1926: There's no escape for this magician who dies following a rupture of his appendix
Although Houdini's death at the age of 52 on Halloween had been blamed on 
peritonitis due to a ruptured appendix, no autopsy was done at the time and ... 
Police recovered the bust after officers went to Chotowicky's home to execute a 
search ... His escape tricks were well received, and he became a star.