Topsy's feet were then placed in a conductive copper sandal so that she could easily be electrocuted. And in 1902, Topsy the Elephant made national news when she killed a spectator at Forepaugh’s circus. The elephant belonged to Forepaugh Circus and was considered too violent, so it was decided to put her to death. Historical accounts of Topsy’s errant behaviour He said that Westinghouse would kill their customers within six months of having the system installed in their homes. Edison’s cameraman filmed the entire scene, and the motion picture, titled Electrocuting an Elephant, was released later in 1903. About 10 minutes later, Topsy fell to the ground and died. While there, the elephant, which was turned into a circus animal, was involved in several incidents, one of which killed a spectator. Edison then began to question the safety of using an AC system. These experiments were also undertaken at the behest of a commission established by the State of New York to find a more humane method of executing criminals and led to the institution of the electric chair as a common method of execution in the United States. Topsy's old trainer Whitey Ault was offered a sum of $ 25 to do it. But apparently, the alternating current (AC) method invented by Nikola Tesla was more efficient. The owner of Luna Park then turned to the latest electric current invention at that time. Even though she was pronounced dead, workers still tightened the rope around her neck for up to 10 minutes to confirm. Not infrequently, she was also beaten and threatened with dangerous objects. The answer is an emphatic “no.” Topsy was sentenced to death by Luna Park officials after she had killed three men over a three-month period. That she had, under the goading of her drunken handler, menaced the local police and some workmen likely also influenced amusement park officials in their decision to rid themselves of the elephant. While there, Topsy was involved in several incidents and again deemed unmanageable. But he refused. Wired magazine’s online edition, for instance, ran a story on Topsy with the headline “Edison Fries an Elephant to Prove His Point.” The point ostensibly was that the Westinghouse AC electrical system was much more dangerous to consumers than Edison’s DC system. The Daily Beast's Michael Daly's new book Topsy explores the life of the ill-fated elephant, who was put to death for being a "serial man-killer." Topsy was later sold to entertainment entrepreneur Paul Boynton, owner of Sea Lion Park on Coney Island. Topsy was originally owned by Forepaugh Circus where she killed a drunken spectator who burned the tip of her trunk with a cigar. Trying to maintain his good name and standards, Edison became involved in a propaganda war. On this day the the circus elephant Topsy was killed by electrocution. It is arguably the most famous animal execution ever—the killing of Topsy the elephant at Luna Park on Coney Island in January 1903. For decades as a performing elephant, Topsy got the title as a dangerous elephant, especially after killing a circus audience in 1902. Not satisfied with all of that, he also staged a public demonstration about the dangers of using AC currents. Unaware that the elephant was terrified of the glaring stage lights, deafening crowd noise, and constant beatings, Phil Wingren, who brought his family to the circus, remarked that Topsy must relish being a star. As if she knew what she was getting into, Topsy had refused the food. No, the owners of the Coney Island Luna Park, messers Frederick Thompson, and Elmer Dundy Did. An illustration of Topsy, a female Asian elephant killed at a Coney Island, New York park by electrocution on January 4, 1903. Brooklyn, New York. Topsy belonged to the Forepaugh Circus and spent the last years of her life at Coney Island's Luna Park. A memorial for Topsy Topsy was killed instantly and Edison, in his mind anyway, had proved his point. An electric current of 6,000 volts then flows into her body. The question of But was Edison to blame? Topsy, one of which was pushed with a sharp hook between the eyes and on the head. She was sold to Sea Lion Park in 1902 which was then sold to … His presence was not even mentioned in newspaper reports. One day Blount went to the elephant's tent and tried to give Topsy a whiskey. 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