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Edward A. Hunter[1] about Aleister Crowley and Elaine Simpson
17 April 1900
Statement by Fra.[ter] H.E.S. [Hora Et Semper]
On Tuesday, 17th instant, I received telegram from Miss Cracknell [Maud Cracknell] to come at once to Blythe Road. On arriving, I found that the rooms which had been closed by Order of Mrs. Emery had been broken into. On entering, after a certain resistance, I found there Aleister Crowley and Miss Elaine Simpson, who declared that they had taken possession by the authority of MacGregor Mathers, and showing me documents to that effect. I said the authority of that gentleman had been suspended by a practically unanimous vote at a duly convened meeting of the Members of the Society. Crowley said that Miss Cracknell, who had entered with me, must leave the room, as she had been suspended from membership, which, of course, I refused to allow, except with that lady's consent.
In the meantime, Mrs. Emery [Florence Farr] arrived, and, seeing the state of affairs, fetched a constable.
Unfortunately, Mr. Wilkinson, the landlord, was absent, and we could not then satisfactorily prove to whom legally the rooms belonged.
They had forced open the doors, put on fresh locks, and so for the time being were practically in possession.
If I had known the character of the man who goes under the name of E.A. Crowley, Aleister MacGregor, Count Svareff, I should not have allowed him to remain longer than I could have helped in the rooms of the Society. I did not then realize that he had no right there, having been absolutely refused admission to the London Society of the R.R. et AC. Nevertheless, as subsequent events proved, it was well that MacGregor Mathers was enabled to further carry out his contemptible, theatrical farce as far as he did.
1—Edward A. Hunter was a member of the Golden Dawn.
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