Personal Effects, Including His Dramatic Library, Main Assets Left by Magician

A deficit of $7,110 in the estate of Harry Houdini, magician, was shown in the transfer tax appraisal filed yesterday at the State Tax Commission. Mr. Houdini, who died on Oct. 31, 1926, left assets appraised at $69,955, but these were insufficient to meet the debts and expenses totaling $77,065. Debts amounted to $46,367.

The principal asset in the estate was $34,356 in personal effects. These included Mr. Houdini’s dramatic library, valued at $31,502, which he left to the Library of Congress and which has already gone to that institution. The library included the Diary of David Garrick, $1,000; a collection of play bills, $5,000; a collection of autograph letters, $2,500; a Testimonial to William Winter, with autographs of many celebrated persons, $2,500, and a Bible with the signature of Martin Luther, $3,000.

Mr. Houdini, who was formerly known as Erich Weiss, left to his brother, Theodore P. Weiss, known professionally as Hardeen, his illusions and magical apparatus, with the provision that they were to be destroyed at his brother’s death. The collection was valued at $533, including a $200 elephant trick, a $50 table illusion and a section of a Noah’s Ark illusion of the same value.

Mr. Houdini named his wife, Mrs. Wilhelmina Rahner Houdini, 67 Payson Avenue, and his five brothers and sisters as principal beneficiaries in his will.

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