The last sentence, ‘And on our behalf we are protected.’ seems odd. Who were the ‘we’ Huck was referring to? If it were himself and Sir Charles, how could Goosens’ resignation protect them and from what? Could it be that ‘scurrilous gossip’ and ‘malicious rumours’ about Sir Charles and his assistant being members of Roie’s coven contained more than ‘a scintilla of truth’? 35.

The press was hysterical, making claims which caused flutters among others not so protected...PEOPLE OF CULTURE, WEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL STANDING HAVE UTTERLY DEBASED THEMSELVES IN ORGIASTIC RITUAL GATHERINGS. MUCH OF THEIR BEHAVIOUR IS DESCRIBED AS ’PLAIN FILTH’. POLICE HAVE BEEN MAKING LONG TERM INQUIRIES IN UTMOST SECRECY. INFORMATION WHICH COMMISSIONER DELANEY RECEIVED ON MONDAY IS BELIEVED TO INVOLVE PERSONS OTHER THAN SIR EUGENE. THE REPORT WHICH IS THE RESULT OF SIX MONTHS INVESTIGATION BY VICE SQUAD DETECTIVES IS UNDERSTOOD TO CONTAIN STATEMENTS, LETTERS AND REFERENCES TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WELL KNOWN IN SYDNEY INCLUDING ARTISTS. 28.
Sir Eugene Goossens was tried in absentia at 5 Martin Place, the Court of Petty Sessions, on March 22 1956.
A medical certificate from his MacQuarie street specialist testified him to be in complete mental and physical collapse.
Marjorie, Lady Goosens, interviewed from behind a grill at the enclosed French convent where she had been spending a retreat for some months, told a reporter that,
I fully support my husband... look forward to being with him again...continually in my prayers." 36.

Martin Place Court of Petty Sessions, now demolished, had high, narrow windows peering down at a Tasmanian oak dado surrounding a raised dais where sat Senior Magistrate S.J. McCauley. Before him at opposite tables were Jack Shand Q.C. for the defense and the Crown prosecutor J.D. Holmes, who opened.
"Mr. Craig found a number of large envelopes in the accused’s cases. Inside the envelopes were smaller envelopes stuck to the insides of the larger envelopes. The smaller envelopes contained obscene pictures. Sir Eugene told Mr. Craig that the photos had been bought at the same shop in Leicester Square. Some of the large envelopes had markings on them, which indicated that they contained sheets of music, or material relating to well known composers.
The defendant said he knew the photos were there and a personal servant had fixed them up in this way. He also said they were for a private collection. The Crown has selected some of the photos to show the types of pornography involved. Also in the baggage there was a collection of prints mentioned in the summons. These prints demonstrate a particular type of aberration.
The photos total 1,166. Of these at least 844 are obviously covered by the charge. We do not think any useful purpose would be served in siting degrees of obscenity, or making distinctions. The photos were carried in a manner likely to deceive a customs officer.
Despite what no doubt will be said for the defendant there are, we submit, no mitigating circumstances. Throughout his interview with Mr. Craig the defendant made it clear he realised the significance of his actions.
He was fully conscious of the character of the exhibits and, apart from his assertion that they were for a private collection, he made no claim that they were not obscene."

