| Circus animal abuse is something that has always | | | | as an elephant caretaker. Although it is not completely |
| occurred. Not only does it happen to this day among | | | | known what has happened that day, one story tends |
| circuses, but it also happened during the 1900's. Here, | | | | to hold true. This is that Eldridge used a prodding stick |
| we will take a closer look at one of the most well | | | | in order to "control" Mary. Unfortunately, by trying to |
| known cases of animal abuse, in which an animal was | | | | "control" the animal through this torturous technique, he |
| put to death for a human's mistake. | | | | instead enraged her. Mary grabbed Eldridge with her |
| During the year of 1916, the Sparks Brothers Circus | | | | trunk, swung him through the air, and threw him- |
| came to the town of Saint Paul, which is located in | | | | causing him to hit a drink stand. Once Red Eldridge hit |
| Virginia. With them came Mary the elephant, who was | | | | the ground, Mary trampled on him, killing him instantly. |
| thirty years old and weighed five tons. The circus | | | | From this moment on, the poor creature was known |
| owner, Charlie Sparks, needed a full-time caretaker for | | | | and recognized as "Murderous Mary", and was put in |
| Mary. Of course, during this point in time, it was not | | | | chains due to her behavior. Although it has been |
| necessary to have any type of training or experience | | | | determined that after she killed Eldridge, Mary was a |
| with animals in order to become an animal trainer for | | | | calm animal and did not attack anyone else, people still |
| the circus. The inexperienced Red Eldridge was given | | | | believed that she needed to be put to rest for her |
| the job. | | | | actions. In fact, there were a number of different |
| The circus traveled to Kingsport, Tennessee. | | | | towns who claimed that they would not allow the |
| September 12th was Red Eldridge's first day working | | | | circus to come until Mary was killed. |