In the early 20th century, elephant Mary publicly executed for murder

September 12, 1916 circus troupe «Sparks Brothers» came to an address in the city of Kingsport, Tennessee. They brought with them 30-year-old elephant, Mary, who also had to act. For Mary watched a Red Eldridge, a newcomer to the circus, not knowing how to treat animals.
Before one of his speeches Eldridge to bring Mary to the scene of her pierced ear hook. Mary angry, grabbed his trunk, and thrown to the ground, trampled to death.

There was panic. On the elephant began to shoot, but the average caliber bullets did not kill her. Mary broke free and killed on different data from 3 to 8 people. She barely managed to stop. The local sheriff Hickman "arrested" Mary and shut in a cage next to the city jail. Residents of neighboring cities, learning about the massacre, said they did not take this circus at home, while the elephant is still alive.

Under public pressure, the owners of the circus brothers Sparks decided - on the next day, Mary hung on a crane in front of a crowd of spectators. There were about 5,000 people. But the chain of which hung an elephant could not stand the weight and broken. Mary fell and broke a hip. She hung up again, and Mary died. Mary was buried near the site of the massacre.

Source: ru.wikipedia.org

via factroom.ru