Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1905 — Fatal Applause [ARTICLE]

Fatal Applause

An English lady snake charmer named Leyton was performing at a village called Vaelhlinger, in Rhenish Prussia, in a menagerie with a boa constrictor. This she permitted to coil round her neck and breast. Her courage met with thunders of applause from the spectators, who little dreamed that by their signs of approval they had sealed tlie poor charmer’s death warrant Such, however, proved to be the case, for, apparently Infuriated at their demonstrations, the reptile tigbt«ned Its coils and amid the shrieks of the public strangled the lady on the platform before anything could be done to assist her. The snake was Immediately killed.