Houdini's Detective and her 1500 Dead Husbands (Part 2)

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

Pushkin Industries

Society & Culture, History

4.7 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 21 March 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Harry Houdini finds an ally in his fight against spiritualism, a brilliant detective called Rose Mackenberg, who'll do whatever it takes to expose a fake. Together, the two head to Washington to try and get lawmakers to criminalise mediums. The hearing that follows will be violent, sensational and leave Houdini fearing for his life.

This is the second of a three-part series.

For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Pushkin.
0:10.8	This is the second episode of a three-part series.
0:15.1	You can enjoy it on a standalone basis,
0:17.9	but if you've not heard episode one,
0:20.0	you might prefer to listen to it first.
0:25.2	The tearful young widow in a cheap-looking dress was desperate to get in touch with her recently
0:32.0	deceased husband, she explained to Mr Herman Parker, one of the leading spiritualist mediums in Chicago.
0:39.8	Mr. Parker could help with that, for a fee, of course.
0:44.4	He settled down, closed his eyes, and went into a trance.
0:50.9	I am in touch with a man.
0:54.0	Yes, it's your husband.
0:56.7	He says he is happy but misses you.
0:59.9	I think he is leaving us now.
1:02.8	Parker opened his eyes.
1:05.2	He's gone?
1:06.7	Oh, but I did so want to ask him what to do with the money.
1:10.5	The money?
1:11.9	Yes, the widow explained.
1:13.7	The settlement for his death.
1:15.6	$3,000.
1:18.1	Perhaps I can get your husband back, said Mr. Parker.
1:22.6	He closed his eyes again.
	...

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