The Public Execution of an Elephant

In 1916, a five-ton circus elephant named Mary was publicly hanged. She was sentenced to death by a town after killing a handler who had poked her with a hook.

The incident occurred after a new employee named Red Eldridge attempted to guide Mary with a sharp metal tool. When Mary swatted him and caused his death, the local crowd grew violent and demanded retribution against the animal. Despite her status as a star circus performer, the town opted for a brutal execution using a railroad derrick. This grim event remains a dark stain on history, reflecting a time when animals were held legally responsible for human-led accidents.