Who was the Russian magician?



Anyone know anything more about that Russian magician who Derren talked about in VEnice? Alasandro someone-or-other...

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ITALIAN magician and alchemist Alessandro Donini

If anyone can find any webpages concerning him please share I haven't had any luck finding anything useful.

For those that don't know what this is about:
"In 1883 a relatively unknown italian magican and alchemist called Alessandro Donini chose the streets of venice for an incredible treasure hunt, he asked the count Giovanni Francesco to hide a necklace anywhere in the district of San Marco, and Alessandro's task was to find it. All of Venice was invited to watch and place their bets as to wether or not he could do it. Alessandro used a method called muscle reading, he had the count hold on to his wrist and felt for any tiny unconscious clues as to which way to go; he found the necklace in just under an hour and a half, it was a triumph and all the town's folk went *beep* mental!

When Donini did this, he did so to confirm his reputation as a miracle worker, following his success the story goes, he got very drunk with his friends and fell into the canal on the way home and drowned, ironically his body was never found."

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I probably shouldn't tell you this... Research the history of muscle reading and you will find your answer.

*clue* Check the DATE that it was discovered... and the country.

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