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Correspondence from Karl Germer to Menneer, Idle & Brackette
Messrs. Menneer, Idle & Brackette Lloyds Bank Chambers 28 & 29 Grand Parade St. Leonards-on-Sea. England.
December 13, 1947.
Gentlemen,
I wrote you two days ago, and have this morning received yours of Dec. 8th, which partly answered my question.
I have not known much about bankruptcy proceedings though I was vaguely aware of the fact. I had not seen Mr. Crowley since 1937 and certain events, including the recent war, interfered to keep our relations intermittent. Had the British Government permitted me to stay when I was a Nazi refugee, I am sure I would have helped Crowley to avoid that bankruptcy.
To reply to your questions as to the source of the late Crowley's property, let me briefly say this:—
As far as I know Crowley had no personal property since I have known him (in 1925) except a small revenue from a Trust Fund which I do not know much. As I recognized his greatness as a poet, a philosopher, a religious teacher, as a man, I helped him financially to carry out his Work. I succeeded in arriving in the U.S.A. in 1941, I made it my business to enable him to get certain books printed. I got the cash for their production, and, necessarily, for his personal expenses.
To prove this I enclose three recent statements from my Bank, the National City Bank of New York, which covers my transfers to him by me for over $2400 since May 14, 1947, more than adequate to account for the cash amount of £430 you state he left. I am sending these documents in your trust for safekeeping and would like them returned when their usefulness for you is over.
I note your statement that until "the question of the assets is not cleared up there would not be any point of proving the Will". In this connection may I ask what steps are proposed to carry out Crowley's Will relating to his literary work.
I had given the go-ahead for getting Liber Aleph, and "The Golden Twigs" printed. Owing to his condition he has not kept me fully informed about the progress of the printing. I do not know the name of the printer. I know that the two books must be far advanced. You would oblige me if you could see your way of reassuring the printers that the work can go on.
I am prepared to supplement the £430 with whatever additional reasonable amount may be required to pay pending debts to printers etc. etc., relating to the literary work. This, of course, is conditioned upon the delivery to me of said literary work in accordance with his Last Will and Testament. If all this can be accomplished without probate of the Will, I would have no objection to same, and leave it entirely to your discretion.
Could you ask the printer, binder, etc. to get in touch with me as far as the finances are concerned? I would like to know where I am.
If there is any information you may require, please call on me, I will do my best to close the matter easily and quickly. It is most unfortunate that I cannot be there myself. If at any time it might be advisable that a personal representative of mine should come to Hastings, I might be able to arrange this. A friend of mine, member of the Ordo Templi Orientis, and fully acquainted with the subject, had visited Aleister Crowley repeatedly lately; he has tried to put his files and papers in order. I could ask him to come over from his post in the American Army to assist. In that case it may be well to prepare an English Form of Power of Attorney which I could issue to him.
In so far as much of the substance of this letter refers to the literary section of the Will, I am sending a copy to Dr. Louis Umfraville Wilkinson.
Very truly yours
(not Dr.) Karl Johannes Germer
Encl. 3 statements from Natl. City Bank
May 14, 1947 $1401.60 July 24, 1947 503.20 Sept. 5, 1947 503.80
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