Or if he felt there was a lower risk of interruption, that may have created an opportunity that didn't previously exist. This may have been the first time he had the time and privacy to engage in behavior that may have been present all along.
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The Christmas eve murders marked a massive turning point in the case, because for a year, the violence had been concentrated within Austin's black servant community. But now two white women had been attacked and murdered in the same disturbing way on the same night.
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Night.
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As the community saw it, no one in the city was safe anymore. At the same time, no one had any idea that the police were about to make a huge discovery and keep the whole thing a secret. The best summer wardrobe consists of pieces you wear on repeat because they're comfortable, versatile, and fit right in anywhere. That's why I love quince. They produce elevated essentials using premium materials. Like European linen, organic cotton and washable silk minus the traditional retail markup. Their 100% European linen collection has become my summer obsession. The pieces are so lightweight, effortless to style and start at just $32. I love pairing their soft denim with an organic cotton sweater for chilly nights and adding their delicate 14 karat gold chains for a subtle finishing touch. Gorgeous and so easy to put together. By working directly with ethical factories and cutting out middlemen, Quince charges 50 to 80% less than high end brands. They also offer elevated essentials for your home. From kitchenware to bedding, make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to quince.commurous for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q U-I-N-C-E.commurous for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com
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The escalation in safety and security after the deaths of Susan and Eula have several possible explanations, and they're not mutually exclusive. One, and perhaps the most obvious, is that the threat was becoming harder to ignore. There have been multiple brutal murders, and now two white women had been killed in a single night. That alone may have increased the sense of urgency among both officials and the public, even if they felt they were committed by different people. It's also reasonable to consider the role of social attitudes at the time. We know that race influenced many aspects of life during this period, which includes when they prioritize attention and safety. The murders of Susan and Eula, two white women, generated a level of public concern and political pressure that the murders of Molly, Eliza, Mary, Gracie, and Orange did not, or that the brutal attacks of Walter, Rebecca, and James did not. The reality is, public officials often respond to multiple pressures at once, and there was now more concern for public safety, concern about public confidence, and concern about criticism of law enforcement, as well as concern about maintaining order in a city that was becoming increasingly frightened. And that concern seem to escalate after the deaths of Susan and Eula.
- [25:50]
A
What are the risks involved? When investigations become driven more by public outrage like this one and political pressure
- [25:57]
C
than actual evidence, it intensifies the need to get results. And that further amplifies many of the risks that we've already been discussing, including confirmation bias, tunnel vision, pressure to identify a suspect, and overlooking alternative explanations. But another risk is that officials begin prioritizing actions that are visible over actions that are effective. These measures you described they may reassure the public that something is being done because they're visible. But reassurance and safety are not necessarily the same thing. Closing businesses, imposing curfews, and questioning people on the street creates a greater sense of control over the community. But they don't necessarily bring investigators any closer to identifying the offender. In fact, some of these measures can create unintended consequences, like, for example, it can affect the community economically. People may become afraid to be outside for reasons beyond fear of being targeted by the serial offender. Community members may be discouraged from organizing their own efforts to protect one another. And law enforcement resources may be diverted toward enforcing restrictions rather than solving the case or other crimes that are happening in the community. All four, at least in this case. The appearance of Action Even after the
- [27:22]
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murders of Susan Hancock and Eula Phillips, police still thought multiple offenders were responsible. And because the newest victims were white women, many investigators assumed the attacks must have been carried out by a completely different killer than anyone who'd previously targeted black victims. While police believe the killers were likely someone close to each woman, the public's theories about who the murderer was spiraled out of control. One rumor that gained serious traction was that the killer might be someone who'd escaped from an insane asylum at night and somehow slipped back into the institution without anyone noticing. To many residents, the explanation felt just as believable with anything the police had offered. In the midst of the panic, gun stores reportedly sold out as terrified residents armed themselves however they could. Old weapons were pulled out of storage, and some people became so frightened they decided to move away from Austin altogether. Then, for the first time since the murders began, the authorities finally decided to offer money in exchange for information. On New Year's Eve, the governor of Texas announced a 300 reward. Then it was up to $1,000 each for information leading to the arrest of whoever killed Susan or Eula. Meanwhile, there was also a $1,000 reward for information in the case of black victims. But they were all grouped together instead of individually, like the white victims.
