CHUNG LING SOO.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16213, 16 May 1918, Page 5

CHUNG LING SOO.

A -MYSTERIOUS DEATH

Mystery surrounds the death of Chung Ling Soo, the well-known musichall magician, who was shot on tho stago at the Wood Green Empire on Saturday night, March (says a London paper). Chung Ling Soo died in the Wood Green Hospital the' next day from a wound in tno chest.

Tho drama of the tragedy was such , that people in the audience imagined I that it was a part of the performance. Ono of tho tricks included in. the "turn," in which his assistant rendered help, involved the firing of a pistol, and it was at this stago that Chung Ling Soo was injured. He lived only a few hours after being taken to hospital. Mr F. Kametaro, stage manager to Soo (who was an Englishman), said in an interview. "I was on the stage with two other assistants at thp time. They both had guns, and we called for a committee from the audience, as usual. Two soldiers came up and examined tho bullets and the powder. I directed them to go into a corner, out of the way, and on receiving the cue from Mr Soo I gave the order to fire. "Mr Soo had a china plate with which, he was supposed to deflect the bullets. 'Both assistants fired, and a gentleman in the audience stood up and said something to Mr Soo. "When the second order was given the gentleman stood up again. "After the bullets were fired Mr Soo usually staggered, and when he fell ' • thought it was the usual performance. On this occasion Mr Soo called out, 'Oh, my God,' and on going to him we found that the bullet had passed right j through, him." It is understood that the deception i in the trick was that the bullets placed in the guns do not leave tho muzzle, but by a device in the mechanism remain in the gun. Why, on this occasion, the bullet was projected is not at present known. Chung Ling Soo's real name was Robinson, and he was born in Birmingi ham about 50 years ago. During his ' youth he was apprenticed to an engineer, and in after life he turned his mechanical training to the fullest advantage for his wonderful tricks. _ •' After finishing his apprenticeship, ne travelled for many years, and during, wanderings' he picked up a knowledge of Chinese. This gave him tho jdea of passing as a Chinaman when he went on the stage, and he was so successful in 'this, that few people* took him for anything else. Some time ago he was performing at Cardiff, and, the Chinese residents and visitors gave him a dinner as one of their own countrymen. Chung Ling Soo delighted them ' with a speech in their native tongue, j and the dinner was a great success.

Chung Ling Soo was one of the most brilliant conjurers and jugglers who have ever appeared before the music-. liall public. For years past he has been a "star" turn, earning a salary of £100 to £150 a week. All the time he was on the stage he never uttered a word, and at the same time he cultivated the Oriental Gmile "that is child-like and bland" so well that none of those present imagined they were watching the clever tricks of an Englishman.

Mr Robinson was a prominent Freemason, and his home was in Barnes," where ho had an up-to-date workshop i,i which ho made and improved the complicated apparatus for his tricks.