Craft Masonry in Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York

struck. It happened on the night of May 24. Little Bett and her trainer had just put on a show in Chepachet, and were crossing the
only bridge out of town. Suddenly, shots rang out from a nearby gristmill. Little Bett was cut down instantly in a blizzard of musket
fire; she never had a chance. The next day her carcass was skinned on the spot and the hide was shipped to the Boston Museum.
She was only 12.
Seven men were eventually found responsible for the shooting, and two of them were dropped from the Masonic Order for their
deed. But for the next 150 years most of the residents of Chepachet -- especially the Masonic residents* -- were mum about Little
Bett's murder.
Then Chepachet's historian decided that it was time to face the calliope music. He persuaded the Rhode Island General Assembly
to proclaim May 25, 1976 "Elephant Day." On that occasion the citizens of Chepachet -- free at last to atone for their sins -- placed a
commemorative plaque on the bridge to mark the spot where Little Bett had fallen.
* http://www.friendship7lodge.com/about_us
The lodge [Friendship Lodge No. 7, Chepachet, Rhode Island] has had a long held tradition of discipline of its membership.
In the first century of its existence a number of Masonic trials were held for members who broke moral, religious, or civil law.
In fact, falling into the hands of the brethren in those years was more severe than falling into the hands of the local court.
Masonic justice was involved in resolving one of the most infamous, if not now amusing, instances of law breaking the town
has seen. In the lodge records it is referred to as assisting the “gentlemen owners of the loss of their elephant, they being
masons, in detecting and bringing to justice the ‘Villings’ who committed the act.” We are referring to of course to the killing
of Betty the Elephant on Chepachet Bridge in April 1826. A description of the affair has been handed down from generation
to generation and every version is somewhat different. The most lucid explanation of the affair may be found in the memoirs
prepared by Brother Frank H. Potter who was Historian of Friendship Lodge at one time. Inasmuch as many of the Brethren
of the Lodge were implicated in this affair it is very fitting that a statement of the occurrence be incorporated herewith.
“At the time of the shooting of the elephant, Mr. Sprague lived in the house owned by Mrs. Lydia Slocum (now by her
grandson, Charles Carlton) on the north side of the bridge. He and Duty Evans also operated a store in the same building.
He had retired for the night at the time of the shooting and was awakened by the shots. The elephant had been exhibited the
previous afternoon at the hotel, which was operated by Seth Peckham. Fenner Eddy, who was employed at that time in the
tannery of Eddy & Owen was one of the men who shot the elephant and Angel Darling, Ransom West, Ben Brown and Otis
Irons were also implicated. John Inman shot a charge of buckshot into the body of the elephant with seemingly little effort as
the shot barely penetrated the hide. Succeeding shots were from rifles and five bullet holes were found in the animal’s skull.
The shooting was from a finished room on the second floor of the gristmill which stood on the bridge where the participants
concealed themselves and waited until it turned its head towards them in passing by. It was owned by June Brothers, a Mr.
Titus and a widow woman and was valued at $22,000. The hide was removed and sent to the Boston Museum to be
mounted and the bones were ‘boiled out’ at the tanyard and sent to the museum to be articulated. Only a few thousand
dollars was ever recovered from the persons doing the dead and much trouble was experienced in obtaining the small sum
that was paid. Ben Brown told the owners he would give them fifty dollars or they could send him to Hell or Texas. Mr.
Sprague said the trouble was caused by Canto Smith, who was at North Scituate the previous day and was displeased at
something which occurred there. He came to Chepachet the following day and was instrumental in having it shot. Smith
made a contract with Frank West, who was one of the men implicated, not to bring his (Smith’s) name into the scrape and
therefore would pay one half West’s fine. He revealed Smith’s name, however, and caused him to be fined also. Smith
afterwards recovered several hundred dollars from West for this breach of contract.”
On July 15, 1826 a ballot was taken by the Lodge to suspend Brothers Benjamin Bowen, Angel Darling, and Fenner Eddy
for their part in the affair. Being suspended from the lodge no mason in town would do business with them or employ them.
In 1826 you did not do business in the town unless you were a mason. The penalty was more severe than the courts have
imposed and justice was served through Friendship Lodge.
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INMAN/2007-03/1173065568
American Mercury - Providence, RI – 6 Jun 1826
Providence
June 1
Shooting the Elephant
The perpetrators of this wanton act we are happy to state are fully discovered. Some circumstance having fastened
suspicion upon two individuals they were privately examined and finally induced so make a disclosure of the whole
transaction, which was subsequently repeated on a examination before a Court of Justices, Judge Branch of this town
presiding. From this investigation it appears that there were six persons engaged in the affair. Fenner Eddy, John Inman,
Albert Eddy, Francis West, Angell Darling and Benjamin Bowen. Three guns were to be used. Angell Darling loaded two,
one with seven and the other with two bullets, the other gun was loaded by Albert Eddy, with five bullets. Fenner Eddy and
Inman stationed themselves in the Mill with the three guns, expecting to be joined by a third person, who however did not
appear. West and Bowen gave them notice of the starting and the approach of the Elephant at two separate times. Bowen
told them if there was no man in the way to shoot the Elephant wherever they could hit her. Just as the animal was leaving
the Bridge, Fenner Eddy fired the gun with seven bullets, and as she was falling Inman discharged his gun with two bullets.
Fenner then threw his gun into the floom, seized the gun which had not been discharged, being afraid the dog might attack
him, and they made their escape and soon after mingled with the persons collected on the bridge where their accessories
were also assembled. When the people dispersed the gun was raked out of the gloom, the three guns were deposited at a
Tan-yard, and the parties each went home. After hearing these facts and confessions, the Court ordered the parties
individually to recognize the sum of five hundred dollars with sureties for the same amount; the law which makes the killing
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