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THE DAILY INDEPENDENT Sheffield, Yorkshire, England 13 April 1934 (page 1, 5)
WOMAN ALLEGES “GROTESQUE AND MAD RITUAL.”
SACRIFICE OF CAT ALLEGED.
Man Said To Have Drunk Cup of Blood.
“BLACK MAGIC” SUIT EVIDENCE.
WOMAN DESCRIBES TEMPLE SCENE.
A woman witness in the libel suit over alleged references to “black magic” said yesterday in the High Court that she had witnessed the sacrifice of a cat.
She alleged the sacrifice took place in a villa at Cefalu (Sicily) known as the “Abbey of Thelema.”
Mr. Aleister Crowley, the author, is bringing an action for alleged libel against Miss Nina Hamnett, authoress of a book entitled “Laughing Torso,” which Mr. Crowley declared imputed he practised “black magic”.
Other defendants are Messrs. Constable and Co., Ltd., publishers, and Messrs. Charles Whittingham and Briggs, printers.
The defence is a plea of justification.
The first witness for the defence was Mrs. Betty Sedgwick [Betty May], formerly wife of Frederick Charles Loveday, who had been referred to in the case as Raoul Loveday.
She said she married Mr. Loveday in 1922, and shortly afterwards they met Mr. Crowley.
DID NOT WANT TO GO
They went out to Sicily at the end of 1922. She did not wish to go.
Mrs. Sedgwick described certain ceremonies at the villa.
Mr. Lilley (for the publishers): Did you see any sacrifice at all?—I saw a very big sacrifice—a terrible sacrifice—the sacrifice of a cat in the temple inside the circle and on the altar.
Mrs. Sedgwick said the cat had previously scratched Mr. Crowley, who declared it would be sacrificed within three days.
“Everybody was excited because they were going to have the big sacrifice. Mr. Crowley had a knife with a long handle. It was not very sharp,” said witness.
“The cat was crying piteously in its bag. It was taken out of the bag, and my husband had to kill the cat.
“The knife was blunt, and the cat got out of the circle. That was bad for magical work.
“They had to start all over again with the cat having such a gash in its neck that they could have killed it shortly.
“Finally they killed the cat, and my young husband had to drink a cup of the cat’s blood.”
Mr. Eddy (plaintiff’s counsel): I suggest you have given evidence which is untrue, and which you know to be untrue?—No.
WITNESS’S DENIALS
How many times have you been married?—I think four times.
How many times have you been divorced?—Three.
You have written a book called “Tiger Woman”?—Yes.
Does it purport to be an autobiography of yourself.—Yes.
“Are you here as a simple witness of truth, or are you here to sell your evidence at a price?” asked counsel.
Mr. Hilbery: Is that meant to be an imputation that we have bought this evidence, because if so, I resent that.
Mr. Eddy (to the witness): Are you here just to assist the course of justice?—Yes.
When Mr. Crowley was giving evidence an invitation that he should try his magic on Mr. Hilbery, K.C., was extended to Mr. Crowley by Mr. Martin O’Connor, another counsel for the defence. The invitation was declined.
“I would not attack anyone,” said Mr. Crowley. “I have never done willful harm to any human being.”
Mr. Justice Swift: “We cannot turn this court into a temple, Mr. O’Connor.
“On a later occasion,” continued Mr. O’Connor to the plaintiff “You said you succeeded in rendering yourself invisible. Would you like to try that on now, for if you don’t I shall pronounce you an imposter?”
“You can ask me to do anything you like,” was the reply. “It won’t alter the truth.
PROPAGANDA ARTICLES
When Mr. Eddy plaintiff’s counsel was referring to an article in 1933 concerning Mr. Crowley’s German propaganda in America Mr. Justice Swift remarked, “When he was writing in America he was writing for American Citizens, and carrying out the old adage ‘What you should do in Rome,’ but in 1933 he had come back to this country, and not only was the war over, but he was about to appeal to the ‘Burgesses and Churls’ a reference to one of Mr. Crowley’s poems.
Mr. Eddy: If there was German propaganda why did you indulge in it—In order to destroy it. I reported my activities to the Chief of our organisation Captain (later Commodore) Guy Gaunt, and was in communication with the Hon. Everard Feilding. I came back immediately after the war and if I had been a traitor I should have been shot—and a good job too.
DEFINITION OF MAGIC
Mr. Justice Swift asked Mr. Crowley to tell the Court “the shortest and at the same time comprehensive definition of magic which he knew.”
Mr. Crowley: Magic is the science of the art of causing change to occur in conformity with the will. White magic is if the will is righteous, and black magic is if the will is perverse.
Mr. Justice Swift: Does that involve the invocation of spirits?—It may do so. It does involve the invocation of the Holy Guardian Angel, who is appointed by Almighty God to watch over each of us.
Mr. Justice Swift: Is it, in your view, the art of controlling spirits so as to affect the course of events?—That is part of magic, one small branch.
Carl Germer [Karl Germer], a German living in this country, said Crowley was his guest at his lodge in Germany for several months.
Asked the difference between black magic and white magic, Mr. Germer said: “Black magic is sinister and tries to do harm to others. White magic would define people who work for the benefit of others.”
Mr. Martin O’Connor (cross-examining): Have you ever seen Mr. Crowley invoke spirits?—Yes; the spirit of magnanimity.
How do you know it was the spirit of magnanimity?—I suppose you have got to be sensitive in order to perceive.
“I have seen him invoking the sun,” said Mr. Germer later.
RED CIRCLE
During the evidence for the defence of Mrs. Sedgwick, she described alleged incidents when she arrived at the villa.
“Crowley said: ‘You cannot come into the abbey unless you conform to the rules of the abbey. This is the beginning. The first rule of the abbey.’ I had eventually to make a reply. Then I was admitted.”
Describing one part of the villa, Mrs. Sedgwick said that in the floor was also a red circle, and in the centre was a pentagram. In the centre of the pentagram was an altar, and on it was a star painted in red.
On the table was a book. In one corner was a brazier and a bench. There were many figures on the walls.
“They were extremely improper paintings,” continued Mrs. Sedgwick.
“I refused to sign the book,” added Mrs. Sedgwick. “My husband did. I was ordered out of the Abbey unless I signed the book. I had no money. Ultimately I had to sign.
BIG CEREMONY
Asked about the ceremonies at the villa, Mrs. Sedgwick said there was only one big ceremony, and that was for money. It lasted for about 24 hours.
“It is very difficult to remember what happened,” declared Mrs. Sedgwick. “Everything was grotesque and rather mad and it really worries me to think about it.
“Mr. Crowley was the head of the ceremony, and wore a robe of bright colours.”
A scarlet woman [Leah Hirsig] took part in the ceremony. She was the spiritual wife of Mr. Crowley, and had a magical name which witness could not remember.
Mrs. Sedgwick described the ritual at the Cefalu villa.
Mrs. Sedgwick’s cross examination had not concluded when the hearing was adjourned until to-day. |