Joe Ball: Difference between revisions
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'''Joseph D. (Joe) Ball''' (January 6, 1896 – September 24, 1938)<ref name="Texas Deaths"/> was an [[United States|American]] [[serial killer]], sometimes referred to as "The Alligator Man", the "Butcher of Elmendorf" and the "[[Bluebeard]] of South Texas". He is said to have killed at least 20 women in the 1930s. His existence was long believed to be [[apocrypha]]l, but he is a familiar figure in [[Texas]] [[folklore]]. |
'''Joseph D. (Joe) Ball''' (January 6, 1896 – September 24, 1938)<ref name="Texas Deaths"/> was an [[United States|American]] [[serial killer]], sometimes referred to as "The Alligator Man"<ref name="eveherald">{{cite news |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RyYtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uKQEAAAAIBAJ&dq=the%20alligator%20man%20joe%20ball&pg=1194%2C589101 |title=Drag Texas Dunes for Alligator Man's victims |date=October 19, 1938 |journal=The Evening Herald |place=Rock Hill, S.C. |accessdate=2011-03-04}}</ref>, the "Butcher of Elmendorf"<ref name="txmonthly">{{cite news |url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2002-07-01/feature6 |title=Two Barmaids, Five Alligators, and the Butcher of Elmendorf |last=Hall |first=Michael |date=July 01, 202 |journal=Texas Monthly |place=Texas |accessdate=2011-03-04}}</ref> and the "[[Bluebeard]]<ref name="eveherald"/> of South Texas". He is said to have killed at least 20 women in the 1930s. His existence was long believed to be [[apocrypha]]l, but he is a familiar figure in [[Texas]] [[folklore]]. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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After serving on the front lines in [[Europe]] during [[World War I]], Ball started his career as a [[rum-running|bootlegger]], providing illegal liquor to those who could pay. After the end of [[Prohibition]], he opened a saloon called the Sociable Inn in [[Elmendorf, Texas]]. He built a pond that contained five [[alligator]]s and charged people to view them, especially during feeding time; the food consisted mostly of live cats and dogs. |
After serving on the front lines in [[Europe]] during [[World War I]], Ball started his career as a [[rum-running|bootlegger]], providing illegal liquor to those who could pay. After the end of [[Prohibition]], he opened a saloon called the Sociable Inn in [[Elmendorf, Texas]]. He built a pond that contained five [[alligator]]s and charged people to view them, especially during feeding time; the food consisted mostly of live cats and dogs<ref name="txmonthly"/>. |
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==Murders== |
==Murders== |
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After a while women in the area were reported missing, including barmaids, former girlfriends and his wife. When two Bexar county sheriff's deputies came to question him in 1938, Ball pulled a handgun from his cash register and killed himself with a bullet through the heart (some sources report that he shot himself in the head). If he were tried and convicted of the murders, he would have surely been sent to the [[electric chair]]. |
After a while women in the area were reported missing, including barmaids, former girlfriends and his wife. When two Bexar county sheriff's deputies came to question him in 1938, Ball pulled a handgun from his cash register and killed himself<ref name="eveherald"/> with a bullet through the heart (some sources report that he shot himself in the head). If he were tried and convicted of the murders, he would have surely been sent to the [[electric chair]]. |
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A handyman that conspired with Ball, Clifford Wheeler, admitted to helping Ball get rid of the bodies of two of the women he had killed. Wheeler led them to the remains of Hazel Brown and Minnie Gotthard. Wheeler told authorities that Ball murdered at least 20 other women, but the alligators had disposed of any evidence. There has never been any firm evidence that the alligators actually ate any of his victims. |
A handyman that conspired with Ball, Clifford Wheeler, admitted to helping Ball get rid of the bodies of two of the women he had killed<ref name="eveherald"/>. Wheeler led them to the remains of Hazel Brown and Minnie Gotthard. Wheeler told authorities that Ball murdered at least 20 other women, but the alligators had disposed of any evidence. There has never been any firm evidence that the alligators actually ate any of his victims. |
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There were few written sources from the era which could verify Ball's crimes. Newspaper editor Michael Hall investigated the story in depth in 2002, and wrote up his findings for ''[[Texas Monthly]]''. |
There were few written sources from the era which could verify Ball's crimes. Newspaper editor Michael Hall investigated the story in depth in 2002, and wrote up his findings for ''[[Texas Monthly]]<ref name="txmonthly"/>''. |
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The film ''[[Eaten Alive]]'' by [[Tobe Hooper]] was inspired by Joe Ball. |
The film ''[[Eaten Alive]]'' by [[Tobe Hooper]] was inspired by Joe Ball. |
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Revision as of 09:32, 4 March 2011
Joe Ball | |
|---|---|
 Joe Ball | |
| Born | Joseph D. Ball January 6, 1896 [1] |
| Died | September 24, 1938 (aged 42) [1] |
| Cause of death | Suicide |
| Other names | The Alligator Man, Butcher of Elmendorf |
| Details | |
| Victims | 5-20 |
Span of crimes | 1936 – September 23, 1938 |
| Country | USA |
| States | Elemendorf, Texas |
Joseph D. (Joe) Ball (January 6, 1896 – September 24, 1938)[1] was an American serial killer, sometimes referred to as "The Alligator Man"[2], the "Butcher of Elmendorf"[3] and the "Bluebeard[2] of South Texas". He is said to have killed at least 20 women in the 1930s. His existence was long believed to be apocryphal, but he is a familiar figure in Texas folklore.
Background
After serving on the front lines in Europe during World War I, Ball started his career as a bootlegger, providing illegal liquor to those who could pay. After the end of Prohibition, he opened a saloon called the Sociable Inn in Elmendorf, Texas. He built a pond that contained five alligators and charged people to view them, especially during feeding time; the food consisted mostly of live cats and dogs[3].
Murders
After a while women in the area were reported missing, including barmaids, former girlfriends and his wife. When two Bexar county sheriff's deputies came to question him in 1938, Ball pulled a handgun from his cash register and killed himself[2] with a bullet through the heart (some sources report that he shot himself in the head). If he were tried and convicted of the murders, he would have surely been sent to the electric chair.
A handyman that conspired with Ball, Clifford Wheeler, admitted to helping Ball get rid of the bodies of two of the women he had killed[2]. Wheeler led them to the remains of Hazel Brown and Minnie Gotthard. Wheeler told authorities that Ball murdered at least 20 other women, but the alligators had disposed of any evidence. There has never been any firm evidence that the alligators actually ate any of his victims.
There were few written sources from the era which could verify Ball's crimes. Newspaper editor Michael Hall investigated the story in depth in 2002, and wrote up his findings for Texas Monthly[3].
The film Eaten Alive by Tobe Hooper was inspired by Joe Ball.
References
- ^ a b c d Texas Deaths, United States census, 1890-1976; Texas; roll 4030421, page 2025, line cn 40253. Retrieved on 2011-02-14.
- ^ a b c d "Drag Texas Dunes for Alligator Man's victims". The Evening Herald. Rock Hill, S.C. October 19, 1938. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ a b c Hall, Michael (July 01, 202). "Two Barmaids, Five Alligators, and the Butcher of Elmendorf". Texas Monthly. Texas. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
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