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Earlier, we talked about ways law enforcement can rebuild public trust. Well, this would likely set that effort back. And for some people, perhaps irreparably, this disparity is difficult to ignore. All five of the offender's black victims, including Mary, a child, were grouped together for the same reward being offered for a single white victim. And this was occurring only a few decades after slavery, when black people had literally been bought, sold, appraised, and assigned monetary value. And of course, a reward is not the same thing as slavery. But symbolism matters. And for Some members of the black community. This could reinforce the belief that their lives, their suffering, and their deaths were still being valued differently. And if there were already concerns about whether these victims were not receiving the same attention, urgency or resources as others, disparities like this one were not going going to ease those concerns. Instead, they likely deepened feelings of alienation, distrust, and invisibility among members of a community that was already marginalized and living in fear.
- [30:01]
A
Pretty soon, it became clear just how much investigators were prioritizing Susan and eula's deaths. By January 2, just one week after the murders, police announced the arrests of two suspects, Susan and Eula's husband. While the authorities believed they finally had two murderers behind bars, Another violent incident shook things up. Unlike before, this one didn't occur in the middle of the night. It happened in full public view. On February 8, 1886, a 19 year old cook named Nathan Elgin attacked a black woman named Julia, who was a customer at a bar where Nathan worked. It's unclear what triggered Nathan, but after initially attacking her inside the bar, he dragged Julia into a nearby house and started started beating her so violently that people back at the bar could hear her screams. Two nearby police officers, along with several residents, rushed inside and pulled Nathan away. They tried to subdue him, but he was so filled with rage, it was impossible. Then Nathan pulled out a knife. The moment officers saw the weapon, they shot Nathan and he died the next day. Thankfully, Julia survived. At first, the incident seemed like just another violent altercation in a city that was already on edge, Especially when officers spoke to witnesses who described Nathan as volatile and aggressive. People who knew him were all too familiar with his violent temper. But during Nathan's autopsy, the medical examiner discovered something startling. Nathan was missing a toe on his right foot. Investigators anxiously thought back to the footprints found at the scene of Mary Ramey's murder, where they found footprints showing a missing toe. At that moment, they began to wonder if Nathan had been responsible for any of the past violence. So before Nathan was laid to rest, authorities took a cast mold of his foot. Then they compared it to the preserved footprint from the scene of Eula's attack. And while it's unclear whether that footprint also showed a missing toe, the authorities believed it was a match. It might have been a huge break in the case. However, Eula and Susan's husbands were already in custody. Unwilling to throw a wrench in those cases, investigators kept Nathan's missing toe and his possible connection to the previous murders secret from the public.
- [32:28]
C
Okay, so they want to keep it secret from the public. There are a few reasons why they would choose to keep this confidential from them. One is purely investigative. From a practical standpoint, investigators sometimes do withhold information, information from the public while they determine whether a lead is meaningful, while they corroborate evidence or avoid influencing witness statements. So secrecy alone is not necessarily suspicious or malicious. What makes this situation interesting is the timing, because by this point, Susan and Eula's husbands are already in custody and the public believes that they are suspects. If investigators suddenly announce that another individual appeared to share a really distinctive physical characteristic that was found at previous crime scenes and it's one person suspected of multiple, if not all, murders, it could raise questions about the strength of the existing cases and the investigation itself. Second, institutions are often sensitive to anything that complicates an existing narrative that the public has. That doesn't always mean they're acting with pride or shame. But once people publicly commit to a theory, they can be reluctant to introduce information that will undermine it, especially when so much is riding on it, or they have a lot of people to answer to, or if they've already been under scrutiny. So it's possible the secrecy served a legitimate investigative purpose, but it's also possible that it was narrative control. And it sounds like how you described it, that it might be the latter. Either way, if this evidence is reliable and ultimately points to the correct person, then that they risk delaying the investigation by failing to aggressively pursue or publicly acknowledge a potentially important lead. Meanwhile, Moses and James are still going through criminal trial proceedings.
