The Boston _Herald_ is the authority for this story from Baton
Rouge, La.:
Because their conviction for murder was based almost entirely
on the animosity displayed against them by a trained monkey,
Christopher Starr and his wife, Mamie, circus performers, are
serving life sentences in State prison.
A movement has been started to obtain a new trial for them.
During the circus season, James Ackerman, proprietor of a
one-ring circus, was murdered while his show was playing at
Devall’s Landing, La.
Mr. and Mrs. Starr, who had had a troupe of trained animals with
the show, were arrested soon afterward, but there was little
evidence against them, and they would have been released but
for the actions of Scamp, a pet Himalayan ape, belonging to Mr.
Ackerman.
Ackerman had been feeding the ape when he was slain, and when
the animal, which was the only living witness of the crime, saw
Starr, he flew into a terrible rage.
This action was repeated whenever Starr appeared, despite the
fact that he formerly had been a friend of Scamp, and it was
repeated when Mrs. Starr was seen.
The monkey’s actions caused husband and wife to be indicted, and
when placed on trial the monkey was brought into court, and so
imprest the jury that, altho the evidence was not over-strong,
they were found guilty.
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