Foreign News: End of EI Fakir

When Mexico’s thin, redheaded El Fakir was unnailed from the simulated cross on which he had spent 488 hours, 45 minutes (TIME, Sept. 27) and taken to the Sanatorio Mexicano, Catholic nuns refused to minister to him. He rested four days; then, against doctor’s orders, rose and walked to his hotel. That evening he strolled abroad with his three dogs. Half an hour later he was dead.

The more devout said that God had struck El Fakir down for imitating Christ. Doctors, viewing the body, found an embolism (obstruction in the blood stream), said that El Fakir had paid the price of getting out of bed too soon.