Excellent for press and publicity work is this very effective and out of the ordinary trick. The preparation is very simple and quickly done with a minimum of material, all of which is essential to modern magic.

Effect

The performer hands a spectator seven blank cards, one of which he is asked to take and write upon it the name of a dead person. He is then told to shuffle the seven cards and they are placed in an envelope, sealed up and the envelope initialed, whereupon the spectator may pocket it. Then seven more blank cards are shown and examined. These are sealed and the envelope initialed and held. The ‘Death Flight’ takes place when the performer causes the dead name card to travel from one envelope to the other. Upon opening the first, only six cards are found, all blank. In the second envelope are found eight cards and the dead name card among them!

Requirements

A packet of blank cards; a packet of small envelopes which will hold the cards neatly; a pencil.

Preparation

Place six blank cards in one of the envelopes, seal it and place it second from the top of the packet of envelopes, they all being flap side down. In the top envelope place a single blank card.

Operation

Count out seven cards and give them to a spectator. He selects any of them and writes upon it a dead name. Then have him mix them up with the writing side of the dead name card down. You have taken the top envelope from the stack. Take the cards, insert them in the envelope (a single blank card is already there) and hand the envelope to him for sealing. As he does this, pick up the stack and the pencil. Take the envelope back and place it on the top of the packet with the flap side down. Ask his initials, turn the two top envelopes over and write his initials on the back. Slide this envelope from the packet and hand him to pocket. The spectator thinks he has his own envelope but really he has the one with six blank cards.

Hand the second spectator seven cards which he counts and examines. They are sealed by him in an envelope which you take, this time, from underneath the stack. Take the sealed envelope back, placing it on the top like before. Ask this person’s initials, turn over the top two as one and write them on the back. This envelope (containing eight cards and the dead name) is then given to the spectator to pocket.

As far as you are concerned the trick is over except for the subsequent ‘blarney’ to build up the passage of the dead name. When the first envelope is opened only six blank cards are found. The second envelope is opened and found to contain eight cards and the dead name is there!