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Jan 11, 2012 · Learn about the life and death of J. Gordon Whitehead, the man who allegedly punched Houdini in his dressing room in 1926 and contributed to his death by rupturing his appendix. See photos, documents, and sources of this controversial figure who was a divinity student, a boxer, and a recluse.
- Biography
- Conspiracy Theories
- Legacy
- External Links
Whitehead was born on 25 November 1895 in the United States. His early years, and his parents, are unknown. He entered McGill University in the early 1920s and soon proved himself to be a good student and boxer. He was reported to always have bets on other people to fight him, but he allegedly always won. However, he would soon take his boxing skil...
There are many conspiracy theories surrounding why Whitehead punched Houdini. The first theory is that it was a plot initiated by spiritualists. Houdini, during his life, was never a spiritualist, as he had known that the practice was a fraud. This allegedly angered many in the spiritualist movement, and they developed a plot to poison Houdini. Whi...
He is known for being the killer of Houdini, despite evidence that Houdini died instead of his appendicitis. He is also known for being one of America's most notorious shoplifters of all time.
Jocelyn Gordon Whitehead at Find a GraveLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 23: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).- United States
- November 25, 1895
Mar 22, 2024 · They were later joined by a freshman student named Jocelyn Gordon Whitehead. While Smilovitch sketched Houdini, Whitehead chatted with the magician. After some talk about Houdini’s physical strength, Whitehead asked if it was true that he could withstand even the mightiest punch to the stomach.
Oct 31, 2016 · How did the famous escape artist die in 1926? Was it a ruptured appendix, a punch to the stomach, or a Spiritualist plot? Learn about the facts, theories and controversies surrounding Houdini's final performance and his legacy.
- 1 min
Mar 11, 2020 · J. Gordon Whitehead was a McGill student who wanted to test Houdini's stomach strength in 1926. He died of appendicitis after a week, but the cause of death was not related to the punch. Learn more about Houdini's life and legacy in this Yale University Press book.
Oct 31, 2011 · Jocelyn Gordon Whitehead was a McGill University student who tested Houdini's claim to be able to absorb any blow to the stomach in 1926. She is said to have delivered multiple punches to the Great Houdini's stomach, rupturing his appendix and causing his death. Learn more about this tragic event and the life of the legendary magician.
Jul 4, 2005 · The Man Who Killed Houdini by Don Bell is a definitive investigation into the events that occurred in Harry Houdini's dressing room on Oct 22, 1926, and the man at the center of the fatal "attack," J. Gordon Whitehead. It is a remarkable work that will blow the minds of Houdini enthusiasts and magic historians.
