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The famous escapologist, Harry Houdini, died on 31st October
1926. The official cause of his death is recorded as peritonitis brought about by
an acute rupturing of the appendix. However, two Americans called Dr.
Michael Baden and Professor James Starrs are now proposing to exhume Houdini to test a theory that he was actually poisoned. It is claimed
that Houdini was murdered in order to silence his public scepticicism concerning Spiritualism (see first link below). Recently,
this theory has gathered momentum following revelations that the
leading Spiritualist of the day, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (hereafter ACD), wrote a letter
in November 1924 in which he stated that Houdini would receive:
his just desserts very exactly meted out...I think there is a general payday coming soon.
The
relationship between ACD and Houdini was a complex one and I do not
feel qualified to comment upon this matter in detail (see second link below). However, I do know that ACD and Houdini first met for lunch at the former man's home at Windlesham on 14th April 1920. Thereafter, their relationship was essentially that of pen-pals until
about February 1924. After this date, the correspondence between them
ended and ACD made the above comments shortly thereafter. However,
following Houdini's death, ACD publically stated that:
I greatly admired him and can not understand how the end came for one so youthful...we were great friends...we agreed on everything excepting Spiritualism.
I
do not believe that Houdini was murdered. Nor do I believe that ACD
was anything less than profoundly distressed by the death of his former friend. However, I do believe that it is only right that Dr. Baden and
Professor Starrs be permitted to conduct their tests in order to end the
persisting speculation surrounding Houdini's death.
Positive action is the only way to silence the conspirators who would
have us question the integrity of ACD. Furthermore,
positive action is the only way that we can remove the shadow cast over Houdini's remarkable life by the abruptness of his death. This same logic
applies to the baseless allegation made by Rodger
Garrick-Steele about ACD's involvement with the death of Bertram Fletcher
Robinson.
To learn more about Houdini and his relationship with ACD, please follow the links below:
http://us.cnn.com/2007/LAW/03/22/houdini.murder.ap/index.html
http://www.cicap.org/en_artic/at101009.htm
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By Paul Spiring ©
2007.
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BFR Matters I 
