THE DAILY EXPRESS

London, England

23 September 1932

(page 7)

TWO AUTHORS IN COURT DISPUTE.

ALEISTER CROWLEY SENSATION.

COMPLAINT ABOUT WOMAN'S BOOK.

'VULGAR PASSAGES'

Miss Nina Hamnett.

In the Vacation Court yesterday, Mr. Justice Lawrence had before him a motion to restrain the further publication of a book entitled "Laughing Torso," by Nina Hamnett, published by Messrs. Constable and Co., Ltd., and printed by Messrs. Charles Whittingham and Griggs. Ltd.

The motion was supported by Mr. C. Gallop, on behalf of Mr. Edward Alexander Crowley, living at Albemarle Court, Piccadilly, an author, the plaintiff in the action.

Mr. Gallop said that the book "Laughing Torso," was the work of Miss Nina Hamnett, who was a defendant to the action. The other defendants were the publishers and printers.

Mr. Crowley was an author who wrote under the style of Aleister Crowley, and he complained of passages in the book, "and in particular," said Mr. Gallop, "of passages which I have not the slightest intention of reading in this court, unless obliged to do so.

"There is not a word of truth in what is written. It is indecent, vulgar, and ignorant. Mr. Crowley has sworn an affidavit that only within recent days has his attention been drawn to passages in the book, and he denies that there is a word of truth in the book."

"SOME VOGUE"

Mr. Gallop added that he found it extremely difficult to understand how the book came to be written. The publishers and printers, he felt sure, were going to deal with the matter in a manner which one would expect from firms of their high reputation. What the attitude of the author might be he did not know.

The present motion was only for an interim injunction to restrain the further circulation of the book until the trial of the action, or further order. But in the action Mr. Crowley asked for the delivery up of all available copies for the purpose of their being destroyed.

"I am instructed that this book has some vogue," said Mr. Gallop. "Apparently there are people who find it interesting, and the sale of the first edition has been exhausted, or is in the process of exhaustion, and apparently there is in contemplation a second edition.

Mr. Upjohn, for the publishers and printers of the book, said that within ten minutes of their being served with the writ and the notice of motion, Messrs. Constable suspended its publication. He was willing to give an undertaking not to continue publication until further order, and he hoped that the matter might be disposed of without further troubling the court.

NO SECOND EDITION

With regard to the printers, they had printed and delivered to Messrs. Constable all the copies it was proposed to print. As to the future sale of the book, he was instructed that it had not been proposed to issue a second edition.

Mr. Gallop: So far as the publishers and printers are concerned I am content with the undertaking.

Mr. Martin O'Connor for Miss Hamnett, asked that the motion against her might stand over for a week as the solicitor instructing him had only been consulted the previous day, and it was desired to have time to consider the matter.

"If a certain course cannot be taken with regard to substantial justification," said Mr. O'Connor, "I could not resist the granting of an injunction."

Mr. Justice Lawrence: If the publishers give the undertaking there will be no further sale of the book.

Mr. O'Connor said Miss Hamnett was not disposing of any copies, and had none to dispose of.

Mr. Gallop said that if the undertaking were forthcoming he had no objection to a week's delay, and after further discussion Mr. Justice Lawrence said that on the undertaking given the matter would stand over until October 5.