All Shand could offer in mitigation was that the defendant was, a timid man, acting under duress.’ He called only one witness to testify as to Goosens’ character -Sir Charles Moses, Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
Moses had immigrated to Australia from England in 1922. Florid and very well built, he attempted to keep his weight down by chopping wood. He had failed as a grazier and used car salesman, but found his forte in A.B.C. where he had begun as a radio announcer in the days when announcers wore evening dress when reading news after 5.P.M. A great friend of Goosens, he once said of him,
he was British, thoroughly so; why despite his years in the U.S.A. he still pronounces schedule the way British people do.
Prompted by Shand to bear witness as to the accused’s character he said,
The engagement of Sir Eugene Goosens, from a musical point of view, was one of the most fortunate things that could have happened for this country. When he came he said he would make the Sydney Symphony Orchestra one of the best six. Well it’s certainly among the world’s best ten, and possibly the best six".
"Would you call him a worldly man?"
No. I would say he is just the opposite. In the field of music I would say he has positive opinions and not afraid to express them. But in other matters I would say he is not a practical man. He is a very timid man, a very nervous man. I would say he is one of the most timid among the artists we bring to this country every year. I meet them all and get to know them. He is very diffident about matters affecting himself. He has never approached me since 1951 about altering the terms of his contract, although the cost of living has gone up considerably".
"What has been his reputation up until the time of this incident"?
Of the very highest. There has never been a whisper about his discredit from anywhere. It doesn’t take long for rumours about artists who come out here to come to my ears.
(It certainly did not. While Sir Eugene was on a sea cruise in March 1949 after a bout of pleurisy, Sir Charles signed Otto Klempler up as his replacement. Eugene was furious when he heard about it, as he believed there was an agreement that he would be consulted before any such appointments were made. Within hours of Klemperer’s appointment, he dashed off a letter, which read in part,
K’ is a notorious mental case. He has been shut up in mental homes for long periods on at least three occasions. I have met at least three women who have had to barricade themselves in their rooms to avoid his violent and insane attentions. He was picked up in the gutter in downtown L.A. after being beaten up by some toughs who resented his attentions to one of their women. His ungovernable temper is made worse by his lunatic ravings at rehearsal.
I have never written or spoken ill of a colleague in my life, but feel it my duty to tell you all of this. Musical circles abroad when they read of this 6’4" imbecile let loose on the Australian Community will eye us with apprehension and some considerable pity. I shall, of course, breathe no word of this to anyone else. 37.
Klemperer was indeed a bit strange. While negotiating with the members of the S.S.O. to work overtime he pulled out a gun and slapped it on the table before the startled leader, William James. Saying, "Do you think this will help to persuade them?") 38.
Shand watched through the court’s high windows as the sun climbed towards the yardarm and Sir Charles finished his eulogy with,
No artist who has come out here has a higher reputation. I find it impossible to associate him with this extremely pornographic literature.


Shand now rose and thanked Sir Charles for his testimony. Rolling his fountain pen between his fingers, he began,
One finds it almost impossible to reconcile the life of the defendant, which has been lived for a long time on a high, ascetic plane, with those very bad types of pornography and salacious pictures which are exhibited in this case. Now, there are two factors my learned friend called attention to; that they were in double envelopes and double sealed. The other factor is the tremendous number- 1000. It may be considered whether there is not an indication that these photos and literature were brought out as part of a trade between England and Australia... a trade which no one in this country would associate the defendant as being a willing accessory.

Before Shand could continue, the yardarm had been reached and the magistrate called a recess for lunch.
After lunch, which must have been libatious, as Shand appeared to lose his train of thought, he continued,
It will be revealed that these photos were brought out as a result of a conspiracy; the result of which will become apparent in later days very soon I hope. The matter I can say is now under investigation and whether the aim of those whom I suggest are responsible for the most pornographic exhibits coming to Australia are persons in the...er. I hope to have them brought out here... feeling that the name of the person in the position of the defendant would not receive the keenest scrutiny or whether this was constituent as an attempt to destroy a world figure, it is hoped these investigations will reveal.
In the circumstances, which existed, the defendant could not reveal to the authorities matters which, as soon as his legal advisors tell him he can and should reveal, and he will at that time seek police aid.
Nothing of what I said will obviate the fact that a very serious offence has taken place in breach of the customs act, and we do not suggest that your worship should impose anything less than than the maximum penalty".

