September 24, 1965
An eye-witness to the slaying and torturing of two alligators in the San Jacinto Plaza pool early Monday morning gave police voluntary information Thursday that resulted in the arrest of the two culprits, police reported.
The witness, told police that early Sunday morning he met the two men, 24 and 25 respectively in the Plaza park while waiting for a bus to take him home.
The witness told police in a signed statement he saw the men remove stones from the circular fence around the pool and saw them drop the heavy stones on the heads of the two alligators – Chama and Zal.
The statement said the witness also saw the men strike the alligators on the head with the stones. He also said the men were carrying flashlight batteries attached to cherry bombs and sway the throw them in the pool.
“I saw the small alligator roll over on his side and it looked like he was dead.” The statement said.
The witness viewed the two suspects in a police lineup Thursday night and immediately identified the pair as the ones seen throwing the large rocks at the alligators.
The two men were booked in jail pending filing of charges.
Detective Lt. Andy Wilson said the witness gave the names of three other persons who wit- The witnesses will be asked to view the two suspects in a police lineup Friday.
The battered alligators Zal and Humpy, Thursday night seemed to be recovering from the blows they received, a Washington Park Zoo attendant reported.
“My interest was in the smaller one – Zal – which had a spike in his eye,” the attendant who checked the ‘gators Thursday for Zoo superintendent Gerry Tordt, who is out of town, said.
Of the smaller alligator, which had a spike driven into it eye Wednesday, the attendant said, “He was under water, but there was movement and he appeared not badly hurt – I could see the injury.
“The larger one, Humpy, which was stoned kept his eyes closed as if he had been hit with a rock or something, but seemed all right,” the attendant added.
FINED
Earlier Thursday, Douglas J. Zahrenhusen, 34, of Sioux Falls, S.D., was fined $20 in Corporation Court for jumping in the alligator pool and throwing Zal, the baby alligator, into the water by its tail.
Detectives C. Pierce and J.B. Alvarez arrested the man about midnight Wednesday when the officers saw him jump inside the pool. The officer said they saw Zahrenhusen grab the alligator by the tail and whirl him around a couple of times and then throw the animal into the water.
Thomas Hall, businessman and business agent for Bar Owners Association of El Paso County, offered a $10 reward for anyone offering information that will lead in the conviction of the persons injuring the alligators.
“They wouldn’t do that in the Congo,” he said referring to the incidents.
Hall said that several months ago he asked Alderman Sal Berroteran to get policemen at Washington Park, Memorial Park and San Jacinto Plaza.
Mrs. Luis Salazar, 1705 Wyoming Ave., offered a $5 reward for the apprehension and conviction of the alligator killers.
Orcas should not be in captivity and neither should alligators. What a sad comment on the mind set of people.
Posted by: pam | February 25, 2010 at 08:18 PM
That kind of things are terrible, is very important that we take care the all the animals.
Posted by: Real State in Costa Rica | April 06, 2010 at 02:53 PM