Attention, Mentalists!

The perfect Living and Dead and all it is, is two gags combined and needs a showman but it's the berries. I use it, so you needn't read any further.

You hand person sheet of paper ruled into five spaces and have him write four living names and one dead, and tear into separate strips, fold and throw on table. They are put into glass tumbler and he shakes them and thinks of name. Throws them on table, you have several shudders made to order to fit the occasion, pick out the folded slip with dead name and TELL THE NAME WITHOUT OPENING. No impressions and nothing used except one sheet and pencil and glass!

Have sheet of paper and with pencil rule off so you have six places. Explain that you are going to have names written, and each piece torn off and to illustrate you tear off one piece and fold to show how. Now apparently stick piece in pocket but keep finger palmed in right hand. Tell him to write a dead name and then four living names, the dead name goes on slip with one machine cut edge and all the living names have rough torn edges, thanks to your tearing off one piece. As he throws down each folded piece after tearing you pick up and drop into glass but of course the straight edged one is switched in passing from left to right hand and the blank piece is dropped in and dead name is in left hand. There isn't a thing amiss because there are still 5 slips in glass and one of them is a straight edged and you can easily find it later to switch back. Have them shake them up and your left hand is below table on knee with paper unfolded, and you can read name when you shade eyes with right hand for a second to concentrate.

Refold paper and finger palm as they throw pieces on table. You shoot the bunk and then pick out the straight edged piece with right hand, apparently place in left and hold in plain view to forehead, but of course you merely make motions as usual and opened your left hand with paper there. Toss it to spectator to verify it is dead name and then you spell it out and everything is clear of all trickery.