Magician Suffers Burns in Failed Escape Trick

A magician was burned in a bungled escape trick staged in his backyard after he was denied a permit to perform it in public, but police said they were unaware he would attempt the stunt at home.

David Lee Schneider, 32, whose stage name is David Lee, was unable to pull off the escape Friday night. He suffered second-degree and third-degree burns chained inside a burning cage, police said, and was in fair condition Saturday in St. Nicholas Hospital.