THE DAILY RECORD AND MAIL

Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

25 July 1934

(page 13)

ADMISSIONS BY “TIGER WOMAN”

LIFE STORY LARGELY FICTITIOUS

Model’s Vanished Letters

Edward Alexander Crowley (58), described as an explorer, pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey, London, yesterday to the charge of receiving four original letters and one copy of a letter, alleged to have been stolen from Mrs. Betty Sedgwick, known as “Betty May,” a model.

Mr. Melford Stevenson (prosecuting) said that in 1932 Crowley became a plaintiff in an action for damages for libel against some publishers called Constable.

Mrs. Sedgwick had given to the solicitors for the defence in that action a certain amount of information about Crowley, and she was called as a witness in April, 1934.

In June, 1933, Mrs. Sedgwick was living in Seymour Street. There was also living there a man named Cruze.

In her possession were a number of letters. Those letters, together with a number of other documents of a personal nature, were put in an attaché case.

VANISHED LETTERS

She later went to a cottage in the country, and found that the documents had disappeared.

When she was giving evidence in the action, the letters were produced in Court by counsel appearing for Crowley.

Mr. Stevenson said it was not known who stole the letters. The only person who was likely to have any interest in their possession was Aleister Crowley, and the circumstances were such that it was for him to give an explanation of his possession of them.

Mrs. Sedgwick gave evidence, and, replying to Mr. C. Gallop (defending), said that, as a professional model, she had been receiving sums of money for sittings, and was sitting during the High Court action.

Holding up a book, Mr. Gallop asked—“You asked, ‘Do you recognize this book’?—‘Tiger Woman: My Story—by Betty May.’ ”

Mrs. Sedgwick—Yes.

DID NOT WRITE BOOK

Was it issued to the public as your autobiography?—Yes, it was.

With the intention that the public should believe it was the story of your life?—Yes.

Whereas, I gather, you now say you had not written the story?—No.

Do you regard that as fraudulent?—I didn’t think about it.

Mrs. Sedgwick said part of the book was written from articles she had supplied to the Press.

Judge Whiteley—Some of it is true then?—Yes.

Mr. Gallop—But a great deal of the book is utter fabrication?—A lot of it is.

Referring to a passage in the book, Mr. Gallop said to the Witness:

“This book is supposed to be of your life, and it is of the most appalling depravity, whether it is true or false?”

Mrs. Sedgwick—Well, that is all puff.

It describes how you accost young men on the boulevards of Paris?—Completely untrue.

And then you take them to a gang of thieves?—Completely untrue.

“WHITE PANTHER”

Was there a man called “White Panther” among the gang?—Fictitious; you know it is.

Is the Cambridge undergraduate a figment of your imagination?—I told you a journalist wrote it.

Mrs. Sedgwick agreed that she had taken drugs when she was young.

Mr. Gallop—And you wrote that story of disgusting and revolting life with the intention of getting money from the public?—Not at all.

Answering further questions, Mrs. Sedgwick said Captain Cruze was a friend of hers, and she had stayed with him at Seymour Street. She did not know where he is now.

SUMMONS AGAINST CRUZE

Mr. Gallop—Did you let Cruze have these letters as some security that you would pay him some money?—Certainly not. I had paid him so much money. He had very little money himself.

Detective Sergeant Davidson said there was a summons against Cruze, alleging larceny of two envelopes, but it had yet to be served.

The trial was adjourned until to-day, Crowley being allowed bail.