The Five Card Stabbing Mystery
Annemann

This is a feat that even to magicians and informed card men will appear impossible. In effect, five cards are selected and returned to deck which is subjected to a number of genuine shuffles, the cards being actually mixed and no location of any being kept. After being spread across table faces down, the performer, blindfolded, stabs with a knife the selected cards one by one. What is more, he STABS THEM IN THE ORDER SELECTED (OR IN ANY ORDER CALLED FOR), locating each spectator's actual card without any chance of failure. The cards may be marked upon selection by the drawers.

Explanation

The deck is ordinary as it comes from the factory. But it is of a type known as "singleenders." In other words, where a distinguishing imperfection in the design will show when a card is turned opposite end to the others that are arranged all one way. The best cards for this effect is that known as the "Rider Back" of Bicycle Cards. The distinguishing mark is in a very CONVENIENT position in this pack--being near the UPPER LEFT CORNER, where a loop ends in a curl at one end--and in a small WHITE DOT at the other end. Therefore, a reversed card in a pack can IMMEDIATELY be found when the cards are spread on table faces down from LEFT TO RIGHT, this corner showing on each card for about half an inch. (SEE ILLUSTRATION--ENLARGED.)

With the cards all set one way, the deck can be subjected to indefinite overhand shuffles and end to end riffle shuffles without disturbing the simple arrangement. The deck is then fanned faces down for selections, the spectators being asked to draw cards out, note and hold the cards against themselves to avoid showing them. This also tends to prevent them handling or TURNING their cards. Five are thus removed. Going back to the first, the performer TURNS HIS PACK end for end for the replacing of the cards. Thus it will be seen that these five cards are the only ones turned around in the pack and thus discernible from the others.

In having them replaced, however, it is done as follows: The first card is replaced near center, performer lifting off half the deck for the return of the card, and NOTING THE APPROXIMATE POSITION of the cut, and closing deck squarely. Attention is called that it is not possible for performer to keep track of the cards as replaced. On going to the second, however, and in FANNING the deck, the performer fans it at ABOUT THIS SPOT and the reverse mark immediately is seen. Then performer merely separates the deck JUST BELOW this first reversed card--and has second card replaced UNDER IT.

This, of course, is unknown to audience. Deck is again squared before next is replaced. This is continued with all--so that in reality all five cards are together near center of deck IN SAME ORDER as selected, from the top down!

After the fifth card has been placed in deck and pack squared, the performer mentions the blindfold, and states that the cards for the test will be spread on table faces down. In speaking, he illustrates his remarks by spreading the pack out. Next, in picking them up, he scoops them from RIGHT TO LEFT until he reaches the FIRST REVERSED CARD of the five, when he squares up this half of packet and drops on table. He then scoops up the remaining half of the cards, squares them up and drops on top. This is perfectly natural. Now, the FIVE SELECTED CARDS ARE ON TOP OF DECK AND IN ORDER!

The blindfold is now placed across eyes, but on account of the space near the nose, it is possible for him to look downward and see along the sides of his nose and see the surface of table. Performer asks that he be handed deck (he does not pick it up as he is blindfolded) and states that WHILE BEING UNABLE TO SEE he will give deck a THOROUGH MIXING. Very openly and slowly he gives the deck three genuine riffle or dove-tail shuffles thoroughly mixing them.

How? It is to be remembered that the five cards are on TOP OF DECK at start. When the deck is cut for the shuffle, it is cut about twenty (20) cards from the bottom each time. And this lower portion is shuffled into the upper half. Thus the five cards near top may be broken between BUT THEY REMAIN IN THEIR SAME RESPECTIVE ORDER. That is, from the top down, regardless of the number of cards BETWEEN EACH--the FIRST reversed card will be the FIRST man's. The SECOND will be the SECOND'S, etc.

This genuine shuffle, while blindfolded, is what makes one of the baffling points of the trick. DO NOT CUT THE DECK.

Now, spread the cards from LEFT TO RIGHT, faces down. The knife is handed performer who asks one of the gentlemen to stand (performer knows the order of the selectors and where they are sitting).

Waving the knife around, the performer locates the reversed card belonging to this particular man, whether the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th. He picks around with knife, finally stabbing the card. The man standing is then asked to name his card. The performer lifts the knife and shows that very card on the point of knife.

This is continued with the others, and each card found successfully. At the end, everything may be examined as there is nothing to find wrong with the cards.

Addenda

Most packs of this brand of cards are found in the correct arrangement when direct from the factory. However, this is not always true, there being at times, two, three or four reversed. The fact that this can be worked as given with practically untouched cards that have never been tampered with and which are not faked throughout the trick, crimped, marked or mutilated, and also the fact that there are no sleights or unseen moves made, makes it a masterpiece of its kind.