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The death of Lafayette bio The Great Lafayette aka Sigmund Neuberger or Sigmund Newburger was born in 1872 in Germany and died 9 May 1911 in Edinburgh. He was a famous illusionist known as the Great Lafayette. He was the highest paid magician of his time. His family moved to the US early in his life. In a freak accident, Lafayette was performing his signature illusion, the Lion's Bride. An electrical fault in a lamp above the performer caused a fire. The elaborate set went up in flames in minutes. The audience, thinking that this was part of the illusion did not evacuate until the theatre manager signalled the orchestra to play 'God Save the King'. Ten of the players of The Great Lafayette perished in the fire. The body of Lafayette was soon found and sent to Glasgow for cremation, however two days after the fire, workers were clearing the understage area and found another body identically dressed as Lafayette. It turned out that the body in the crematorium was that of the