- [34:22]
A
With Nathan Elgin now dead, investigators believe there was only one real way to see if he was actually the killer. To wait and see if the murders continued. Months passed without any more killing killings. And it's possible that law enforcement became more convinced that Nathan had been the midnight assassin all along. But with all the criticism they faced, they may not have wanted people to know that they'd caught the killer by chance. So the authorities moved forward with the suspects. They had Moses Hancock and James Phillips. But city officials couldn't keep secrets forever. And soon, bombshell revelations would come to light.
- [35:09]
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boss boss boss boss bosses. Let's talk business in my office. Add new unstoppables beads to your wash for 24 hour non stop freshness so you can smell unstoppable. In February of 1886, the authorities had reason to believe that a 19 year old man named Nathan Elgin may have been responsible for at least some of the violence that had plagued all Boston. However, the police had killed Nathan in the process of stopping his attack on another woman, and Susan Hancock and Eula Phillips husbands Moses and James had already been arrested and charged for their murders. So even when investigators found evidence that potentially linked Nathan Elgin to other crimes, including Eula's murder, they swept it under the rug. And they never told the public about it. Which meant Moses and James's cases moved forward as planned. Land and the controversy surrounding them caused quite a stir. When James trial began In May of 1886, the courtroom quickly filled with rumors, gossip and conflicting testimony. One of the most explosive claims came from Eula's sister, who testified that Eula may have been pregnant from an affair at the time of her murder. She said a family friend had bought medication intended to cause a miscarriage, which raised speculation that James may have discovered the affair and killed his wife in a fit of rage. Rage Even though James had been found badly wounded at the scene, a local doctor testified that his injuries could have been self inflicted during some kind of disturbed episode. This theory created a lot of buzz, especially when James's mother testified that the axe that police found on the bed near him was theirs. James and Eula kept it stored in a shed on their property. However, in the courtroom, the defense compared James's feet to the footprints and they didn't match match. His feet were much larger. But this didn't seem to sway the jury. They thought it was unlikely that a stranger would have known exactly where to find the ax. In the end, they found James guilty of second degree murder and he was sentenced to seven years in prison.
- [38:07]
C
It's one thing not to disclose this to the public, but it's another not to disclose it internally or investigatively. And another thing that's aggravating about this is that since Nathan has died and the murder stopped, that could be attributed to James and Moses being incarcerated, which strengthens their case against these potentially innocent men. And their focus on spouses and intimate partners is because. Which we talked about before, Statistically, they're frequently responsible for serious violence against their partners and women. So from an investigative standpoint, it's reasonable place to start. But every case still has to be evaluated on its own with evidence. And these investigators had evidence. Evidence that they intentionally filtered out. We talked about confirmation bias throughout this investigation and how theories can become contagious. While theories can influence everyone around a case, once James became the primary suspect, Family members, friends, witnesses, and even community members may have started reevaluating past events as well. A new motive suddenly emerges. Without any proof, how does his sister know that James knew about Eula's pregnancy or even her affair? Or his mother's claim that her acts had been used? How can she prove that James was the one who used it? That doesn't mean anyone was intentionally lying. In fact, they may have sincerely believed they were helping. But once a theory takes hold, it can influence what people remember or discuss and how they make sense of what they think they knew. This is truly a very tragic case from start to finish. Finish?
