TRICKSTER TRICKED

Evening Star, Issue 20994, 7 January 1932, Page 1

TRICKSTER TRICKED

FAMOUS CONJUROR’S STORY “ BURGLAR ” IN TEN BOX. In ‘My Tragic Life,’ his autobiography, Mr David Devant, the famous conjuror, tells of an extraordinary sequel to a private performance of the box trick, in which a man disappears from a locked box. It was given at the house of an old friend. For some reason, after ho had gone to bed that night, Mr Devant began to dream that the secret of his trick had been discovered by the other guests. So writes:—“ At length my dreams ended abruptly, and 1 woke up to find •a burglar standing over mo with a revolver. ... An idea seemed to occur to him. He motioned to me to get into the box. . . •_ He pulled the lid down, put the key in the lock, turned it, and took the key ... I escaped from the box, found my own revolver, and went downstairs after the burglar.” Covering the supposed burglar with his revolver, Mr Devant compelled the marauder to get into the box. On the arrival of the police sergeant he was told that the burglar was in the box, but when it was opened it was empty. “ Then,” says Mr Devant, “ I had to eat humble pie and explain that the burglar had evidently discovered the secret of the great box trick. “ ‘ Well,’ said my host, ‘ though the burglar has escaped from the box he may be in the house now. Suppose we search.’ , _ “‘Not necessary, I said . -. ■. * he must have got out of the house by the window.’ „ , , “ < Quite right, Mr Devant,’ said a voice behind us, ‘he did get out of the house by the window. 1 He was my assistant , . • who had arranged to play a little practical joke on me."