THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH

Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland

17 July 1934

(page 8)

THE “BLACK MAGIC” CASE.

Lord Justices Scrutton, Freer, and Maugham, in the Court of Appeal, London, yesterday, fixed £100 as security for costs of the appeal which Mr. Aleister Crowley, the author, is bringing against the dismissal of his recent libel action before Mr. Justice Swift and a jury in the King’s Bench Division.

Mr. Crowley sued Constable and Co., Ltd. (publishers), Charles Whittingham and Griggs, Ltd. (printers), and Miss Nina Hamnett for alleged libel in Miss Hamnett’s book “Laughing Torso,” in which there was a statement that Mr. Crowley had had a temple at Cefalu, Sicily, where he was alleged to have practised black magic.

After four days’ hearing the jury stopped the case and returned a verdict for the defendants.