The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06
AMERICAN WIZARD WHO
OPENS ENGLISH PRISONS
Authorities Locked Him Behind
Barred Doors and He Made
Escape.


LIVERPOOL, March ST certify that
to-day Mr.. Harry Houdini showed his
abilities in releasing himself from restraint
He had three pairs of handouts, one very
close-ftting pair, placed round his wrists,
and he was placed in nude state in a
cell which had been previously searched
Within six minutes he was free from the
handouts, had opened the cell door and
had opened. the doors of all the other cells
in the corridor, had changed a prisoner
from one cell to another, and had so Sc
curely locked him in that he had to be
asked to unlock the door.
LEONARD DUNNING,
Head Constable, Liverpool"
The Jail is not built IN England-it is
doubtful indeed II ii be built in any other
country-that will hold Harry Houdini.
For him it is literally true that
stone walls do not prison make.
Nor iron bars & cage"
Were he a criminal-his clear, straight
forward eyes negative the suggestion-he
would be a nightmare to the police of Brit
ain, for he would walk out of Jail as
cooly and smilingly as he did twice out
of Liverpool Bridewell. says the London
Express.
1t was an eventful day at the sinister
looking building that stands off busy Dale
street.
High police officials, clever detectives,
leading city business men who hold office
on the watch committed, all sustained a
severe shock by their loss of faith i'm what
they had regarded as an inviolabe strong
hold. No one has been known previously
TO escape from the bolts and bars behind
which Liverpool quarters its criminals.
In the afternoon Houdini had a pleasant
interview with Head Constable Dunning.
You want to try our locks? Certainly
You're welcome; but, OF course, We will
take some precautions"
Il want you to do So" replied Houdini
II will strip naked. You can then hand
cuff me and put me in your strongest cell.
and after you have searched me and the
cell. you leave me. locking the door. 1 will
join YOU in minute or two.
Houdini was as good as his word. Not
only did he secape, but he had torn from
his hands and arms three pairs of hand
cuffs, which had been put on him by of
ficers with absolute belief in their restrain
ing power.
Even these feats were not enough for
this man. who does things that would have
made Jack Sheppard die of envy He felt
sure there was nothing in bridewell to baf-
file him.
Running along the corridor, he opened
the doors of other cells. which he had
thought were all empty When he reached
No. II and flung open the door he con-
fronted a prisoner.
Il don't know which of us was the more
surprised. said Houdini TO an Express
representative.
Here was / standing absolutely nude be-
fore a terrified. miserable object.
Poor fellow. what a shock il was for
him. He was an Irishman just recov-
ering from drunken bout.
'Arrah! he said, when he had recovered,
i thought IL was the devil"
The shvering prison breaker hurried the
wretched prisoner out of cell No. IA into
No. 10 and locked him in. Then he ran
along the passage TO greet the head con-
stable and the other officials.
Only six minutes had elapsed since he
had been locked I'm the cell naked and
handcuffed- The cell door was inspected
and found uninjured.
Then one of the jailers, walking along