FAMILY OF HOUDINI'S WIDOW OPPOSE PLANS TO EXHUME HIS REMAINS

LATEST: The family of HARRY HOUDINI's widow are seeking to block plans to exhume the escape artist's remains. Houdini's great nephew GEORGE HARDEEN last week (23MAR07) launched a campaign to have the body removed from its grave, but has been met with opposition over claims it is a publicity stunt. Houdini died on Halloween (31OCT) 1926 at the age of 52, allegedly after receiving a punch to the stomach, rupturing his appendix - but reports persist the illusionist was murdered. But JOHN and JEFFREY BLOOD, the grandnephews of Bess Houdini, refuse to have the legendary illusionist's body dug up - 81 years after he died - because they do not believe the media hype surrounding Houdini's death as suspicious. In a statement, the Blood brothers said, "It is our firm belief that Bess Houdini would never approve of this. "The family believes this is likely being done to promote sales of a recent book on Harry Houdini, suggesting he may have been murdered."