Walter Scott

Walter Irving Scott (July 1, 1895 - May 12, 1995), born in Providence, Rhode Island was a card sharp that baffled many leading magicians in the 1930s and 40s.

Walter Scott
Born	July 01, 1895 Providence, Rhod Island
Died	May 12, 1995 (age 99)

In 1930, Walter Scott, then an unknown card hustler, was brought in to do a demonstration for leading magicians of the time. After Scott was blindfolded, one of the men watching shuffled and cut a pack of cards and handed it to Scott. Blindfolded, he proceeded to deal out six hands of five-card draw poker, and in his hand were four aces and a king. None of the magicians present saw how it had been done, earning Scott the nickname "The Phantom of the Card table", and many believed that his skills rivaled that of Dai Vernon. However the only magician not present that night was Dai Vernon.

References

• The Phantom of the Card Table by Eddie McGuire (1930), reprint in The Linking Ring, Nov & Dec 1953.
• Phantoms of the Card Table by David Britland and Gazzo (2003).
• Article Genii 1980 June