J. Gordon Whitehead

J. Gordon Whitehead is infamous as the man who sucker-punched magician Harry Houdini in the stomach on October 22, 1926, leading to Houdini's death nine days later.

At the time of this incident, Whitehead had been a McGill University student in Montreal. Despite the fact that there were witnesses to the event, Whitehead was never arrested. He himself had to submit an affidavit to the New York Life Insurance Company , who needed proof of the incident in order for Houdini's widow, Bess Houdini , to collect money under the double indemnity clause.

Whitehead remained obscure, until writer Don Bell began his own investigation into Houdini's mysterious murderer. His findings were published (2004) in the book "The Man Who Killed Houdini" (Véhicule Press , Montreal), in which the only known photograph of Whitehead exists. Through interviews with people who knew Whitehead, Bell established that Whitehead lived a life of failure and pathos. Whitehead died of malnutrition in 1954. He is buried in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal.

External Links

• Toronto Star book review with details on Whitehead