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Correspondence from Charles Harper [Waterhouse & Co., Solicitors for Constable & Co.] to Otto Kyllmann [Constable & Co., Publishers of Laughing Torso]
[Correspondence concerning Constable & Co.'s preparation for the appeal to 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.
19th April 1934
CROWLEY
My dear Kyllmann,
I am in receipt of your letter of yesterday.
Before you decide on any course of action against Crowley—there is no vindictiveness about it whatever you do—and before I give you an estimate of figures, I would like to be able to find out something about Crowley's resources as I find that an opportunity will shortly occur.
Crowley brought, as you know, another libel action against Duckworth and Betty May and the man who was the husband of this lady at the time when TIGER WOMAN was published. Their solicitors, Messes Oswald Hickson & Co, applied to the Court to strike the man out of the case on the ground that he could not be liable (apparently it was the wrong man) and the Court did so and ordered Crowley to pay the costs of having put him in. The costs were taxed at something under 20 but Crowley has not paid them. Accordingly a judgment summons has been issued against him and has been remitted to the Westminster County Court for hearing and will, I understand, shortly come on. I have this information from Messrs Oswald Hicks & Co who have been in very friendly touch with us throughout and when the case comes out one of my clerks will attend and I hope to learn something of what Crowley's financial position is. Meantime I suggest that unless Crowley makes some move by way of appeal the matter should be allowed to rest.
Yours sincerely,
Charles S. J. Harper
Personal Otto Kyllmann, Esq., 10 & 12, Orange Street, Leicester Square, W.C.2.
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