Crushing by elephant was a common capital punishment throughout south and southeast Asia for over 4,000 years. The Romans and Carthaginians also used this method on occasion. Most rajahs kept execution elephants for the purpose of death by crushing and the executions were often held in public to serve as a warning to any who might transgress. The last person to be officially executed by an elephant was put to death in India in April, 1947. (more...)
