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Correspondence from Michael Sadleir [Constable & Co., Publishers of Laughing Torso] to Charles Harper [Waterhouse & Co., Solicitors for Constable & Co.]
[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.]
April 28th 1934
CROWLEY
Dear Harper,
I am informed that in 1904 Crowley published, over his own name, a book called WHY JESUS WEPT, which is of an extremely blasphemous nature.
There is a copy in the reserved shelves at the Bodleian Library,
Press mark: D.165
This may be worth noting in case we have to resume the attack. I imagine we could ask Bodly to produce the book.
Further to the story I told Jones about the copy of Frank Harris's OSCAR WILDE, with Crowley annotations (so far there has been no further development in this incident), it may be worth noting that the individual at the Customs House who is responsible for the care and disposal of material seized by the Customs is: A.W. McKenzie, Principal Custom House, Lower Thames Street, E.C.3. If we have occasion to make enquiries about the Crowley packing cases which were seized, it may be a convenience to know the name of a senior officer to whom application could be made.
Yours sincerely,
C.J.S. Harper Esq.,
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