The Ruler Incident
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SI Jan Feb 11 from home_SI new design masters 11/12/10 11:56 AM Page 18 [NOTES ON A STRANGE WORLD M A S S IMO P OL IDOR O Massimo Polidoro is an investigator of the paranormal, lecturer, and co-founder and head of CICAP, the Italian skeptics group. His website is at www.massimopolidoro.com. The Ruler Incident ‘A Very Self-Sacrificing Lady’ ome time ago, the James Randi tigators want to be watched just as the Educational Foundation came In the summer of 1924, the biggest mediums are, so as to have even- handed justice. I have known an inves- Sinto possession of a bundle of let- thing in psychical research was a new tigator, whose name is quoted by the ters written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. medium, who was powerful as well as at- public, [who stated] in a burst out of The letters are of particular interest to tractive, named “Margery” (Mina Cran- confidence that he would not hesitate researchers of the occult, with topics don). She had entered the Scien tific to put muslin in a medium’s pockets if ranging from the Cotting ley Fairies to American competition and was consid- there by he could expose her. the Margery investigation. I should think that after your ered to be the likeliest winner of the experience over here, and the subse- The Margery investigation began prize—until Houdini sat with her. In quent experiences you had in America, when Scientific American offered, in its fact, he was immediately able to discern you cannot yourself have the slightest December 1922 issue, a prize of five her true methods, and he promptly re- doubt of the preternatural origin thousand dollars to any medium who vealed them to the world. Conan Doyle, of these phenomena. Nothing is could produce psychic phenomena that who had met Margery and had endorsed super natural. could be declared as such by the unan- her powers, considered Houdini’s reve- all send best regards imous vote of a committee of five ap- lations trash. Bird was of the same opin- A Conan Doyle. (Conan Doyle, n.d.) pointed investigators. The committee ion; he also ap peared to be convinced of consisted of psychologist Dr. William Margery’s honesty. McDougall, of Harvard Uni versity; The official report of the committee A second, undated note was pinned to physicist Dr. Daniel Com stock, of the on the Margery case took six months to the September 9 letter: complete. Committee members had Massachusetts Institute of Technology; I have only just read the minutes of Dr. Walter F. Prince, Research Officer been sworn to reveal nothing about the the Houdini meetings. It is as clear of the Amer ican Soci ety for Psychical sittings until the publication of the re- as daylight that the ruler was put in Research; well-known psychical re- port; but Bird, who was not restricted by the box, and the rubber in the appa- searcher Hereward Carrington; and such a burden, repeatedly told journal- ratus by someone who wished to ists what Houdini called “black lies.” For show that the medium was fraudu- Harry Houdini, the great magician. Mr. lent. And who could this be save J. Malcolm Bird, then associate editor example, Bird claimed that Houdini Houdini himself since it only oc - of Scientific Amer ican, was appointed as had not allowed anyone to examine the curred when he was present. Surely secretary of the committee. apparatus used during the tests and the Committee will not stand for Bird had approached the psychic stated that Houdini had manipulated this, and will protect a very self-sac- rificing lady against such attempts world with a more than open mind, and the apparatus in such a way as to render real phenomena impossible. These at- upon her honour. I trust the matter he appeared to be very willing to en- will be most fully ventilated in the dorse its reality—even lacking convinc- tacks on Houdini elated Conan Doyle, Press. It is a complete exposure—but ing proof. Scientific American’s editor who wrote Bird the following letter, not of the medium. dated September 9: put Bird in touch with Sir Arthur ACD Dear Bird Conan Doyle, one of Spiritualism’s As Walter [F. Prince] said “You have greatest propagandists, and they began Congratulations on your stand against all got to die,” and will then be faced to correspond. Houdini. I have always said that inves- by these actions. (Conan Doyle, n.d.) 18 Volume 35 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer SI Jan Feb 11 from