‘He Has Not Come,’ She Says at Hollywood Test on Tenth Anniversary of Death

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Oct. 31 (AP)–Although it was paged over a thunderous public address system, the spirit of Harry Houdini failed to appear at a public séance tonight, on the tenth anniversary of his death.

“He has not come,” sobbed his widow, Beatrice Houdini. “I turn out the light.”

She touched the switch on a little electric light which she said had been burning steadily over the picture of the great magician ever since his death.

The séance, held on the roof of a Hollywood hotel, was attended by more than 200 persons, including newspaper men, newsreel crews and the attendants for a temporary radio station.

Seated in a half circle were twelve members of an “inner circle.” At its apex there was a long table. Mrs. Houdini and her associate, Edward Saint, the magician, were placed at opposite ends.

Mr. Saint spoke over a public address system that made his voice audible blocks away.

“Harry, Harry! Are you there?” he cried. “Speak to us, Harry. Give us some sign. We have waited so long.”

Mrs. Houdini joined in the appeal, but no answer came.

In arranging for the séance Mrs. Houdini had expressed hope that she might receive a code message from her husband which they had agreed upon as a test of survival after death. She explained that she was not a spiritualist and that previous efforts with mediums had failed.

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