Having said all of that- Sir Eugene’s ‘defence ‘ rested its’ case.
His worship cast an eye to the clock. 3.P.M. It had been a long day. He slammed his gavel and fined the Knight of the Realm one hundred pounds- with court costs of one pound. Professional costs for Jack Shand Q.C. were 12 guineas.
In Melbourne an old pal of Sir Eugene’s, Percy Grainger, freaked when he heard the news. Grainger, by his own account daily masturbator and flagellator, by others’ account incestuous with his mother, Rose, culled his books of anything which deviated from the heterosexual missionary position and donated them, in plain brown wrappers, to Melbourne City Library. Among them was a volume entitled The Lure of the Rod. The head librarian was perhaps disappointed on opening it to find a treatise on the art of fly-fishing. 39.
Meanwhile letters poured in to Sir Charles Moses at A.B.C. Among them, written in green ink...
Marika
45 Dight ST
East Richmond.
11 April 1956.
Dear Sir,
We have just heard the verdict final and merciless on Sir Eugene Goossens on the 7.P.M. news.2F.C. Have you someone very good to step in his shoes? I never will know because never again will I listen to a concert broadcast so help me God.
I do not envy the man who will step into the music master’s shoes. British law has been quite merciless with Sir Eugene. I pray that God will send his answer upon every musician in the land; already another conductor has been injured in a car accident since the vicious and obscene press took upon itself the task of destroying all hope for Sir Eugene.
Do not be surprised if more and more famous ones crash to death in aeroplanes as they fly to their musical appointments. God and justice will indeed descend upon them all-and may the first place to suffer be the Sydney Conservatorium.
I pray, indeed I do, and that all music will be silenced. That every musician who has sinned and not been caught in the sin will be laid low and silenced by God.
There are few saints among them and many were jealous of Sir Eugene.
Thanks for the plays’Random Harvest’ and ‘Revolution.’
Sincerely
Eileen MacKinley. 40.
*
For Roie it was business as usual.
Colin le Tet, once a mild mannered accountancy student, now retired and living in a leafy North Shore suburb.
In those days there wasn’t much in the way of entertainment. Aw there were movies and theatre, but the pubs closed at six. If you wanted a drink after that the only thing was a restaurant where you could have wine with a meal. Some of us would go to Lorenzini’s in Martin Place.There you could have a blow out on spaghetti and red wine for about five bob, I think it was.
Anyway I had a late class that night and went after it to Lorenzini’s. Ray Price? The jazz musician was there and we had a good night. Afterwards we went to Ray’s place-a flat down the Rocks-to listen to some new jazz records he’d got.
Ray went through his letters sitting on the hall table and among them was an invitation from a woman Called Roie Norton.
The invitation was to a nude party and Ray said, "Do you fancy it?"
Well it was something to do, so we went. I’m still carrying my briefcase and books by the way.
The address was this big old house up the Cross. I think it had been a stable at one time. We knocked and the door was opened by this naked man. He was enormous and ushered us into room lit with candles where some other people- all naked- were sitting around drinking wine from those big, glass flagons you got in those days. I remember there was a painting on the wall of a woman doing it with a Black Panther.
"Is there anyplace I can leave my books?" I asked someone, so they would be safe.
"Yes", they said. "Up the stairs."
So I went up the stairs, and it was dark at the top. I heard voices and said,"Can I leave my books here, where they’ll be safe?"
And a voice-it was a woman’s voice- said Leave them there in the corner. They’ll be safe." And, "Do you have a match?"
Well I lit a match and there was Roie and she had a man on top of her and they’d obviously just finished what they had been doing. My hand was trembling, but I managed to light her cigarette. She thanked me and I went back downstairs.
"Ray," I said."You’ll never guess what I just saw."
"What?" Ray said, as he gave me a glass of wine.
Before I could answer, Roie came down the stairs...still naked. "This is a nude party," she said. And she began to unbutton my coat.
I buttoned it up again. "Don’t you dare," I said. And went back upstairs, got my books and left...Ray stayed." 41.
Shortly before Sir Eugene Goossens left Sydney for the last time he remarked to a friend that what had happened to him was part of a plot,’ weirder than anything thought up by Edgar Wallace’. Others received by way of explanation a bizarre Roneo...
As you can well imagine, only threats of a really dangerous nature were responsible for compelling my action. Unfortunately I am still unable to identify those people who telephonically over a period of months menacingly forced me to comply with their demands. They remained anonymous throughout, merely stating that I would be ‘contacted’ on return to Sydney. My reception there by press and officials on landing might indicate that I had been deliberately victimised, or that my mysterious callers had themselves been exposed.
In addition to this, a matter mischievously distorted by a section of the press into sheer sensationalism was my operatic collaboration with two members of a local group and some carnival masks I had brought from Vienna for my daughter were given a sinister significance.
I realise what a strain has been imposed on your friendship by my enforced silence. Sound health and resilience of spirit have enabled me to endure my ordeal. Fortunately, too, my artistic enthusiasm remains always unimpaired. 42.

Sir Eugene packed up his belongings and sent them by sea to London. Furniture, books and paintings were sold for a few hundred pounds. As his contract had now been cancelled, he had to haggle with A.B.C. for his airfare. It was a far cry from the days when he broke his favourite baton during rehearsals at Melbourne Town Hall and the Sydney Melbourne plane was held up while an A.B.C. courier raced to the airport with two replacements. Another courier, escorted by police, raced from Esssendon, arriving two minutes before the start of the concert. As he explained, "Other batons are too short for me. I can’t work properly without them." 43.
On May 25 he had lunch with Sir Robert Menzies who assured him he had answered Eddie Ward’s query in N.S.W. State Parliament on April 11 and would not be recommending the cancellation of his Knighthood.
Before catching a K.LM. flight to Rome on May 26 under the assumed name of E.Gray, he wrote,