Houdini Poisoned? Kin Wants Exhumation

msn.com ^ | March 23, 2007 | AP

[stylecouncilor]

Houdini Poisoned? Kin Wants Exhumation Mar 23, 7:36 AM EST

The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The circumstances surrounding Harry Houdini's sudden death were as murky as the rivers where he often performed death-defying stunts. Despite a medical explanation, rumors that the escape artist was murdered have persisted for decades.

Eighty-one years after Houdini died on Halloween 1926, his great-nephew wants to exhume the magician's body to determine if enemies poisoned him for debunking their bogus claims of contact with the dead.

"His death shocked the entire nation, if not the world. Now, maybe it's time to take a second look," George Hardeen said.

Houdini's family scheduled a news conference for Friday to give details on the plans. Hardeen said a team of top forensic investigators would conduct new tests on Houdini's body.

The generally accepted version of Houdini's death held that the 52-year-old suffered a ruptured appendix from a punch in the stomach, leading to peritonitis. But no autopsy was performed.

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[Condor 63]

The exhumation plan received support from a surprising source: Anna Thurlow, the great-granddaughter of "medium" Margery, whose husband Dr. Le Roi Crandon was one of the Spiritualist movement's biggest proponents and one of Houdini's enemies.

During a 1924 "seance," Margery channeled a "spirit" named Walter who greeted Houdini with a threat: "I put a curse on you now that will follow you every day for the rest of your short life."

"With people that delusional, you have to question what they're capable of,'" Thurlow said. "If there's any circumstantial evidence that Houdini was poisoned, we have to explore that."

Interesting article.

[stylecouncilor]

Yes. I'm looking forward to the results. It makes sense that the "mystics" would have been out to get him; he made them look ridiculous.

[onedoug]

"With a kiss I'll pass the key."

[Condor 63]

Especially interesting to me because I am a fan of Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes mysteries and always been fascinated by his Spiritualist mania.

Notice I said mania and not dabbling. He was hardcore.

In the Houdini biography, authors William Kalush and Larry Sloman detail a November 1924 letter in which one of the movement's devotees, Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle, said Houdini would "get his just desserts very exactly meted out ... I think there is a general payday coming soon."

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

[windcliff]

This will be good. I know he had waited days before going to the hospital. The show must go on.....

[Cyclopean Squid]

His body will not be in the tomb. A last illusion, from beyond the grave.

[Froufrou]

I notice this announcement was made one day before his birthday: March 24, the same as mine.

The Showbuzz.com has a nice video, in which the family attorney, Joe Tacopino, states that mercury poisoning could induce appendicitis.

http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/link.asp?L=234038

[stylecouncilor]

Thanks for sharing the info!

[Froufrou]

;o) Any time!

[SunkenCiv]

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