Topsy the Elephant

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Topsy the Elephant (circa 1875 – January 4, 1903) was a member of a domesticated herd at Coney Island's Luna Park. She had been a part of the Forepaugh Circus. Topsy was deemed an ill-tempered and dangerous animal since she had killed three men in as many years, including an abusive trainer who tried to feed her a lit cigarette.

Because Topsy was so violent, her owners decided to put her to death. A proposal of hanging was abandoned after the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals protested. The elephant was offered a carrot poisoned with cyanide, but did not eat it. Later, Thomas Edison suggested electrocution, using the Westinghouse alternating current system of electricity transmission, which Edison, a backer of direct current, argued was more dangerous than DC. The ASPCA found this suggestion acceptable, viewing electrocution as a more humane form of killing. Electrocution killed Topsy quickly. Edison recorded the execution with a motion picture camera, and showed his film to audiences around the country as part of his unsuccessful attempt to discredit AC.

A memorial for Topsy was placed in the Coney Island Museum on July 20 2003.

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