The New York herald., 1879-03-28
BUCKSHOT AND POKERS.

THE MEANS WHICH THE KEEPERS At CENTRAL
PARK ARE SAID TO EMPLoY TO TAME THE
ELEPHANT "EMpERoR" R"--cHARdEs IN POLICE
COURT.
There has been considerable discussion for some
time past about the alleged practice Of the keeper of
the elephants in Central Park of thrustng red hot
pokors down their throats to subdue them whenever
they become refractory That such was tho case was
communicated 10 the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals. and an investigation was set
on foot by that body. A letter was received in
answer to published card stating that Jacob senn
of No. $50 Dowery had witnessed the application Of
red hot poker to the mouth OF the mammoth cc-
phant. Emperor. the property of Barnum. and now
in the Park under the OF William Newman.
Sem. who Is u German and docs not speak
English made aiidsyit yesterday. through an
interpreter. in the Fifty seventh Street Police
Court, that on the 18th OF January last
he saw william Newman thrust a rod hot poker
toward the head OF Emperor and burn his flesh. Tho
poker also applied. IL is charged. to Emperors $
hind legs and pitchork thrust into his body. New
man came INTO court with Officer Lambert. pleaded
not guilty and gave bail in $500 to ut special
Sessions. Mr.. William A. Conklin, superintendent ut
OF the Park mcnaserc. became his bondsnian. A re-
porter paid visit to the shed where the elephants
arc kept and talked with Newman about the case.
THE KEslfRs srcRy.
He said that Sem must have made mistake. be-
cause he not in the place whore the animals arc
kept ut The time OF the alleged act of cruelty. Tho
elephants often became ugly. and unless they
punished Immediately after misbchaving he would
lose all control them. II ridiculous. he sad
t6tak about ming hot pokers down the elephants
throats. Six couldn't hold ones trunk, and
such act would only add ~ tho inruriaion of the
beast. MIR. Newman said lie had dealt in elephants
for nine years. They frequently when angry had
knocked him down and cnd,avorcd to trample him
to death. Emperor seized him with his trunk ono
day last month. and about to trampic him.
when one of hts assistants, who was fixing
the FIRE, to his with. tho poker, which
hot at the time. II 1t had been the poker
his life might have been lost. Keepers sometimes
used hot iron bars to correct elephants. but hot
enough to burn them severely. IL was about tho only
kind of punishment they hcedcd
stewart Cravcn." snid Newman, used to train
Romeo with a shotgun. When Romeo wouldn't do
he ordered Craven would send "a load of buck
shot into his trunk I've seen him load and hrc
several times in succession. The elephants trunk
you know, Is all muSrlc and it's the only place you
can punsh him v out crippling him. When
Romeo died they took seven pounds OF lead out OF
his trunk that Craven had fred into him to make
him behave himself
Look here" he continued. pattng one of tho hugo
beasts on tho trunk; 'if you passing outside
now and should hear him howl as he will in min
ute. you would believe he being tortured to the
DEATH The animal did howl 30 that the frame
building shook.
That's because ho likes to be pcttcd." said Now
man, laughing at the reporter, who was backing
hastily out Of the door.