New book challenges official account of Houdini's death
Surgeon Larrian Gillespie's book argues Houdini died of an intestinal blockage after unreported surgery, questioning the stomach-punch story and the death date.
The story in focus
CBS News reports that surgeon Larrian Gillespie's new book, "Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice," argues the escape artist died of an intestinal blockage and unreported last-minute surgery, not the widely told stomach-punch account, and questions whether he died October 30 rather than October 31.
- Gillespie's book says an intestinal blockage and an unreported last-minute surgery killed Houdini
- She alleges the death certificate was altered and calls it a cover-up
- Gillespie says Houdini's team favored the stomach-punch story partly for a double indemnity insurance payment
- She argues he died October 30, not October 31
- Historian Roger Dreyer said most experts believe punches did not act alone and may have aggravated appendicitis
A centenary and a contested account
Harry Houdini died 100 years ago this week, on Halloween, CBS News reports. The anniversary renews attention to how the escape artist died at age 52, a question the network describes as another mystery.
The usual account involves college students visiting him backstage, one of whom asked whether Houdini could withstand a blow to the stomach and then threw a series of punches before Houdini could brace himself, according to historian Roger Dreyer. Dreyer said most experts believe the punches did not act alone and that a precondition of appendicitis may have been aggravated.
The book's claims
Surgeon and medical researcher Larrian Gillespie's book "Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice" documents a different telling, CBS News reports. Gillespie said something is wrong with the death certificate, that numbers were copied and rewritten over, and that this was a cover-up.
She says an intestinal blockage and an unreported last-minute surgery ultimately killed him. She also says Houdini's team favored the stomach-punch story in part to get a bigger insurance payment, citing a double indemnity policy that would have paid an additional sum, in today's money $500,000, if he died from an accident.
According to documents Gillespie found, there is doubt about when Houdini died. She said she can put forth a strong case that he died October 30, not October 31, and suggested moving the date made every Halloween a reminder of his death.
Legacy and the séance tradition
Gillespie said the version would not tarnish Houdini's reputation or legacy. Vincent Toms, who lives in Houdini's former Harlem townhouse, said Houdini made a pact with his wife, Bess, to try to communicate after death, and séances were held there annually for 10 years. Toms will host a séance this weekend.
What does Larrian Gillespie's book say killed Houdini?
Gillespie says an intestinal blockage and an unreported last-minute surgery killed him, rather than the stomach-punch account, and questions whether he died October 30 instead of October 31.
Sources & further reading
Help keep the record accurate. Send a correction.
