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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to J.F.C. Fuller
50 rue Vavin Montparnasse Paris
Sunday [30 April 1911] [Postmarked 1 May 1911]
Dear Fuller,
Sorry I was to frightfully busy to get over to you before my departure. I am too close to the battle to see exactly what happened in its proper precautions. We beat them in the fight, so they cried foul: well, but what of the future? Jones [George Cecil Jones] and I talked on Friday A.M. He was much upset and very anxious that I should serve writes* and fight the case without money or any other resource. But even if I won I don't see that it would help him much, and frankly there wouldn't be the remotest chance of winning, though [Judge] Scrutton is an anagram of 'Cunt rots' which is true but vulgar. And if I were to lose, Jones would be worse off then ever. If he had appealed, I would have served writs to strengthen his hand, if counsel thought it wise. As it is, I will fight for Jones somehow, and I have come over here [Paris] to find out how. It seems to me that we must rally our forces and smite the enemy, first of all. I shall find out all I can about SRMD [MacGregor Mathers] here. Perhaps you would do the same kind office for Berridge [Edward Berridge].
First there is the Magic Clasp: get an official record of that case.
Second, he used always to be in trouble for angrying girls who came to him for examination in G∴D∴ [Golden Dawn] grades. I believe Mrs. Emery [Florence Farr] could tell you all this, as she was in charge of 2nd Order. And I think Fidelis [Elaine Simpson] was one of those who thought Eight Bob a Week an inadequate compensation for the loss of her virtue.
This being moved and the witnesses ready and sworn on affidavit I would write a pamphlet under my own name, giving address and nail it to his front door and circularize my subscribers and have it given away in his street, thus forcing him into action.
If you think this scheme possible, please work it. Meantime, I will dig up Nisbet, the Durands, and other Paris G∴D∴ites and see if I can find out anything really bad about Mathers.
It's obviously useless to expect fair play from anybody; and we are bound to hit back somehow. It's jolly serious for you and me as well as for Jones. I heard some ass-talk about the W.O. [War Office] getting angry with you—I hope not. As for me, Warren and Radclyffe [Raymond Radclyffe] and my Uncle Tom [Tom Bond Bishop] (3 [illegible] and 1 God) all agreed that you might be right about S. improving the S. of S. So I am killing 2 birds with one stone.
Write and let me know what you think.
Yours
Aleister Crowley
*If you agree with Jones, say so at once.
Capt J.F.C. Fuller 89 Overstrand Mansions Battersea Park London S.W.
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