Charlie the Elephant

[eforester]

In the Summer of 1892, my hometown had a visitor. A visitor that liked the town so much, he stayed for 2 weeks, roaming the streets and taking time out to go for a swim in the nearby lake, in the heat of the hot Summer Afternoon. On Church Sunday, when the doors were opened at the Congregational Church to let out the flock, they were greeted to a trumpeting Charlie, as he stamped down Franklin Street, chased by several men on horseback, children and dogs on foot, all with collecting the reward for his capture, on their minds. Once he was finally cornered by a pit bull, and hauled away in chains, this photo was taken.
Charlie the Elephant, didn't last long as a circus attraction in later months he would find himself on trial for the murder of a Carnie. Unfortunately, he didn't have the luxury of a dream-team lawyer staff, and the verdict was death.
Top right of the photo, 2nd lady in, Sarah Ware, would in later years, herself, become famous for losing her head.
I can't put my finger on it, just something about the Victorian Age that appeals to me.

[Kat]

Interesting story! Have you a book source or website for more info?
Do you collect stories like that?

Thanks!

Last Wednesday, in modern times I must admit, I was stopped at a railroad crossing for 10 minutes while the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus Train went by!!

They come up from down south of here every year.

Many years ago, my dad got home from work and said, trying to surprise us: "Guess what I saw downtown today?!"
My smart answer: "An elephant!"

He was soooo shocked! "How did you guess?!!!"

"The Circus parade was on TV from downtown Orlando!"

[eforester]

A local boy has been writing up a storm, on the Sarah Ware case, the Charlie photo was featured in his book, the story behind the story can be found on his website, Maine Supernatural. He covers Maine's big Unsolved murders, reading through those, got me fired up to discover this great forum, and that every possible angle has been thought of, researched and covered in the Borden Case, short of removing the concrete slab over the barn Privy at 92 Second Street, and searching the muck for the missing hatchet.

[Kat]

I think Lee-Ann did that!
Searched the place where the barn privy might have been...

[eforester]

From the Satellite view it looks like its under the tarred over parking lot. I read one exhaustive website solely on the Privy, and how it was overlooked, or barely searched. The guy was even considering tracking down the earth the bulldozer dug out, when they tore the barn down. Its tough to compete with dedication like that.

[Kat]

Yes I remember the guy- he was surely dedicated to a search.

I think Lee-Ann has written about her own search, after the Leary Press was torn down, and before the parking lot was laid. If I could find her story and pics I would- but I'm not sure where it is.

Anyone?

[Susan]

Kat, I did a search in the archives and can't find anything. But, I do know in the past that there were pictures on the Lizzie B&B website of the Leary Press demo and the excavation in the privy area. I can't find anything now. I guess someone could always contact Lee-Ann and ask her if she would share her pics again?

[eforester]

Wow, see you guys have covered every possible angle, lead, or tid-bit. It makes a newby like me, feel a little in awe. Every possible angle I can imagine, has already been discussed or diagnosed for decades. Then for me to even whisper an Idea, dozens have already plowed through the same fields. I have been searching for the current forensic records, of todays technology on the skulls. I know somebody had done impact angles, and psi test, to see how much force and momentum was used to shatter the Borden Skulls, just haven't found the exact records. I did relish in that forensic special recently aired on cable about the 2 specialist who luminalled the cellar and found blood in the washbasin, on the floor boards, pretty much everywhere in the cellar. Like someone, (cough, Lizzie, cough) had washed the blood off before meeting and greeting the neighbors after the workout with the axe.

[Kat]

Well, no we haven't really "covered" everything!

The guy- I shouldn't refer to him that way- but I don't recall his name- was very vociferous and contacted Stefani and I think he joined the Forum too. All about the search of the Privy area.

Lee-Ann has mounted some of her finds and they are on display in the B&B gift shop. Very nicely done, too. And she showed us the results of her digging once, when Harry & I were at the House. Others were there too.

Yes Susan I do believe pictures were on the B&B website! Thank you for looking!

Nay, do not be discouraged from research, eforester!

[Nadzieja]

I don't know if I welcomed you yet, but welcome eforester.
I agree with Kat---keep researching. You would be amazed at the different angles a fresh pair of eyes might see.
It's fun to learn as you go along & this forum is fantastic. The people on it are too!!

[eforester]

Thanks, I currently have 3 researches in the works. When I take one, as far as I can, I take a break from that one and then go after one of the others. I've nearly finished my Purrington Massacre research, have been at the Borden case for 2 months, trading off with the Smuttynose Island Massacre. Might be a little to ambitious, but then they all have the sharp edge of a axe in common.

[Harry]

Lee-ann did post this way back in May 2005. Partial quote from her post:

"... It wasnt hard to find and it's not as gross as it sounds. If anyone does gardening....think compost pile....about 3ft wide 5ft long and 2ft deep. Sorry, no hatchet. But I did find many other things! Lots of broken dishes, the cover to a chamber pot, a horse shoe, a cooking pot, a spoon, two Bromo-seltzer bottles (for headaches), one colchi-sal bottle (for gout...didn't Abby have gout?) and other various bottles. I'll take some pictures of the finds once I clean them up a bit and put the pictures on the website."

If I remember correctly they were posted to the B&B website but they are no longer there. It was an interesting collection and had quite a variety of pieces of broken china. Even some white ware which I believe Bridget said the Borden's used.

The quote is from this thread:
viewtopic.php?t=988&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0

A member, D Snell, was interested in digging up the privy as well. There is a thread at

viewtopic.php?t=744&highlight=snell

[Kat]

Oh thank you Harry for the delightful romp down memory lane!

And I spy a fakefoto I did a long time agop- I forgot about it!

[1bigsteve]

In the Summer of 1892, my hometown had a visitor. A visitor that liked the town so much, he stayed for 2 weeks, roaming the streets and taking time out to go for a swim in the nearby lake, in the heat of the hot Summer Afternoon. On Church Sunday, when the doors were opened at the Congregational Church to let out the flock, they were greeted to a trumpeting Charlie, as he stamped down Franklin Street, chased by several men on horseback, children and dogs on foot, all with collecting the reward for his capture, on their minds. Once he was finally cornered by a pit bull, and hauled away in chains, this photo was taken.
Charlie the Elephant, didn't last long as a circus attraction in later months he would find himself on trial for the murder of a Carnie. Unfortunately, he didn't have the luxury of a dream-team lawyer staff, and the verdict was death.
Top right of the photo, 2nd lady in, Sarah Ware, would in later years, herself, become famous for losing her head.
I can't put my finger on it, just something about the Victorian Age that appeals to me.

This story of Charlie reminds me of that poor elephant that was "executed" by electrocution in 1902 by Thomas A. Edison for killing a worker who had been tormenting it. The old B&W film clip is very grainy but it is clear enough to see what is going on. It's on YouTube but I don't recommend animal lovers watching it. It still bothers me when I think about it. I came across it while reserching the story of another elephant that was hanged from a railroad crane for killing someone.

-1bigsteve