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The Cumminsville Ripper, also known as the Slouch Hat Man, was a serial killer believed to be responsible for five murders in the Cumminsville neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio between 1904 and 1910. In theory, the murders have been tied to the Dayton Strangler, also an unidentified serial killer who was active in the nearby city around the same time.
In an Era of rapid development in Cincinnati, Ohio, three major rail based transit lines were active in Cumminsville located in the city's northwestern region. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad through its southern end, The Cincinnati Hamilton & Dayton Railway through its northern end and The Cincinnati Street Railway through its center. These lines served approximately one hundred million commuters per year and would subsequently become a key resource in the crimes and murders committed by the Cumminsville Ripper.
Murder Victim #1:
On April 30, 1904, thirty two year old Mary McDonald from Saginaw, Michigan was murdered near the Big Four Railaod railways. Prior to her murder the same day, she visited the home of the Stagmans near Knowltons Corner. Charles Stagman later drove her back into the city, dropping her off on College Hill-Main Street around 11pm.
The next morning, a freight train engineer found Mcdonald on the Railway, immediately taking her to the hospital. McDonald managed to say her name but ultimately succumbed to her injuries. She had a bruise on the back of her head, her left leg severed up to her knee and had been robbed of all her money. Some theorized she was murdered out of jealously or that she was accompanied by someone when she was hit by an oncoming train while intoxicated. Neither theory could be backed by evidence and the case was quickly forgotten after her death.
Murder Victim #2:
On October 2, 1904, Louise Muellers body was found in a thick brush of weeds in the area known as Lovers Lane. She had two deep wounds extending down her face with the base of her skull being fractured. Several witnesses said Mueller had planned to visit one of her many lovers, Frank Eastman. She was last seen listening to a socialist orators speech not far from her home and Lovers Lane. It was initially thought Mueller had been struck by a train but would later be considered a possible homicide. Mueller had no known enemies and maintained good relations/terms with her many lovers leaving authorities with no strong leads.
Murder Victim #3:
Eighteen year old Alma Steinigewig was a highly respected telephone operator who sang in her local church's choir. On November 3rd, her body was found in a vacant lot in Spring Grove Cemetery by a street car conductor. Steinigewig's head was bashed in with a club and some teeth were missing. A pool of blood covered her face and her eyes remained wide open while holding a transfer ticket in her hand. A bloody trail indicated that her corpse was dragged into an open field. It's suspected she was attacked while waiting on another car, being clubbed from behind with no time to react.
Murder Victim #4:
On December 31, 1909, the body of thirty six year old Anna Lloyd, a secretary for the Wilborgh-Hannah Lumber Co. was found near the Railroad tracks in Cumminsville by a passerby who immediately called the police. Similar to previous victims her face was bloodied and beaten. Her mouth was gagged and her throat slashed. According to police, within twenty minutes of leaving her workplace alone for the first time, Lloyd waited on a trolley car near Spring Grove Cemetery when she was attacked. After a great struggle with Lloyd, the assailant dragged her to a spot where he managed to kill her, possibly with a meat cleaver. Police later found Lloyd's satchel a mile away from the crime scene void of money.
Lloyd's mother, Emma Lloyd, fell extremely ill from the lost of her daughter. Her husband, Edward Tague insisted police do better work looking for the culprit. Tensions around Anna's murder became so high, authorities grew concerned about a possible race war. The city counsel of Cincinnati responded by announcing a $2,500 reward while members of the Lumber company issued a $5,000 reward.
Murder Victim #5:
On October 26, 1910, the body of twenty six year old Mary Hackney was found in her boarding home by her husband Harley and another boarder, Charles Eckert. Her throat was cut from ear to ear with her body and face slashed in several places and skull crushed. No other crimes were committed in the boarding home.
Although the assailant left behind a bloody thumb print and bloodied axe, police weren't able to determine his identity. Authorities went as far as draining a nearby canal hoping to discover more evidence but nothing more was found.
Conclusion: Numerous failed attempts were made by the Cumminsville Ripper in which the victims managed to fight off and escape their attacker, leading the assailant to take a 6 year hiatus. Many of the assaults occurred in the same locations the murders took place. Survivors described the assailant as heavily built and short wearing a dark slouch hat. The victims seemed unsure of his race, some claiming he was a white man and others believing he was black. Although a wide range of potential suspects emerged overtime, they were either cleared or let go due to lack of evidence. |
