The deadly butcher of Elmendorf

This is the true story of Joe Ball, a man often referred to as either “The Alligator Man” or “Butcher of Elmendorf.” Joseph Douglas Ball was born on January 5th, 1896. He was one of eight children born to Frank and Elizabeth Ball. From all accounts, Joe had a normal childhood. Although we don’t know much about his childhood, it’s been said he was a loner who loved guns.

When WWI broke out in Europe, Joe was the first man in Elmendorf, Texas to enlist. During the war, he found his calling as a natural born killer. Today, some people still consider him one of America’s most deranged serial killers.

After returning home from the war, Joe worked for his father. But Joe changed careers and become a bootlegger since he could earn more money selling illegal alcohol. Joe used his earnings to buy a bar he called the Sociable Inn.

A notorious bootlegger

The Inn became a popular attraction. As a bootlegger, Joe had gained extensive knowledge about selling alcohol. After prohibition, the inn provided him an opportunity to make money selling legal alcohol. The inn had a piano and a large fenced in pool. This pool, however, wasn’t for swimming—at least not for people. Joe had captured five alligators and kept them in the pool as pets.

He charged admission for people to watch him feed the gators. Joe, a sadist, fed cats and dogs to his alligators. Although he was a rough character, the women loved him. He carried on relations with several female employees.

Minnie Mae Gotthardt, a 25-year-old women fell in love with Joe. While they dated, she helped him manage the bar. Joe’s friends didn’t like Minnie because of her insensitivity, but Joe didn’t seem to care what anyone thought about Minnie. After three years, Joe began fooling around with Dolores Goodwin.

The disappearance of Minnie Gotthardt

Minnie became incensed. In a threatening letter, she told Joe she was pregnant and threatened to reveal his unsavory activities. In 1937 Minnie disappeared. Rumors began circulating that Joe had fed her to the gators. He told people she had moved to Corpus Christie with her African-American lover. Minnie ended up buried in Corpus Christie with an extra hole in her head—courtesy of Joe Ball.

Joe married Dolores and confessed to her that he had killed Minnie. Dolores then told Hazel Brown, a waitress who worked at the bar. In 1938, no one saw Dolores again. Again, rumors circulated that Joe had fed her to the gators. After Dolores, Hazel soon became Joe’s next sexual conquest.

Hazel became the next victim on Joe’s hit list. She had met a decent man and told Joe she wanted to leave with her new man. She soon learned that no one ever left Joe Ball. Hazel then threatened to tell authorities how Joe had killed Minnie Gotthardt.

Hazel regretted threatening Joe Ball. She ended up dismembered in the San Antonio River. Sometime during the summer of 1938, Minnie’s family contacted the authorities to report her missing. Joe told the police she had left with another man. Afterward, the family of employee Julia Turner contacted the police. She had also worked at the bar and vanished.

Authorities spoke to Joe again. He said she left after he loaned her $500. Two more employees and a local customer were also reported missing. By this time, the police suspected Joe of being involved in the disappearance of many people, but they never proved it.

Police received a tip about a mysterious barrel Joe stored on his sister’s property. The tipster said flies swarmed the barrel and that it smelled like dead flesh. Joe’s sister confirmed her brother had placed the barrel in her barn. When police investigated, someone had moved the barrel.

Officers John Gray and John Klevenhagen went to the Sociable Inn to take Joe in for more questioning. The men allowed him to lock up his bar. Joe then grabbed a pistol and shot himself to death. Police spoke to John Clifton, Ball’s handyman. Clifton provided information about where to find Minnie and Hazel’s bodies. Police also found Dolores miraculously alive and living in California. She had managed to survive certain death at the hands of Joe Ball.

Today, no one knows how many people Ball killed. Rumors spread that he had fed some of his victims to his alligators, but it was never proven. Like any other legend, this story has taken on its own life. As the years have passed, Joe’s kill total and his legendary status as a serial killer are always embellished.