- [39:47]
A
Well, whether or not James was innocent, his defense team was still fighting for him. After his conviction, they filed an appeal, arguing that there was no evidence that James knew about his wife's affair, which made the infidelity angle inadmissible. The court agreed. James's conviction was overturned in late 1886. But the authorities had another bite at the apple Moses hancock and his trial kicked off a few months later, in May of 1886. Seven Moses had been the one to find Susan and call for help the night she died. A lot of people had been heartbroken at the thought of his traumatic loss. But now prosecutors wanted to paint Moses in a different light. They said he was an angry alcoholic who'd been physically abusive toward her for a long time. And they called Susan's own sister to testify to these claims. One of Susan's neighbors added even more damaging testimony, Claiming that she once asked if Moses could stay the night at his house House because he was drunk and she was afraid of him. The prosecution had hard proof to back these claims up, too. A letter from Susan to Moses they found at the bottom of a fake flower box. Saying that while she loved him, she couldn't tolerate his drinking anymore. It seemed to confirm all the emotional testimony and rumors surrounding the marriage. But the prosecution still lacked one critical thing. Hard physical evidence proving he'd murdered his wife. Wife plus. The defense latched on to Moses's claims that he'd seen two men fleeing her murder scene and jump a fence. Not only that, but the Hancocks teenage daughter testified that her mother had never felt secure enough to actually show Moses that letter. It was a huge wrench in the prosecution's entire argument. The defense also had a surprising witness in their corner. Sheriff Malcolm Hornsby. He didn't think Moses was guilty. Guilty because he finally told the jury about Nathan Elgin, his missing toe, and how there hadn't been any more murders after his death. When it was time for the jury to deliberate, they couldn't reach a verdict. Three jurors voted guilty, while eight voted not guilty and another undecided. Eventually, the case against Moses was dismissed. For those close to Susan, who believed her husband was responsible, it was a devastating outcome. And soon, other aspects of the investigation began unraveling, too.
- [42:13]
C
Again, it's one thing not to disclose that to the public, but quite another not to have disclosed it to the court or internally earlier on. But doing so now was critical because it introduces reasonable doubt. Reasonable doubt is not the same thing as proving someone else committed the crime. It simply means there's a reasonable alternative, alternative explanation that prevents jurors from reaching a firm conviction that the defendant in this case, Moses, is guilty. Prior to Nathan, jurors were largely evaluating whether Moses committed the murder. After learning about Nathan's missing toe, his violent behavior, the apparent match to evidence from a previous crime scene, and the fact that the murder seemed to stop after his death, Jurors were faced with another possibility. And at that point, they had to wonder if they could rule Nathan out. And if the answer is no, that can be enough to create reasonable doubt. But this doesn't just introduce reasonable doubt in a legal sense. It may also introduce doubt about the investigation and the institution itself. By this point, James had already gone through criminal proceedings, been convicted, and been forced to appeal. Moses was in the middle of his own trial. Families had testified against them. Witnesses had taken the stand. Jurors had been asked to weigh these men's guilt. If investigators were aware of potentially significant information pointing in another direction and chose not to disclose it publicly, People are going to begin questioning not only the suspects, but the process. Whatever trust they may have had was likely completely gone at this point. What's especially tragic is the ripple effect, which I've talked about already. But these accusations didn't just affect James and Moses. They affected their families, their reputations, and their relationships. Family members were forced to consider whether someone they loved might be capable of committing these crimes. Even if those suspicions were later called into question, the damage caused by them doesn't simply disappear. It's hard to repair something like this.
- [44:17]
A
After Moses and James walked free, no one was ever arrested for Susan and Eula's murders again. In fact, no one was ever tried for any of the killings. And now, more than 140 years later, Nathan Elgin's possible involvement remains one of the biggest unanswered questions about the the case. According to some historical accounts, in addition to the arguments that led to James acquittal, Nathan may have had a motive for his behavior. Apparently, his mother had forced him into servitude as a child. Since a young boy his age wasn't capable of hard labor, it's believed he may have spent a lot of his early life under the authority of female employers and domestic workers. Some historians and researchers have wondered whether those experiences contributed to resentment and anger that led Nathan to murder. Over the decades, countless other theories have emerged, too. One of the most famous ideas is the theory that the Austin murders may have somehow been connected to the Jack the Ripper killings, Specifically, that the midnight assassin and Jack may have actually been the same person. The theory mainly comes from the timing and brutality of the cross crimes. The midnight assassin murders happened first, and then just a few years later, Jack the Ripper's infamous killings began in London. Supporters of the theory also point out that after the Ripper murders suddenly stopped, reports of similarly brutal attacks surfaced in places like Nicaragua, Tunisia, and Jamaica, all locations with international cargo ports, which led people to think the killer could have smuggled himself into different countries.
