Elephant Kills Keeper (Hexham Courant, 1830)

At the latter end of last week, an inquest was held at Morpeth, on the body of an Italian named Baptiste Bernard, one of the attendants on the elephant now performing at the theate-royal here. This man, in a state of intoxication, 3 years ago, stabbed the trunk of the noble beast with a pitchfork, and otherwise ill-used her, and there has never been any cordiality between them since. The owner wished Baptiste to leave his service; but could not easily get rid of him.

Miss D’Jeck always regarded him with cross looks, but had never a fair opportunity of taking her revenge until they passed through Morpeth, on their way from Edinburgh hither, when he happening to be alone with her, she grasped him round the waist with her trunk, broke his ribs, and crushed him so much that he vomited blood, and died two days afterwards.

The verdict was accidental death, with a deodand of 5s. this was certainly a favourable verdict for Mademoiselle, considering that malice prepense had clearly lurked in her mind for three years. Having gratified her long cherished revenge, she appears to have resumed her good temper, and obliging deportment; and performs her part every night as correctly as any other actor or actress on the stage.