Mindreader at the New Hippodrome

February 1937

Mexborough and Swinton Times February 12, 1937

A procession, which brought back to bystanders childhood memories of the Pied Piper of Hamlin leading the children of Hanover, wended its way down Mexborough High Street on Wednesday afternoon.

The central figure was “Nixon,” the mindreader who is appearing this week at the New Hippodrome, and the followers a number of curious residents.

Nixon had, earlier in the week, thrown out a challenge for anyone in the town to hide an article in the town, claiming that blindfolded and unaided he would be able to find it.

The challenge was accepted by Mr H Dews, chemist, of High Street, hoped thereby to compel Nixon to pay a forfeit of £10 to a local charity if he failed to find it. Mr Dews, having obtained permission from the manager of Messrs Woolworths stores, hid an article behind a pair of scales at the back of the store.

Just afternoon on Wednesday, Nixon, with his eyes well blindfolded, left the Hippodrome, closely followed by Mr Dews who had been asked to concentrate his thoughts on the position of the article, and behind him went a crowd of children and grown-ups.

Nixon made his way down High Street and at first he missed the “scent.” He got as far as the Empire Theatre and then crossed over and went a short way down West Street. He turned back until he came to Woolworths, stopped for a time at the door then passed into an adjoining shop. He returned to Woolworths however and after a short search in the shop, found the article without any apparent difficulty.

The search in all lasted about 45 minutes.