On this day in 1916, Murderous Mary, a five-ton Asian elephant, was executed by hanging for the murder of Red Elderidge. Elderidge, a transient man, had been hired two days previously by the Sparks circus to be their new elephant handler, despite having no previous experience working with elephants. Elderidge was riding Mary in the elephant parade when the animal stopped to eat a watermelon rind. Then, in a classic case of “fuck around and find out,” Elderidge prodded Mary’s face with a hooked pole. The elephant became enraged, snatched the man off her back with her trunk, and tossed him against a concession stand. As Elderidge lay dying, Mary stomped on his head, crushing it.
From a modern perspective, Mary might be acquitted due to Sparks Circus’ gross negligence in hiring such a cruel and woefully unqualified handler. However, the people of Erwin, Tennessee, did not view it this way. The townspeople refused to allow the circus to perform until the Elephant was held accountable. The circus owner, Charlie Sparks, grudgingly obliged.
On September 13, an industrial derrick was erected on a railcar, and Mary was hung by her neck. The execution was horrifically botched, sending children screaming in terror. The animal was mercifully put out of its misery on the second attempt. A veterinarian who examined Mary’s body determined that she had an abscessed tooth directly in the spot that Elderidge had prodded.
Jason Roberts is a Seattle-based author noted for his acclaimed Western Horror series The Dead Wind Trilogy and other works of cosmic horror infused with historical fiction. His web-based series, Dark Distractions, examines paranormal mysteries, unexplained phenomena, and all things strange.
