Libel case 1942–1948 F. Matthias Alexander

1 libel case 1942–1948

1.1 background
1.2 examination in london
1.3 alexander s stroke
1.4 in court in johannesburg

libel case 1942–1948

the last decade of alexander s life dominated libel case, drama drawn out on period of 7 years.

background

in 1935, irene tasker, 1 of alexander s first students, arrived in johannesburg, deciding teach alexander technique in south africa. address annual conference of transvaal teachers association on subject attracted interest teachers, spreading others. in 1939 tasker started school, in sherwood road, forest town, teach alexander technique children, children educated along lines set out maria montessori @ same time attention paid way in used themselves. in 1942 tasker s work attracted attention of dr ernst jokl, director of physical education south african government, , writer on physiology of exercise. jokl asked tasker demonstrate technique him, did in presence of 2 legal witnesses, norman coaker kc , adv. vernon berrangé, declined give him course of lessons, instead suggesting jokl go see alexander himself. jokl, not being able go london, read alexander s books. in april next year, in address annual conference of transvaal teachers association, president, mr. i. g. griffiths, praised alexander technique , criticized established regime of physical education given children. address published intransvaaal educational news, , jokl, seeing address attack on profession, responded in paper called relationship between health , efficiency read south african association advancement of science. jokl had paper published in transvaal educational news, reply defending alexander s work. in march 1944 jokl wrote article in south african government journal manpower (afrikaans volkskragte) entitled quackery versus physical education described technique as, among other things, dangerous , irresponsible form of quackery . in august of year alexander shown article tasker, , responded letter south african high commissioner in london asking public withdrawal of remarks , apology. having had no reply year later, alexander sued: issued writ libel against jokl, eustace h. cluver , bernard maule clarke (the co-editors of manpower) suing £5000 damages alleged defamation. alexander dismayed south african authorities announced case defended, expected case won quickly.

examination in london

as witnesses on both sides british, easier evidence on both sides presented before commission in south africa house in london, due delays did not happen until july 1947. alexander , jokl attended hearings. alexander s witnesses included duncan whittaker, dr peter macdonald, lord lytton, sir stafford cripps, dr dorothy drew, personal physician j. e. r. mcdonagh, , friend andrew rugg-gunn frcs. jokl s witnesses nobel prizewinners edgar adrian , sir henry dale, brigadier wand-tetley, heart specialist dr paul wood, bacteriologist dr freddie himmelweit, sir alfred webb-johnson, samson wright, lieut-col s. j. parker , robert clark-turner. trial scheduled in south africa in autumn of 1947, there delay due defence counsel oswald pirow having matter deal with, , case re-scheduled following march.

alexander s stroke

alexander wanted go, , booked stateroom in union castle liner himself. not happen. worried case, distraught on death of friend lord lytton in october 1947, , autumn had fall may have contributed having stroke in december. week later had stroke, left paralysis of left hand, leg , face, , doctors had little hope him. had cancel trip south africa. however, made remarkable recovery within month, said applying own technique himself. wrote irene tasker in south africa, in clear hand, telling how better was.

in court in johannesburg

in february 1948 3 of medically qualified students, dr wilfred barlow, f.r.s., dr dorothy drew m.r.c.s (eng), l.r.c.p (lon) , dr mungo douglas flew johannesburg give evidence court. douglas did not give evidence: place taken norman coaker, k.c. lived in south africa and, jokl, had seen irene tasker. there great interest in case. papers reported proceedings, , every day court crowded.

on 14 february case alexander v. jokl , others, action £5,000 damages alleged defamation opened before mr justice clayden in witwatersrand local division of supreme court. mr h. j. hanson, k.c , mr abram fischer (instructed messrs berrangé , wasserzug) appeared plaintiff, , mr o. pirow, k.c. , mr m. van hulsteyn (instructed government attorney) appeared defendants. in introductory address mr hanson said alexander s technique , ideas had received favourable comment such eminent people sir charles sherrington, john dewey, aldous huxley, sir stafford cripps , others. in books alexander taught had observed in investigation use , mis-use of body. taught people understand own use, unlearn wrong way, in example of person sitting @ desk having tendency hunch shoulders tensing muscles unnecessarily. mr hanson told court alexander had had stroke , therefore not able give evidence.

dr barlow alexander s first witness. described how had hurt shoulder in sport @ oxford, had tried various ways of remedying it, had read alexander s books , realised problem people used muscles in wrong way come regard use right way. went london, saw alexander, became of student , later qualified teacher of method. had seen himself in st thomas hospital in london how technique in treatment of bad muscular co-ordination or misuse, , quoted supporting text recognised publications such lancet, british medical journal , american medical association s journal.

mr pirow, defence, proposed case article (by jokl , others) represented evaluation of alexander s 4 books, claimed set out technique , philosophy, , contained not testimonials , sales talk advertising technique, in regard alleged discoveries of conscious and/or primary control, claims , statements representing dangerous quackery.

pirow expert @ persistent cross-questioning, throwing leading questions @ alexander s witnesses. pirow asked dr. barlow: contend, in matter of conscious control, following principles become entirely disease free? barlow: no-one suggests man become immortal. let leave immortality out of it, , down fundamentals. you, trained medical man, prepared accept reasonable possibility suggestion carrying out of exercises of psycho-physical guidance way of conscious control, 1 can complete immunity against disease? – might possible...animals living in wild state when come end of days not suffer many of prevalent diseases. following technique man become animal or buffalo? – merely giving impression diseases affect animals. suggest that, result of psycho-physical guidance under conscious control, resistance infectious disease might better? – well, yes. , barlow said own medical experience. pirow asked conscious control was, inhibition , effects, barlow able give confident answers.

witness dr dorothy drew, london doctor, had become convert alexander technique because of benefit had found herself after undergoing course. had been injured in car accident when medical student, , during war health deteriorated. had read alexander s books in war , became pupil of alexander s. @ first felt pain, began feel increasing benefit. alexander s sole interest in repairing body mechanics, , health had improved. had sent 200 patients alexander, supplementary medical treatment: showed them books , let them decide whether see alexander.

norman coaker, had been present @ jokl s demonstration lesson irene tasker, next witness alexander. described how 2 sons had been helped alexander lessons: second son injury fall onto stone, , elder son chronic bronchitis.

irene tasker alexander s last witness, , @ 1 point found difficult give evidence , face pirow s cross-questioning.

dr jokl himself last witness defence.

the trial finished in march, , mr justice clayden delivered judgement on month later. alexander awarded £1000 damages plus costs.

a year later defendants appealed against verdict , damages. appeal dismissed costs, , tone of judgment worded more in approval of alexander had been originally.