Austin Ripper Maps

Eight Murders, 1885

  1. Mollie Smith - 901 W Pecan St (6th & Bowie)

  2. Eliza Shelley - 302 E Cypress St (3rd & San Jacinto)

  3. Irene Cross - 302 E Linden St (17th & San Jacinto)

  4. Mary Ramey - 300 E Cedar St (4th & San Jacinto)

  5. Orange Washington - 2408 Guadalupe St

  6. Grace Vance - 2408 Guadalupe St

  7. Susan Hancock - 203 E Water St (Cesar Chavez & San Jacinto)

  8. Eula Phillips - 306 W Hickory St (8th & Lavaca)

Map of Austin, Texas with red numbered locations marked for each of the Servant Girl Murders of 1885.
Map of Austin, Texas with red flags for each of the Servant Girl Murders of 1885 and orange flags for various servant girl attacks in the same year.

Servant Girl Burglaries, 1885.

The red flags are the murders. The orange flags are night time burglaries and attempted burglaries against servant women in 1885. There are many more that are not marked on this map. They fall into a cluster in the center of the murders.

1885 Map of Austin

In 1885, Austin was a little over 4 square miles. The rectangular cluster of wards labeled E is now downtown Austin, or the original square mile. Most attacks and murders occurred in this area.

Antique map of Austin, Texas from 1885-86, showing street layouts, ward numbers, and land divisions.
Historic map of Austin, Texas showing street grid and Colorado River, dated 1839, with labeled public squares and Capitol Square.

“The Original Square Mile”

You’re right, it’s not a square. Technically this is called the 1839 city plan, but today we call it Downtown ATX.