On Oct. 22, 1926, a McGill University student struck magician Harry Houdini several times in the stomach in his dressing room at the Princess Theater in Montreal, History.com and Snopes reported. Houdini died nine days later.

Houdini was already hurt when he arrived in Montreal. He had broken his ankle earlier that month during his famous Water Torture Cell escape in Albany, New York, both History.com and Snopes reported. Against doctors' orders, he kept touring and gave a lecture at McGill.

Days later, some McGill students visited him backstage. One of them, J. Gordon Whitehead, asked whether it was true that punches to the stomach did not hurt him, History.com reported. Houdini was lying on a couch. A witness later said Whitehead struck him with "four or five terribly forcible, deliberate, well-directed blows."

Another witness, Jack Price, said Houdini "looked as though he was in extreme pain and winced as each blow was struck," according to an account quoted by Snopes. Houdini later said he had no chance to brace himself.

By that afternoon, Houdini had severe stomach pain, Snopes reported. He still did more shows and then took a train to Detroit. A doctor there found he had a fever of 104 degrees and suspected appendicitis, History.com said. Houdini went on stage anyway.

Surgeons later found that his appendix had burst. He died on Oct. 31, 1926, Halloween, at age 52. The official cause was peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix, History.com reported.

His doctors at the time believed the blows caused the illness, History.com said. But many scholars now think it is more likely the punches led Houdini to ignore appendicitis he already had, History.com reported. Snopes also said the punch story's claim of cause and effect is likely not correct.

The true cause may never be known for sure, History.com said.

What we know: A student punched Houdini in Montreal on Oct. 22, 1926, and Houdini died of peritonitis on Oct. 31.
What we don't: Whether the punches had anything to do with his burst appendix.