THE YORKSHIRE POST

Leeds, Yorkshire, England

23 September 1932

(page 3)

WOMAN’S BOOK.

Interim Injunction Asked For.

In the Vacation Court yesterday, Mr. Justice Lawrence had before him a motion for an interim injunction to restrain the further circulation of a book entitled “Laughing Torso,” by Nina Hamnett, published by Messrs. Constable and Company, Ltd., and printed by Messrs. Charles Whittingham and Griggs, Ltd. Plaintiff in the action is Mr. Edward Alexander Crowley, an author.

Mr. C. Gallop (for plaintiff) said that 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, on pages 69 and 173.

“As far as I have been able to gather,” said Mr. Gallop, “this is a sort of autobiographical work, but it includes what I suppose are intended to be interesting anecdotes about a diversity of persons, and among them Mr. Crowley. 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.”

“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. The printers had printed and delivered to Messrs. Constable all the copies it was proposed to print. It had not been proposed to issue a second edition.

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.

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.

After further discussion, Mr. Justice Lawrence said that on the undertaking given the matter would stand over until October 5.