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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.
26th June 1934
CROWLEY
My dear Kyllmann,
The costs which Crowley has to pay have been taxed at the figure of £740.1.0 and I have written to Crowley's solicitors requiring payment of this by the end of the week. These costs are what are called party and party costs, namely those which the unsuccessful party has to bear, but there will be little more beyond that, in fact if Crowley pays up I shall be able to return you a considerable part of what you have already advanced. If again, Crowley pays O'Connor's taxed costs we shall get back the fees which we paid for Miss Hamnett's counsel.
Now if Crowley does not pay by the end of the week we shall apply to the Court of Appeal to order him to give security for the costs of the appeal and although we shall not get an order for more than 100 or so this will obviously inconvenience Crowley for he will have to find the money or abandon his appeal. Miss Hamnett's solicitors will apply also.
In the next place if Crowley does not pay the costs we will serve him with a bankruptcy notice, or at any rate consider carefully whether we should not do so. I understand that Crowley has never yet been bankrupt although he may have been near it at times.
Betty May's prosecution will come before the magistrate again on Thursday, the 28th, after which Crowley may be sent for trial.
Yours sincerely,
Charles S. J. Harper
Otto Kyllmann, Esq., 10 & 12, Orange Street, Leicester Square, W.C.2.
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