<P> The magician then saws right through the centre of the box, dividing it into two . The sections are pulled slightly apart and the assistant's torso is visible . The impression is that the saw blade must have passed through the assistant's midriff . The assistant is then released from the box and is revealed to be unharmed . This was the illusion performed at the Finsbury Park Empire theatre in London on 17 January 1921 . </P> <P> Goldin presented several sawing illusions that involved a box . To audiences they all appeared largely similar but they involved differing methods, which were steadily improved as time went on and as earlier methods were exposed . His first performance was at the Society of American Magicians annual banquet at the McAlpin Hotel, New York, on 3 June 1921 . On that occasion the trick was not well received . The box he used was large and not very deceptive and instead of an attractive woman he employed a bellboy as an assistant . The impression given was that he was clumsily and hurriedly trying to cash in on Selbit's success in Britain . However, fellow magician Howard Thurston, who was in the audience, realised the potential of the trick and persuaded Goldin to let him help in its development . </P> <P> Thurston employed an established magician and prop builder named Harry Jansen to perfect the illusion . Jansen's improved version of the apparatus featured a smaller box from which the victim's head and feet would protrude during the sawing . Goldin, Thurston and various other magicians employed by Goldin toured the United States performing this trick with great success at theatres belonging to the Keith - Orpheum group . Goldin had great promotional acumen and was fond of resorting to legal action to block anyone else, including Selbit, from competing with him in the USA . As a result, Goldin was sometimes wrongly credited as the originator of the sawing illusion . </P> <P> The basic form of Goldin's box sawings was as follows . The magician presents a box which is similar in size and proportion to that used in the Selbit sawing but which is already in a horizontal position . An assistant climbs into the box and lies down . In the process her head and hands are seen to emerge from holes in one end of the box and her feet from the other . The box is closed and then sawn through across the middle . Dividers are placed into the box either side of the cut and it is then pulled apart so the sections can be seen clearly separated . The assistant's head and hands are seen sticking out of one section and her feet out of the other . The box is then pushed together again and opened and the assistant emerges unharmed . </P>

How does the magician cut a person in half