"WILL, THE WITCH, AND THE WATCHMAN."

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 115, 13 May 1909, Page 2

"WILL, THE WITCH, AND THE WATCHMAN."

HISTORY OF THE TRICK

In view of the recent visit to Wellington of the Maskelyne and Devant show, which included the performance of Maskelyne's old cabinet trick, set off in the playlet "Will, the Witch, and the Watchman," and the news that a person in Reefton is about to claim £500 reward for having, it is alleged, discovered the secret of the trick, the following correspondence is interesting: — Wellington, May 5, 1909. To the Editor. . Sir, —I notice a paragraph in your issue of the sth, taken from the Buller Miner, in which a Mr Stirton claims to have discovered Maskelyne's illusion of "Will, the Watch, and the Watchman," which claim (the Buller Miner says), if proven, entitles Mr Stirton to a reward of £500. Does it? I don't think so, and I think the syndicate will make a great "discovery" when they have _ "exploited" a little further. Some nine years ago I wrote lip this particular trick for a gentleman in Wellington, Mr Bis. Shannon, and I enclose herewith a copy of it, which you can reprint if you think proper. Meantime Wellington playgoers have had an opportunity of seeing the trick for themselves, at the - Opera House, when presented by Maskelyne and Devant's touring company, although the box shown in the illusion was not Maskelyne's original one, as used in London. I make a copy of Mr Maskelyne's latest challenge, which speaks for itself, and which will take a lot of exploiting.—Yours magically, ROBERT KUDARZ.