Fact #60474
When:
Short story:
Topsy, a 28-year-old elephant belonging to The Forepaugh Circus at Luna Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, USA, is executed by electrocution because she has killed three men in as many years, including an abusive trainer who attempted to feed her a lit cigarette. Inventor Thomas Edison organised, supervised and filmed the exceution, as a demonstration of the effectiveness of his direct current electric system. Topsy's tragic story will inspire several songs, including The Kid Who Collected Crimes! by The Residents [2006], Persist by All India Radio [2009], Coney Island Funeral by Pinataland .
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