A MARVELLOUS PRISON-BREAKER

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1675, 6 April 1904, Page 57

A MARVELLOUS PRISON-BREAKER

ANOTHER HOUDIXI ADVENTURE,

Harry Iloudini, the “Hand-cuff King” and prison-bieaker, avlio lias been fulfilling -engagements at the principal English provincial music-halls, and whose extraordinary escapades' ait Sheffield Avere recently recorded, has succeeded in obtaining another testimonial from a chief constable, this time at Liverpool. He Avas stripped naked as before, handcuffed Avith three pairs of handcuffs, locked in the strongest cell in the BrideAve.il, and in a few minutes he was free again. A variation in his programme at Liverpool, according to the “Express,” Avas !o open the doors of other cells in the corridor) and when in No. 14 he confronted a prisoner. The latter, an Irishman just recovering from drunken : bout, said Avhen he had sufficiently recovered from tho shock, “Arrah! I thought it Avas the divil!”

Before going to greet tlie head constable and the other officials, who were waiting his return, Houdini put the occupant of cell 14< into the next one. and when the gaolers found out what had happened, they had to ask the aichof Hondini to unfasten the door, so securely had the Irishman been locked in. Houdini left the Bridewell the proud possessor of the following document: “I certify that to-day Mr. Harry Houdini showed his'abilities in releasing himself from restraint. He had three pairs of handcuffs, one a very pair, placed round his wrists, and Jjas placed in a nude state in a cell which had been previously searched. Within six minutes lie was free from the handcuffs, had open ed the cell door, and had opened the doors of all the other cells in the corridor, had changed a prisoner from one cell to another, and had so- securely locked him in that he had to be asked to unlock ilie door.—(Signed) Leonard Dunning, Head Constable!, Liverpool.”

And now the warders are probably cudigellinar their brains to know wlmr kind

of Avails really would a prison make to this agile gentleman should it ever be necessary to curtail his liberty!