CROWLEY v the BOOKSTORE

of ARTHUR GORDON GRAY

Libel

10 May 1933

On 7 January 1933 while walking down Praed Street in London Crowley stopped to look in the window of a bookshop and saw a copy of his book Moonchild with a sign  saying "Aleister Crowley's first novel The Diary of a Drug Fiend was withdrawn from circulation after an attack in the sensational press." Crowley sued the bookseller for libel and after going to trial on 10 May 1933 he was awarded £50 in damages.

Further details of the trial are contained in the newspaper article below:

THE HALIFAX DAILY COURIER

AND GUARDIAN

Halifax, Yorkshire, England

11 May 1933

(page 5)

A Bookseller's Libel

Notice Attached to a Novel

Fifty pounds damages, with costs, were awarded by Mr. Justice Bennett in the Chancery Division yesterday in an action brought by Mr. Edward Alexander Crowley, Park Lane Hotel, W., against Mr. Arthur Gordon Gray, bookseller, Praed-street, Paddington, alleging libel in a notice attached to the plaintiff’s novel “Moonchild,” exposed for sale at Mr. Gray’s shop.

A stay of execution with a view to appeal was granted on condition that the amount of the damages was brought into court.

Mr. C. Gallop, for Mr. Crowley, said originally an injunction was sought to restrain the further exhibition of the notice, which stated that Mr. Crowley’s first novel had been banned, but before the application was made Mr. Gray withdrew the notice. The only question now was one of damages.

Mr. Crowley wrote under the name “Aleister Crowley,” and inside the proper cover of “Moonchild” were printed the words “Aleister Crowley’s first novel ‘The Diary of a Drug Fiend’ was withdrawn from circulation after an attack in the sensational Press.” Plaintiff was ill and could not be present.

Mr. Cecil Binney, for Mr. Gray, said he questioned the statement that Mr. Crowley was ill, and suggested he was absent because he wished to avoid cross-examination. Mr. Gray admitted the libel, expressed his complete apology, and gave an undertaking as soon as the writ was issued.

Mr. Gray, in the witness-box, said he had no intention of injuring Mr. Crowley.

Cross-examined, he said he did not say that Mr. Crowley was not ill. He only knew that he was not present in court.

Mr. Justice Bennett said he regarded it as a serious imputation on a man who had written a book to say it was of an indecent and improper character. There was not the smallest ground for suggesting that any book Mr. Crowley had written was indecent or improper. Mr. Gray wanted the public to believe that the book to which the label was attached was an indecent book.

Solicitors: Forsyte, Kerman and Phillips; John H. Mote and Son.