Sherlock
Holmes and 'The Kiss of Death'
Copyright 2005 Peter C. Shumway
Chapter 1 - The Reality of Illusion
Reprint from the evening edition of the London Times:
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London, England - June 25,
1883 ---------- Magician Hanged It was a horrifying public display. For the men and women who stood in
Grosvenor Square the noise was almost deafening. The resounding shrill from the steel buzz-saw reverberated
across Hyde Park as it echoed down the adjoining streets. The saw spun violently on the end of a
huge pendulum, which swung slowly back and forth above a wooden table. The table with the saw mounted above it
stood upon a raised platform erected in the centre of the square. With each passing swing of the giant pendulum,
dozens of outraged Londoners screamed for the terror to end. A woman had been tied down upon the table
and part of her dress was ripped to expose her middle. The table was slowly raised up to the
swinging saw until the steel blade slammed into her soft abdomen. The ringing sound of the saw changed to a
muffled grind as it dug into her exposed flesh. Diced chicken intestines were sprayed in a hideous rooster-tail
pattern out across the crowd. The
spectators were shocked and disgusted.
Each time the swinging buzz-saw found its mark, blood spewed and
people screamed. (continued on page 23) |
Reprint from page 23 of the London Times:
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(continued from page 1) Magician
Hanged Menton loved realism. And aside from his infamous 'Kiss of Death' illusion, which he
always saved for the finale, the 'Buzz-saw Pendulum' was his favorite effect
to perform. "It is an odd matter
indeed," Menton once told reporters, "the more horrid the illusion,
the more realistic it becomes to the audience. They forget it is just an illusion." In spite of the verbal protests from the audience,
the magician gave the iron wheel another turn, which raised the table even
closer to the swinging saw. The spinning
blade dug deeper into the woman's ruptured abdomen and the spectators were
again showered with blood. Several
women fainted. People began throwing rocks, bottles, and other
assorted materials at the evil magician.
After several passes of the buzz-saw, a group of large angry men
climbed up on the raised stage. They
jumped upon the 'Master of Magic' and wrestled him to the floor. One of the men carried with him a coil of
thick rope. One |
end of the rope was quickly fastened to the stage
and the other end was tied into a noose and forced over Menton's head. The woman lying upon the table with her insides
ripped apart decided to take action.
She stopped the swinging buzz-saw, tossed aside the fake abdomen,
jumped off the table and tried to pull the men off her brother. Her scratching, biting efforts proved
futile. The men dragged Menton to the
edge of the stage and lifted him up above their heads. Several policemen tried to climb up the
side of the platform to stop the chaos but were immediately pulled back down
by the mob of spectators. Then the real horror began. The vigilantes tossed Menton with the
noose secured around his neck over the side of the stage. The magician flopped about for a full
agonizing minute while the riotous crowd rejoiced. They cheered and applauded as Menton kicked his legs and gasped
for breath. Then his neck stretched,
his face contorted and his body went limp It was his final performance. |
