The Royal Schöffengericht, the third "Ferienstrafkammer," found Werner
Graff guilty of slandering Houdini, and the Oberlandesgericht Court
also find that the Royal Schöffengericht was justified in finding Graff
guilty of the charges. Werner Graff is guilty of "Openly Slandering"
Houdini, for being the chief instigator of the article which he caused
to be inserted in the _Rheinische Zeitung_ July 25, 1901, number of
edition 170, and the head-lines which read "Houdini, the world-famous
Handcuff Releaser." Being found guilty of the above charge, Werner
Graff is fined 30 marks in money, and should he fail to pay the sum
fine, he will serve a day in prison for every 5 marks; and is also
fined to pay all costs of the three trials.
[Illustration: Houdini, as Handcuffed by the Vienna Police, March,
1902.]
Houdini has the right to publish the verdict one time in the Cologne
newspapers at the cost of Schutzman Werner Graff.
For the rightful writing of this verdict, we sign as responsibilities,
Coln, Oct. 24, 1902. Stock Sekretar.
Gerichtsschreiber des Kgl. Amtsgericht Abtlg VI.--9.
Signed for Houdini,
Rechtsanwalt Dr. Schreiber Köln.
* * * * *
It will be of interest to note that Houdini has escaped out of prisons
and cells in the following cities:
New York, W. 125th Street Police Station, W. 68th Street Police
Station, and W. 37th Street; Brooklyn, N. Y.; Newark, N. J.; Salem,
Mass.; Lowell, Mass.; Rochester, N. Y.; Baltimore; Washington (3
different places); Detroit, Mich.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Providence,
R. I.; Kansas City; Buffalo, N. Y.; and Chicago, Ill.; Amsterdam,
Hague; Dordrecht, Holland; Moscow, Russia; Halifax; Bradford;
Leicester; Burnley; Leeds; Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Sheffield; Liverpool;
South Shields; Salford; Huddersfield; Manchester; St. Helens;
Stockton-on-Tees; Eastbourne; Newport, Mon.
Space prohibits the publication of all certificates from the various
chiefs of police, but a few are selected, which follow:
Chief Constable's Office,
Sheffield, Jan. 19, 1904.
This is to certify that Mr. Harry Houdini was this day
stripped stark naked and locked in the cell which once
contained Charles Peace. The cell was searched and
triple-locked, but Mr. Houdini released himself and
redressed in five minutes, having also opened the iron gate
of the corridor.
Charles J. Scott, Commander (R.N.)
Chief Constable, Sheffield.
Witness to the foregoing feat,
George H. Barker, Deputy Chief Constable.
[Illustration: An exceedingly rare photograph of Charles Peace,
shrewdest, most dangerous and notorious criminal in the annals of Crime
in Great Britain. Peace broke jail a number of times but failed to
escape from this cell in Sheffield. He was hanged at the Armley jail.
Houdini escaped from this cell, as Chief Constable Scott's certificate
on page 12 shows.]
May 10, 1903.
Harry Houdini was made to disrobe, and in a nude condition
was locked into the Moscow transportation cell or carette,
and in less than 20 minutes he had managed to make his
escape. The searching Houdini had to submit to in the hands
of the secret Russian police was the severest he has ever
had to undergo. Never in the history of the Russian police
has any one been able to escape out of this or any other
transportation carette. This feat was accomplished in the
presence of Chief of the Secret Police Cos, Lebadeff.
Houdini was booked for one month in Moscow, but after this feat he was
prolonged for four months, and proved the greatest sensation that ever
visited Russia.
* * * * *
From the German police Houdini possesses certificates from the cities
of Berlin, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Essen Ruhr, Barmen, Bremen, Dortmund,
Leipzig, Frankfort A/M, Hanover, etc.; but the following is the
principal one: