"The Snake that Killed Sailor Katzy"

I heard of a sideshow attraction where the head and snake skin of a python was on display. The snake had killed it's owner and after the snake had been killed it was displayed at sideshows.  Can you give me any information about this snake?  Snake Lover, Grand Junction Co.

On March 16, 1961, in Gibsonton, Florida, carnival showman, Alfred "Sailor Katzy" Henley, fell victim to one of his own, already famous, sideshow attractions, an 18 foot long, monster reticulated python.  Unfortunately, the good sailor got drunk and decided to handle the snake alone, and while it was hungry.  After crushing his keeper to death,  the python proceeded to crawl high up into a nearby tree. 

The local volunteer fire department (lead at that time by famous sideshow giant, Al Tomaini) was called in to remove the snake. 

Mrs. Henley yelled frantically for them not to harm it in any way, as she had other plans for it.  She then toured with it as, "The Snake That Killed Sailor Katzy", and packed the show daily, due to the national press coverage that the story obtained.  Even after the snake's death it continued to tour, but now as a tanned hide and with it's head pickled in a large, one gallon, glass jar of formaldehyde.  After Mrs. Henley's death, the snake's remains passed from one showman to another, then onto various collectors.  The snake's hide is now extremely old, hard and brittle, and is missing many pieces, making it impossible to display as a whole. Thus, it was broken up and distributed evenly amongst various museums and private collectors.

The snakes head had been on display at the American Dime Museum in Baltimore Maryland.  Mark Frierson has the remains of the snakes skin and sell displays with pieces of the Snake that Killed Sailor Katzy.

As far as I know the last of the snake skin is owned by Mark Frierson and is for sale.  If you or anyone else is interested in purchasing portions you contact Mark at friersonstudios@houston.rr.com - John Robinson, Sideshow World

Some information and assistance provided by Mark Frierson