- [45:56]
C
People point to his violent behavior, the missing toe, the apparent footprint match, and the fact that the murders seem to stop after his death. He was younger than most serial offenders are when they become active, which is very unusual. But that's not enough to rule him out. So whether Nathan was actually responsible is, you know, still open to debate, like you said. But that theory is at least built around facts that are directly connected to the investigation. The Jack the Ripper theory operates a little differently psychologically. People are drawn to dramatic explanations that connect famous mysteries together, especially unsolved ones. We've seen many with the Zodiac killer as well, but all it does is expand on the mystery. But let's break them down so Here are some commonalities. They both brutally attacked marginalized and vulnerable women at night and successfully evaded capture. And then they suddenly stopped. The similarities really end there. Here's how they differ though. The Midnight Assassin targeted women while they slept in bed, often next to partners or with children in the other room. Jack the Ripper targeted sex workers in public spaces. The Midnight Assassin used blunt force trauma with an ax or similar tool, and Jack the Ripper used knives and engaged in postmortem mutilation. One is a home invasion type of predator and the other is like a street predator. These are two very different profile and with regard to the international travel that was absolutely possible back then. But if we're talking about a young black line cook, that theory requires him to repeatedly find work, save money, relocate to international places and establish himself there and continue offending across multiple countries while avoiding detection. And he would have to be doing all of that during a period when racial discrimination created additional barriers to employment and travel and economic opportunity. And none of that is impossible. But it makes this theory less plausible.
- [48:00]
A
Whether the killer was Nathan Elgin or someone else entirely may never truly be known. What we do know is that not a single victim tied to the string of violence that rocked Austin in the 1880s ever received clear justice for the horrific ways their lives were taken. And even now, more than 140 years later, the case still lingers as one of America's earliest and most disturbing unsolved murder sprees. Thanks so much for listening. Come back next time. Time for a deep dive into the mind of another murderer.
- [48:49]
C
Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your supports. If you like what you heard today, reach out on Instagram. Crime House don't forget to rate, review and follow Serial Killers and Murderous Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference and
- [49:11]
A
to enhance your listening experience experience. Join Crime House plus and get both parts of every story dropped on the Same Monday completely ad free. No waiting 3 days for part 2 plus crime house bonus episodes every month. To join go to crimehouseplus.com or if you listen on Apple Podcasts, tap try free at the top of the Serial Killers and Murderous Minds page. Serial Killer Killers and Murderous Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels and is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Serial Killers and Murderous Minds team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon Lori Marinelli, Natalie Pertovsky, Sarah Camp, Alyssa Fox, Nicolette Tavolaro, Kaylin Pine, Markie Lee, Sarah Batchelor and Carrie Murphy. Thank you for listening.
- [50:14]
B
Evening. Buyer's remorse.
- [50:17]
A
Buy a new car.
- [50:18]
C
I'll be moving in.
- [50:20]
B
Let's get started.
- [50:21]
C
Sorry, I think there's been a mistake. I bought it from Carvana.
- [50:24]
B
You what?
- [50:25]
A
Yeah, Great price.
- [50:26]
C
I even have seven days to love it or return it.
- [50:28]
B
So there's no. No.
- [50:29]
C
No buyer remorse. More like buyers rejoice.
- [50:33]
B
I guess I'll let myself out. Congratulations. I mean it.
- [50:38]
C
Buyers rejoice. Buy your car today. On Carvana. Limitations and exclusions may apply. See our seven day return policy@carvana.com.