[Houdini, Harry (Ehrich Weiss)] ALS Regarding Houdini’s Death. Dated Feb. 5, 1974, and written by one Hal Riordan to Tom [Auburn]. Riordan writes, “Regarding Houdini at the McGill Union. … he was talking when I arrived & I remember him pushing a needle through his cheek and out again. He said it was no trick, merely that he didn’t bleed easily. All else I remember now was his saying anyone who wanted could hit him in the abdomen as hard as he liked. Some student did so. … Some days later we hear he had died (from a ruptured appendix(?)).” He goes on to speculate about the cause of Houdini’s death and describe portions of his show, including a straitjacket escape and packing case escape. One 4to sheet. Old folds and chips; good. This letter does not describe Houdini’s death-blow, delivered in his dressing room after his performance at McGill, but rather an early punch in the McGill student union. Still, it shows how the stage was set by Houdini himself for the fatal punch that would rupture his appendix later that night, and ultimately cause his untimely death.