East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-04-09
Ingenious Tricks and Devices
Used by Magicians to MyS
tify Their Spectators.

FT1HE handcuff and msnscse are no new
thinss. Methods for fastening tho arms
and legs Of prisoners 10 prevent them
from escaping or from doing injury to
themselves their captors were in vogue in
Gncient Egypt. where hieroslyphic pictures on
walls Of ruins show men ana women manacled
witb ohAins leagths OF flexible iron rods
i0cstiy fastened by the ends so that the bond
could he adjusted in circle and thus grip the
arln or lsg. 4 sf&
Various kinds of Inventions for restraining
criminals have been devised since the days of
the Pharsohs, but the modern manacle is far
different from the heavy metal clasps which
pressed into the flesh and snfiicted continual
torture untii death ens1ed from the pain IL
ths victim remained fettered hong enough. To-
GAY the police handcuff. the ieg iron and other
appliances for restraining prisoners
desiEned that they csuse no pain unless. In the
sffsrt to free himseif. the man wrenehes and
Pnils at his hands and legs in the struggle to
break the letters ~ 9e sf
There are ways. however everybody
kBsws. by which what seems to be perfectly
pretsctinE handeuff may be removed and the
wearsr gain his liberty. These methods have
been discovered by detectives in the larger
cities Of this country as well as in Europe.
whsrs prisoners have escaped although SO
feftsr.d that IT seemed impossible for them to
loosen their shackles.
Experts in the Work.
Among the criminal fraternity in the United
Etaxss same or thoss who apparently can re-
nacSs tins xnost clever devices to hold them
hslpiess srs termed 'neverstays.- meaning. of
course. that they always escape from oonfine-
msnt There are also experts in throwing off
rsrkArs who ara mot at al criminals and never
-AAss hesn. experts who give -entertainments
IN The fhaatres that are really mast astonish-
ing exhibitions of skill along this line. de-
suiption Of their acts will convey an idea of
their wonderful dexterity in releasing them
Deises from bondage.
Amcng the most Interesting feats are those
OF the man who MANAGES to escape in some
manner from all sorts Of regulation handcuffs.
Eanacles leg irons. &c. Several of these are
Daaesd on him, and then the performer retires
tnto bis small ca ahinet and emerses in q few
nainutes entireiy free from all restraint The
hsnacuffs ara in every case genuine and
cpnfs1erztes are employed. 1t is a very clever
trick - M
There are several trick handouts made for
such exhibitions. and II the performer be al
lowed TO use his cuffs they may be of this
klnd. There are trick cuffs OF various sorts
Some Of these simply pull open and are never
me connecting chains are weakened. Again.
ne iock Its4ir has been tampered with. so that
. blow on the hinge serves to release it Many
OF them may be opened with loop OF catgut
or shoestring inserted into the keyhole. This
catches the i0ek and Jerks It back. The style
of cuff Known as the German transport
chain Is never really unlocked; the hands
merely slip the chain after certain manipnla-
tons OF the hands and arms. Most padiocks
are picked with one Of the numerous skeleton
kays with which the performer is to pro-
vide himself. French fetter locks are opened
hg finding the proper combination. This is
largely matter Of touch. faeilitated by plac-
ing wire spring between the arms Of the
catch to keep them weIi pressed back.
Tricks Are Many.
II the performer is mot to be searched his
task is comparatively easy. Keys may be con-
cealed in his clothing in various special pockets
or In the draperies Of his cabinet. If. however.
he is to be searched he must take precautions.
Special keys are then concealed in a false
shoe heel. in the mouth. In the hair or in an
artificial finger which is hollow. In any Of
these the article may be hidden. II the key is
hidden in the hair this should be long and
busl1y and the performer after having had his
haucs examined may say to the examining
you like to examine my
hair also and see that it caneeals nothingT'
As he says this he passes one OF his hands
thrcnEh his hair with a careless motion and
thereby extracts the key. which he promptly
esncsais an one OF his hands or elsewhere. AS
tlsH coulnittee has already seen the hand. they
90 not look at 1t again. and 1t Is safe for the
performer to hide the key in It key may
niso be concealed in the corner of handker-
chief and fn this ease opposite corner can
Be reached with the teeth. The key being
reached In this manner, the performer employs
81 to open the cuffs as described.
80, His Steel Tube m
There are many contrivances that are used
10 open the locks OF various handcuffs under
eonditieae m which 1t would be found impos-
uibse. IL the performer were in posses
sion of the key. to USE it. 1t Is said that one
initstor OF escaped prisoner has introduced
N insenisus oontrivsnee Of this kind with
which the majority Of regulation handcuffs
ean be opened. This eontriyance IS nothing
more than tiny steel tube. tapered. with
wire fitted through the centre To open the
lrons the end is thrust into the lock and the
spirai lock spring Is caught with the longest
md OF the tube ana then pulled outward. II
y quite easy matter to open cuffs and irons
By this device. In England new regulation
key has been adopted having the thread on the
ssfsds y Instead Of the inside Tbs aentrxanes
u this man. II is said, will epen almost any
cuff having this new Improvement, they being
simpiy pushed home until II accommodates the
thread OF the particular cuff used
il must be borne IN mind that hsndcuffs are
of various makes. but that every cuff Of a cer-
tain make Il the &sxns. 30 that the same rcen-
latsn key Will open all of them. Consequently
NE same means may be relied upon % open an
Another eontrirance. invested within recent
sesrs. n the means whereby the majority of
regulation handouts and leg iroBs. fitted with
powerful springs can be opened A key is
known As q '.master key when IL Eill unlock