The Washington herald., 1907-03-24
HOUDIlJI TO JOYCE.
Handcufi Wizard Challenges His
Washington Imitator.


Houdini, the handcuf king and Jail
breaking artist. and Prof Joyce have
been corresponding with reference to Mr..
Joyee's advertised expose OF Houdint one
Sunday night last faIl at the Columbia
Thoater It will interest the thousands
who witnessed Houdinl when al Chase's.
and equally much those who attended
the Joyce exhibition. It brings the Joyce
conNention that Houdini must have con-
federates or secret panels. or both in his
packing-case escape feats to a direct is
sue. and Houdinl issues a challenge TO
Joyce which the amusement going public
is anxious the local athletic director shall
accept The correspondence follows:
Columbus. Ohio, March l9. 1907.
Prof Maurice Joyce. Washington, D. c.
Sir: In beginning. you Will pardon me If say
that, personally have earthly interest OF con-
cern IN any alleged expose Of myself by you or any
one else expect to encounter il everywhere. but
It Is sufficient for ms purpose in life that. despite
my multitueinous Would-be exposers in every coun-
Try OF the world continue 10 be professionally en-
gsged tn the best theateu Of the WoEld. and my
contracts are for many months 10 come indicating
that msnagers If net the public are aware Of the
genuineness Of my performance.
1t appears however. that the packers and ship
pers aud paper box makers who challenged me upon
my last appearance at Chase's are very much con-
eerned over The charge which you are alleged 10
have made during your advertised expose Of ny
self, that those gentlemen and myself were in col
lusion. TO the extent that in the construction Of
the packing cases. secret panels were made by them
for my escape; and 70 the bag that an extra
flap was prepared. TO be cut away after egrsss
from the bag
In consequences of such statements by YOU. re-
nectlng upon their private and professional honor
my former chaLeugers lave CHALLENGED me again
demanding the opportunity 70 show 10 the public
az Washington that the packing cases previously
used could not have been prepared with secret
panels and this they will demonstrate bv making
box Of similar size and character from rIankq in
the rough brought TO the theAter and there on
the stage, Monday night. the planks viii be meas
used cut, fitted, and nailed together. in fun view
Of the audiencei after which I am to enter the
box. the top will be nailed down. and il will ba
secured ideutically SIS before IT, by this means
the absolute mpossibil.ty q preparing a secret
panel a conciusiFey shown. and ! do succeed in
escaping therefFoms under the conditions Of the
challenge. then tHIzt the public Niil believe that
your method Of box escape and my own original
demonstration entirely dissimilar the paper bag
challenge. Whieh requires that the rough paper shall
be brought into the theateF Monday afternoon
March g hy the K;lian Conpany demands that
on the stage. in the fll VieW Of the audience the
paper shall be cut snd the seams shah be stitched
ana slled bLe Nla enQas 0lLef fncarcerGfel.
% Be tied and sealed.
At both performances Monday no reasonable re-
slriction VIII be placed upon public examination
d the bu1 and bag at every stage of construction
50 that there vii nsyer again be doubling Thomases
70 imagine ell sorts Of impossible happenings 10
fortify their assertions that ! do not make
gcuuins escape from the various things in which /
am confined.
The issue raised By you at your exhibition was
that Hoadiai cannot escape from box or bag IN
less there Is coliasion with the makers and secret
panels IN boxes Gr extra sides in paper bags, which
was your sslf-confessed method a escape
Now then, challsuge you 70 post the Eross re-
csipts obtained ny you at your exhibition through
The advertised Misrepresentation that you we're 70
expose Hoocini. and in the event that ct the per
iornanoes next Monday afternoon and night az
Chase's Iheater / do prove to the satisfaction Of
ne public that I de escape from boxes and bags
without collision WITH the makers or without secret
panels or extra sides CT other prepared means Of
esFess' then you are to forfeit the said sum Of
money a. once 70 the h4iiding committee OF the
new Georgs Washington University site and I
aereby agFee TO forfeit Ike amount Il do not
make ms escape IN accordance with the conditions
g tAe challenges. which should oonclusigey prove