home_SI new design masters 11/12/10 11:56 AM Page 19 ‘The Boss Told Me to Do It’ The ruler incident Conan Doyle men - tions refers to an episode that happened when Bird was absent from the séance rooms. That particular séance began with Margery confined in a cabinet with arm- A search of the cabinet revealed holes, with Houdini and Prince at her sides, holding her hands. Houdini par- the presence of a collapsible ticularly insisted that Prince never let go of the medium’s hand until the séance carpenter’s ruler. But the question was over. This provoked Margery to ask Houdini what he had on his mind. remained: who put it there? “Do you really want to know?” asked Houdini. “Yes,” said the medium. “Well, I will tell you. In case you have smuggled anything in to the cabinet-box you can not now conceal it, as both your hands are secured and that the armholes in the sides of the Keating had seen an unpublished as far as they are concerned you are manuscript in this author’s collection helpless.” cabinet be boarded up, which would allow her to move her hands freely in- in which Houdini, while praising “Do you want to search me?” she Keating as a magician, had com- asked. side the cabinet. mented in unflattering terms on “No, never mind, let it go,” said Margery rejected these accusations Keating’s abilities as an investigator of Houdini. “I am not a physician.” and accused Houdini, suggesting that psychic phenomena. In this writer’s Soon after, Walter appeared in his assistant, Jim Collins, had hidden opinion, the story of Collins’s admis- the circle saying, “Houdini, you are sion is sheer fiction. very clever indeed but it won’t work. the ruler to discredit her. However, I suppose it was an accident those Collins was interrogated that same The incident remains doubtful to this things were left in the cabinet?” night without Houdini present, and he day. It could have been revealing if, at the “What was left in the cabinet?” took an oath that he did not place any asked the magician. time, a laboratory had examined the ruler “Pure accident, was it? You were ruler inside the cabinet, had never seen found inside the box for fingerprints or not here but your assistant was.” Wal- that ruler, and that his own ruler was in other useful traces. But as it turned out, ter went on and then stated that a ruler his pocket. According to writer William the Scientific American committee was not would be found in the cabinet under a Lindsay Gresham, Collins actually ad- that scientific after all. n pillow at the medium’s feet. He then mitted to hiding the ruler: “I chucked it accused Houdini of having had his as- References sistant put it there to throw suspicion in the box myself. The Boss told me to on his sister. Then he finished with a do it. He wanted to fix her good” (Gre- Christopher, Milbourne. (1969) 1970. Houdini: sham 1959). The Untold Story. New York: Thomas Y. violent outburst in which he ex - Crowell Company. Reprint, New York: claimed, “Houdini, you Goddamned However, Milbourne Christopher, Pocket Books. son of a bitch, get the hell out of here magician and magic historian, ex presses Conan Doyle, Arthur. n.d. Letters. James Randi and never come back. If you don’t, I doubts about this incident in Houdini: Educational Foundation, Fort Lauderdale, FL. will!” (Houdini 1924; Polidoro 2001) Gresham, William Lindsay. (1959) 1968. Hou- The Untold Story (1969): dini: The Man Who Walked Through Walls. A search of the cabinet revealed the New York: Henry Holt. Reprint, New York: presence of a collapsible carpenter’s The source of this story, though not MacFadden Books. Houdini, Harry. 1924. Houdini Exposes the Tricks ruler. But the question remained: who given by Gresham, was Fred Keat ing, a magician who had been a guest of Used by the Boston Medium “Margery.” New put it there? Houdini claimed it was York: Adams Press. the Crandons in their house on Lime Margery. By sticking the ruler through Polidoro, Massimo. 2001. Final Sèance: The Strange Street at the time Carrington was in- Friendship Between Houdini and Conan Doyle. the neck opening, the magician ex- vestigating the medium. Keating, Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books. plained, she could have easily rung the however, was not unbiased. Several Silverman, Kenneth. 1996. Houdini!!!: The Career bell. Also, the medium had suggested days before Gresham spoke to him, of Ehrich Weiss. New York: HarperCollins. Skeptical Inquirer | January/ February 2011 19.