Illusionist of Death

From The Scotsman:

THIS is the story of magic and illusion, doppelgangers and death, creativity and confusion. It is the true story of a magician who died as he had lived, surrounded by mystery. Little is known about the early years of Sigmund Neuberger. He was born in 1872 in Munich and his family emigrated to America, where he first turns up in vaudeville as a crackshot with a bow and arrow. Then an outing to see the Chinese magician Ching Ling Foo opened his eyes to the spectacle of theatrical illusion. He next emerged in 1900s London, reincarnated as The Great Lafayette. The audience marvelled at his sleight of hand, going wild for his signature illusion "The Lion's Bride" – a 25-minute drama which saw Lafayette transform from a Turkish pasha to take the place of a real lion. It brought the house down.

Love The Scotsman newspaper. Excellent story well worth the click.