The harrowing story of Charlie, the 5-ton movie star elephant who was EXECUTED for rampagingly attacking his trainer during filming

THIS is the harrowing story of a famous five-ton star elephant who was executed for accidentally killing his trainer during an on-set rampage.

Charlie was sentenced to death after “accidentally” attacking his handler – the only person he regularly tolerated.

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During the filming of the movie “The Brass Bottle,” which is about the magic lamp, the Indian elephant almost killed his beloved trainer Curley Stecker. 300 spectators watched in horror.

Charlie freaked out during a parade at the Universal City Zoo on April 24, 1923 and tried to kneel on Curley to crush him to death.

But a nearby stagehand heroically stabbed Charlie with a pitchfork, and Curley's brother Carl, another animal trainer, fought off the mutilated elephant.

Despite his courageous save, Curley suffered severe bruises, broken ribs, cuts and a concussion.

He believed the tragic attack was the result of mistaken identity, as Charlie had mistaken Curley for his brother Carl, whom he disliked.

Curley claimed this was because he chose formal business attire rather than his usual tamer outfit, making him difficult for the elephant to recognize.

He said: “Charlie started picking up stones with his trunk and throwing them at the horses. I told him to stop. He paid no attention. I jumped at him with a sharp command – and he did the rest.

“He thought I, in my business attire, was my brother, and my brother, 50 feet away in the clothes Charlie was familiar with, was 'the gentleman.'”

While Curley fought for his life in the hospital, he insisted that Charlie should not be killed.

However, it was decided to kill Charlie and various methods were considered.

It is believed that he was either brutally shot or strangled with steel cables.

Curley died the following year from complications of fatal leukemia, but his death certificate listed the animal attack as a contributing factor.

Charlie's skeleton is said to have been donated to the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History.

He is said to have killed a total of five people, appeared in over 180 films and was said to have been over 150 years old. Nothing is known about his birth.

The ill-fated circus elephant was once known as Prince Rajah and was found hauling teak lumber in Calcutta, India, before being brought to the United States in the early 20th century.

At the Universal City Zoo in California, Charlie took up a completely different career as an actor in Hollywood's silent film era.

In 1908, the starling was struck by lightning and became blind in his left eye.

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