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Correspondence from Charles Harper [Waterhouse & Co., Solicitors for Constable & Co.] to Michael Sadleir [Constable & Co., Publishers of Laughing Torso]
[Correspondence concerning Constable & Co.'s preparation for the libel suit brought by Aleister Crowley against Nina Hamnett and the publication of her book Laughing Torso.]
Waterhouse & Co. Solicitors 10 & 12 Bishopsgate, London, E.C.2.
2nd November 1932
"LAUGHING TORSO"
Dear Sadleir,
I was favoured yesterday with a call from Mr. Elliot Darby of 17, Becondale Road, S.E.19, who had seen you and been referred by you to me.
The only information of any importance he had to give me was that the JOHN BULL file of Crowley's doings is open to our inspection if we wish to see it and that he had looked through the pamphlet GILLE de RAIS [The Banned Lecture] in the British Museum Library and found nothing in it—it was merely blasphemous, as he put it.
I gather from Mr. Darby that he thought Crowley's most objectionable writing was his play "The Mother's Tragedy" but having looked that through I do not see anything for cross-examination purposes is to be made of that. It is intended to be a tragedy and reminded me a little of Shelley's "The Cenci", naturally however with all the difference in the world in treatment and reticence.
Mr. Darby is a journalist who is not doubt looking out for a few guineas but cannot, so far as I can see, be of any help to us.
Yours sincerely,
Charles S.J. Harper
Michael Sadleir, Esq., 10 & 12, Orange Street, Leicester Square, W.C.2.
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