Harry Houdini -- Searching for a Medium
Afterlife Message to His Wife and His Controversial Death
Ehrich Weiss gained fame as magician and escape artist Harry Houdini. He married Wilhelmina Beatrice “Bess” Rahner with whom he gave fake séances using information obtained through tipsters. He was amazed by their success.
Houdini and the Doyles
He became friends with Jean and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Jean claimed to be a medium and tried to contact his mother. Houdini believed Jean was a fraud and the message was a fake because a cross was included and the communication was in flawless English, a language his mother barely spoke. His mother was Jewish.
This led to Houdini offering a reward to anyone who could produce evidence of paranormal phenomena and have it confirmed by a committee of experts.
Houdini and Mina Stinson Crandon
He put the medium who used the name Margery in a cabinet and restricted her hands to prevent trickery. One of Houdini’s employees confessed to leaving objects in the cabinet so it appeared she put them there to conduct fraudulent séances.
Houdini continued his search for someone who could contact his mother so he could receive the message he wanted to hear, “Forgive.” Bess and he created a secret code so the survivor would know if it was really the departed who delivered the message.
Houdini’s Death
One version is that Houdini visited McGill University to give students a presentation about his debunking a Boston medium. After his lecture, Jocelyn Gordon Whitehead and Samuel J. Smilovitz, who drew a sketch of Houdini, were among the students who talked to him. During the meeting, Whitehead decided to challenge Houdini's strength and, without warning, gave him several punches to his stomach.
Another one states Smilovitch showed Houdini the drawing. Houdini was impressed and invited him to come backstage after his show to create a full portrait. Smilovitch’s friend, Jack Price, accompanied him. Whitehead knocked on Houdini’s door, then joined them.
Houdini was lying on a couch, reading mail. Whitehead asked Houdini if it was true that punches to his stomach didn’t hurt him. The magician confirmed this. Whitehead delivered several blows before Houdini stopped him and later said he had had no opportunity to prepare himself for the assault.
Many questions and much controversy surround Houdini’s death. It’s alleged that Bess, nurse Sophie Rosenblatt and niece Julia Sawyer were present. Details of the stories differ. Did Whitehead show up after Smilovitch and Price arrived or had they brought him along? Was Whitehead a McGill student, an amateur boxer or both? Did he have permission to punch Houdini?
Although Houdini had severe stomach pains by mid-afternoon, he performed his show that night and the next day. He took the train to Detroit. Bess wired for a doctor to be at their hotel when they arrived. Their train was late, so the Houdinis went directly to the theatre. There, the doctor examined Houdini. He had a fever of 104, was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and advised to go to the hospital. Houdini decided to perform, then returned to his hotel. Bess summoned the hotel physician who called a surgeon who examined Houdini and told him he must be hospitalized immediately.
Houdini underwent surgery to remove his appendix. He was hospitalized for several days, before dying on October 31, 1926.
Houdini Code and Arthur Ford
The medium was the minister of the First Spiritualist Church of New York. After Houdini’s death, allegedly, Ford gave Bess a message containing the word, “Forgive.” Later, he gave her the code, “Rosebelle, believe.” She signed a statement that validated Ford’s breaking the code and that she was given his message from the other side. Later, she withdrew her claim.
Related articles:
Dr. Nandor Fodor: Psychical Researcher
Harry Price: Psychical Researcher
Sources:
The Encyclopedia of Ghosts, Daniel Cohen, (Dorset Press, 1984)
The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, (Facts on File, Inc., 1992)
Top hat, magician's equipment
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