Estate Planning

Houdini's Final Escape?

By Hull & Hull LLP

Following up on Jennifer Hartman's excellent blog on Harry Houdini's life and death, I came across information relating to the proposed exhumation of Harry Houdini.

In March 2007, his grandnephew announced that he was seeking to have Houdini's body exhumed in order to determine the true cause of death. As noted by Jennifer in her blog, Houdini is said to have died accidentally after being punched in the stomach. However, no autopsy was ever performed.

In a 2006 biography, The Secret Life of Houdini, it is suggested that enemies of Houdini, possibly members of the Spiritualist movement, poisoned Houdini because he often debunked their claims of being able to talk to the dead. 

Alas, the proposed exhumation has not (yet) proceeded. It has been said that the plan may have been part of a publicity stunt for the biography.

Have a great weekend.

Paul Trudelle

Full post as published by Toronto Estate Law Blog on March 27, 2009 (boomark / email).