Willis

Willis
Born	?
Died	?
Flourished	1800s

Willis (fl. 1800s), a magician and ventriloquist, was a veteran of the Civil War who had been wounded in his arm.

Biography

He was assisted by a young Frederick Eugene Powell several nights when he was giving performances in Chester, Pennsylvania. His principal trick consisted of thrusting a knife through his wrist, and while blood was flowing freely would go among the audience to allow very close scrutiny of both the knife and his wrist.