Two of History's Most Disturbing Executions: Topsy and the Pig

This week, Jamie and Leo cover two stories that prove that history has never been particularly kind to animals in the most unbelievable ways possible.First Topsy the elephant. Shipped across the world, worked to exhaustion as a circus animal, and ultimately sentenced to death after killing a man. What followed was one of the most disturbing executions in recorded history. She was fed cyanide, electrocuted, and hanged. All of that on the same day, in front of a live audience...Then a pig in 14th century France is arrested, dressed in human clothing, put on formal trial for the killing of an infant, found guilty, and hanged for her crimes. In 1386. Because that was apparently a thing that happened.Two animals. Two executions. Centuries apart. Both completely true. Welcome back to the Darkives.Serious history. Told not so seriously.Check out our website: darkivespodcast.comEmail us: [email protected] us on: instagramEnjoy the show? Consider leaving a rating and a comment or share us to a fellow history lover.Sources:https://www.topsytheelephant.com/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/topsy-elephant-was-victim-her-captors-not-really-thomas-edison-180961611/https://edison.rutgers.edu/life-of-edison/essaying-edison/essay/myth-buster-topsy-the-elephanthttps://allthatsinteresting.com/topsy-the-elephanthttps://www.bklynlibrary.org/blog/2014/12/12/theyll-say-aww-topsy-myhttps://www.ancient-origins.net/weird-facts/medieval-animal-trials-0016706https://medievaltorturemuseum.com/blog/strange-medieval-courts-animals-trial-middle-ages/Theme music: Ways of the Wizard-geoffharveyUsed with permission, Thank you Geoff!licensed through: PixabayOther music used: licensed through Pixabay-used under the Pixabay Content Licensespecial thanks to atlasaudio for the background music.