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Crime Solver

Written by holavaguy on . Posted in Magic Tricks.

This trick is based on a mathematical principle in Paul Curry’s “World Beyond,” from which Paul Curry inspired his trick from Martin Gardner’s “Mathematics, Magic and Mystery” (1995). 

EFFECT:

A spectator is asked to be a detective to solve a crime. The spectator is given a prediction to hold until the end of the trick and 6 folded sheets of paper with names of rooms printed on each sheet (Figures 1-6). Each sheet has a clip attached, and the spectator is asked to place each folded sheet on a board in any one of six positions labeled A, B, C, D, E, or F. The spectator is given a crime solver script to read. As the spectator reads the script, the magician moves, exchange or removes rooms from the board.  

During the reading of the script, rooms given to the magician are unfolded to reveal pictures of a Corpse, the Butler, Uncle John, Aunt Emma and the Maid. Before the last reaming room on the board is unfolded, the spectator is asked to read the prediction which states that the last room will be the Basement and will solve the crime. The magician unfolds the last room to reveal a picture of a MURDERER. Case solved.

PROPS REQUIRED:

  1. Six pictures of characters. On the back of each picture write the name of the following rooms: LIBRARY, BASEMENT, ATTIC, BEDROOM, LIVING ROOM & KITCHEN  as shown in figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6.
  2. 15-inch x 18-inch hard poster board
  3.  Picture of a house (Fig. 7) with 6 positions labeled A, B, C, D, E & F (Fig. 7)
  4. Go to www.HolavaMagic.com, click on “my magic” and “linking Ring pictures” and print all of the pictures required for this routine.  
  5. Glue the picture of house (Fig. 7) onto the poster board..
  6. A manila envelope with the Crime Solver script printed on both sides: side A (Fig. 11) and a side B (fig.12)
  7. An envelope with the following prediction: “The murderer will be found in the last room  remaining — The Basement.”
  8. Six small, clear plastic Hooks with adhesive backing are available at Home Depot.
  9. A clip board.

         LIBRARY          BASEMENT                 ATTIC                    BEDROOM             LIVING ROOM       KITCHEN    

            Fig. 1                         Fig. 2                       Fig. 3                           Fig. 4                           Fig. 5                      Fig. 6  

                   Fig. 7                                  Fig. 8                               Fig. 9                                  Fig. 10                                             

Set-up

You should only move or switch rooms up, down, or diagonally if no up or down as shown in Fig 13.

SET UP

  1. Prepare the poster board by attaching the 6 clear plastic hooks at the top of each window on the house so that when a folded 8×11 sheet of paper is clipped and hung, the alphabet letters, next to the folded papers, can be seen (see example in Figure 8).
  2. Fold the 6 pictures in half twice so that the names of a room are shown and attach a clip to each folded picture.
  3. Place the crime solver script in the large manila envelop with side A showing when the envelope is opened. On the inside flap of the envelope, write which side to use, based on the position of the ATTIC on the board as shown in Figs. 8 & 9. (The spectator never gets to see the flap of the envelope).

PRESENTATION:

You explain to the audience that you would like a volunteer to help you solve a crime and find the murderer.

  1. Give the spectator the prediction envelope to hold and the six clipped, folded sheets of paper. With the room names showing, have the spectator hang each folded sheet of paper at any position on the board  (A, B, C, D, E, or F). NO FORCE.
  2. Note the position of the ATTIC; Figures 8 & 9 show the possible outcomes for the positions of the Attic on the board. It is the position of the ATTIC that determines which side of the script (side A or side B) to use in solving the crime. You will also note that The Picture of the Murderer is the BASEMENT; that at the conclusion of the routine will always end up on the board at position “D.”
  3. Remove the appropriate script side (A or B) from the manila envelope and clip it to the clipboard. (Note: As you lift the flap of the manila envelope, note which side, “A” or “B”, should be placed on the clipboard. In the example shown in Fig 8, side “B” would be placed on the clipboard (place both the manila envelope and the instruction sheet on the clipboard). Give the clipboard to the spectator to read the script to solve the crime.
  4. As the spectator reads the script, you will be asked to switch, move, or eliminate a room (see fig. 10 for possible moves). As you are asked to eliminate a room, unfold the sheet to reveal one of the six characters above and explain that the character in the room is a suspect but not the person who committed the crime.
  5. You will end up with one rom left on the board at a position.  At this point, ask the spectator to open and read the prediction.
  6. Have the spectator unfold the last room to show the murderer. Thank him and ask the audience to give a round of applause for the spectator solving the crime.

                                       Fig. 11                                                                             Fig. 12

Note: To have fun with this routine, you can have the spectator wear a hat and a trench coat to look like a detective.