THE SOUTH WALES EVENING POST

Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales

25 July 1934

(page 5)

CROWLEY’S DEFENCE

“Did Not Suspect Betty May’s

Letters Were Stolen”

The hearing for the case for the defence was continued at the Old Bailey to-day when the trial of Edward Alexander Crowley, aged 58, who was described as an explorer, was resumed.

Crowley was charged with receiving four original letters and one copy, said to have been stolen from Mrs. Betty Sedgwick, professionally known as “Betty May,” an artist’s model, of South Hill, Park Gardens, Hampstead.

Mr. Melford Stevenson (prosecuting) said that the letters disappeared from Mrs. Sedgwick’s attaché case, and were later produced during the hearing of a libel action in the High Court in which Crowley was the plaintiff.

The letters referred to a payment of certain expenses by a firm of solicitors to Mrs. Sedgwick, who was a witness for the defence in the action, and she was cross-examined upon them.

Mrs. Sedgwick was questioned at length yesterday by Mr. C. Gallop defending, about a book she had written called “Tiger Woman, My Story: By Betty May.” She said parts of the book were untrue but the passage about Crowley and the Abbey [Abbey of Thelema] were correct.

She alleged that a man named Capt. Eddie Crumme [sic] had stolen the letters from her.

Mr. Stevenson (cross-examining): Did you think it in the slightest degree likely that that lady would consent to their passing into your possession?—I did.

Judge Whiteley: Why should you give £5 for something you could have got for nothing?—Her consent would, no doubt be dependant on some compensation.