THE PORTSMOUTH EVENING NEWS

Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

7 November 1934

(page 9)

WHAT IS BLACK MAGIC?

Libel Action Appeal.

“LAUGHING TORSO” CASE.

Judge and “Nonsense.”

The Court of Appeal continued to-day the hearing of an appeal in the “Black Magic” libel action. Mr. Aleister Crowley, the author appealed from the judgment against him in the action he brought against Miss Nina Hamnett, authoress of “Laughing Torso,” Messrs. Constable and Co., Ltd., publishers, and Messrs. Charles Whittingham and Briggs, publishers. He complained of the summing-up of Mr. Justice Swift.

The book, he said, imputed that he had practised black magic in Cefalu, in Sicily. He denied having done anything of the kind, and said that black magic was for the most part criminal and foul.

Mr. J. P. Eddy, on his behalf, submitted that it was perfectly open to a properly-directed jury to give him a verdict, “in fact it was the only course open to them.”

Lord Justice Roche asked why was an imputation of black magic defamatory.

Counsel replied that some people practised what was called white magic. “Some people practise what is allowed to be black magic. To my simple faith it means nothing, but the plaintiff says there is a vital difference between the two.”

“No ordinary persons know the difference between white and black magic.” remarked Lord Justice Greer, and he added, “I should have thought they were both nonsense.”

Mr. Eddy: I am not suggesting otherwise.