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The Man Accused Of Killing Harry Houdini Also Had A Problem Taking Books That Didn’t Belong To Him
J. Gordon Whitehead, who unexpectedly punched the famous magician shortly before his death, also had a reputation for having books that belonged to others
The sudden death of popular magician Harry Houdini in 1926 was shocking enough. However, when the circumstances leading to his demise were reported, the entire affair became an outright scandal. A college student from Montreal named J. Gordon Whitehead allegedly punched the famed showman in the stomach under the belief he was impervious to such an assault. While his reported role in the shocking death came to define him, the young man had other trouble during his life, including an apparent proclivity for stealing books.
Houdini became one of the most famous people in the world as he performed his magic act for decades all over the globe. He was constantly seeking new tricks and ways to dazzle and amaze his audiences. This included a wide range of escapes from locks and other supposed impervious devices, holding his breath and doing other feats believed to be impossible to the common man.
As a result, most people watching Houdini were unable to believe what they were seeing…
