MORTIMER (Sir John, 1923-2009, Q.C., Barrister and Writer)

Typed Letter Signed to Geoffrey F.A. Best, (b. 1928, Professor of History, Edinburgh University, 1966-1974), thanking him "for your letter and for your kind offer of hospitality", Mortimer is "afraid we were fighting a lost cause in Leeds, but your help was enormously valuable and I do thank you again for giving up your time to join us", he is "glad you didn't feel the time was wasted and I believe New Society and the New Statesman are supporting our call for liberty in the near future", with a P.S. returning "your copy of Victorian Studies", 1 side 4to, Flat 2, 73 Holland Park, London, W.11., 12th February

From 1966 John Mortimer resolved only to defend, to rescue the accused from 'the maze of the judicial system' Here he had just appeared for Arthur Dobson, a Bradford bookseller and publisher, arrested for bringing out My Secret Life by 'Walter' (1967), a Victorian 'gentleman' dubbed 'The English Casanova'. Geoffrey Best and other historians had appeared as expert witnesses for the defence. Dobson was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, £1,000 fine, and £2,000 towards costs, as it was clear from other books in a second charge that his main motive was to make money.

Item Date:  1969

Stock No:  56495      £75

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