What is the Mystery About Houdini's Death?

Rumors Were the Escape Artist and Magician Was Murdered

Sep 26, 2009

Houdini was fascinated with what was called the occult during his time. He publicly debunked mediums he believed to be fraudulent. Could this have put him in harm's way?

Popular belief is that Houdini died because a college student punched him in the stomach after the magician said he could endure any punch to the abdomen without experiencing pain. The student assaulted Houdini before he could prepare himself for the blow and ruptured his appendix.

Despite this, Houdini hobbled onstage and performed his water torture escape attempt. It’s true that Houdini died several days later on Halloween after performing in several more shows while having stomach pains and a high fever. According to doctors, a blow to the stomach couldn’t cause a ruptured appendix, but his death could have been the result of a separate health problem. For instance, Houdini also had a broken ankle and ignored doctors’ advice to have it treated.

Houdini Alienated Spiritualists and Fake Mediums

Harry Houdini exposed fraudulent mediums, their séances and other chicanery used to take advantage of a naïve public. He was extremely outspoken in his opposition to fakes and often used his shows to expose and debunk deceitful mediums. Houdini alienated one group called the Spiritualists, whose members included Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle reportedly sent a letter to Houdini in 1924 claiming he would get what he deserved and that this comeuppance would occur soon.

Houdini had been friends with Jean and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Jean claimed to be a medium and said she contacted Houdini’s mother during a séance. The escape artist believed Jean was a fraud who faked a message because a cross was included in the reading which was in flawless English – Houdini's mother was a Hungarian Jew who barely spoke the language.

Medium Mina Crandon — stage name "Margery" — was famous at the time. She exhibited amazing talents in some of her séances and was on the brink of winning a prize in a contest sponsored by Scientific American magazine. Houdini began a campaign to discredit her. He duplicated some of her tricks on stage and published a pamphlet describing how some of her acts were performed. Conan Doyle was a supporter of Crandon and clashed with Houdini about this.

Suspicious Circumstances Surrounding Houdini’s Death

The coroner’s report stated that Houdini’s appendix was on his left side of his body – the appendix is located on the right side of the human body. No autopsy was performed. His body was buried before his death certificate was filed.

In an odd twist, Houdini’s wife was a patient in the same hospital. She was treated for food poisoning.

Request for Houdini’s Body to Be Exhumed and Tested

It was alleged that George Hardeen, Houdini’s great-nephew, applied to the court that his body exhumed to determine if he was poisoned and that the family scheduled a news conference to provide details about their plans. The plan was for a team of top forensic investigators to conduct tests on Houdini's body.

Houdini’s family gave a statement to the Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania averring they opposed the application. They suggested that the request was a publicity stunt to promote a book titled, The Secret Life of HoudiniIt was alleged that the book’s authors hired a public relations firm to plan the stunt. In 2008, it was revealed that the involved parties never filed legal papers to perform an exhumation.

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