MYSTERIOUS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1832, 28 May 1918, Page 1

MYSTERIOUS.

END OP CHUNG LING SOO. Mystery surrounds the death of Chung Ling Soo, the well-known music-hall magician, who was shot on the stage at the Wood Green Empire on Saturday night, March 23rd (says a London paper). Chung Ling Soo died in the Wood Green Hospital the next day from a wound in the chest.

The drama of the tragedy was such that the people in the audience imagined that it was a part of the performance.

One of the tricks ■included in the “turn*” in which his assistant rendered help, involved the tiring of a pistol, and it was at this stage that Chung Ling Soo was injured. He lived only a few hours after being taken to hospital. Mr F. Kametaro, stage manager to Soo (who was an Englishman), said in an interview: “I was on the stage with two other assistants at the time. They both had guns, and we called for a committee from the audience, as usual. Two soldiers came up and examined the bullets and the powder. I directed them to go into a corner, out of the way, and on receiving the cue from Mr Soo, I gave the order to lire.

“Mr Soo had a china plate with which he was supposed to deflect the bullets. Both assistants fired, and a gentleman in the audience stood up and said something to Mr Soo. When the second order was given the gentleman stood up again. “After the bullets were fired, Mr Soo usually staggered, and when he fell I thought it was the usual performance. On this occasion Mr Soo called out, ‘Oh, my God,’ and on going to him we found that the bullets had passed right through him.” it is understood that the deception in the trick was that the bullets placed in the guns do not leave the muzzle, but by a device in the mechanism remain in.the gun. Why, on this occasion, the bullet was pro-

joetod is not at present known. Chung' Ling Son’s real nnmo was Robinson, and he was horn in Birmingham about HO years ago. During his youth ho was apprentieed to an engineer, and in after life lie turned his meehanieal training to (lie fullest advantage for his wonderful (rieks.

Alter finishing his apprenticeship, he travelled for many years, and during his wanderings he picked up a knowledge of Chinese. This gave him the, idea of passing as a Chinaman when he went on the stage, and he was so successful in this that few people took him for anything else. Gome time ago he was performing at Carditt, and the Chinese residents and visitors gave him a dinner as one of their own countrymen. Chung Ling Goo delighted (hem with a speech in their native longue, and the dinner was a great success. Chung Ling Goo was one of the most brilliant conjurers and jugglers who have ever appeared before the music-hall public. For years past he has been a “star” turn, earning a salary of £IOO to £l5O a week. All the time he was on the stage he never uttered a word, and. at the same time ho cultivated the Oriental smile “that is child-like and bland” so well that none of (hose present imagined they were watching the clever tricks of an Englishman. Mr Robinson was a prominent Freemason, and his home was in Barnes, where he had an up-to-date workshop in which he made and improved the complicated apparatus for his tricks.