stefansson-wrangel-09-15-081-001

Taylor

December 13, 1924.

Dear Taylor:

For the reasons mentioned in my other letter and
also because of certain new complications with Mr. Noice, it would be
very desirable if you could come to New York soon. Because of the
attitude of Mr. Crawford and the possibility of publicity, I still feel
reluctant to go to Toronto.

You have doubtless read the copy of Noice's retraction
which I sent you some time ago. In connection with that his lawyer put the
financial situation to me somewhat as follows: He said he thought that
the moral situation was somewhat different from the legal and that Mr.
Noice had a good technical case to get the $1500. as well as the $3,000.
he already has. The lawyer proposed then that in order to avoid the
expense of law suits, we should sign a "without prejudice" agreement and
jointly apply for the monty from the N.A.N.A., dividng it 50-50. I then
asked whether in case we did that Noice would feel inclined to pay his
debt of $150. to Miss Skinner. This was for some literary work she had
done for him when she was needing money badly. Mr. Brigham said he would
personally guarantee that this would be done. I did not commit myself
further than above stated, but I think Mr. Brigham was fairly justified in
expecting that he would hear from me in a few days as to whether the arrange-
ment was satisfactory. However, I learned then from Mr. Anderson that he
was expecting you. Apparently your coming has been somewhat delayed, but
in any case I decided to give Mr. Brigham no answer until I could confer
with you.

As I understood Mr. Brigham, he is going to base his
legal claim on Noice's behalf for the $1500. almost wholly, if not entirely,
on the letters you and Anderson wrote him. I think he will also argue
that on the basis of those letters it is reasonable to believe also Noice's
verbal allegation that you made him promises even beyond what the letters
actually said.

This is a little bit too complicated for a letter. I
should like your preliminary opinion, however, by letter in case you are
not coming soon, but as said above, I hope very much that you can come soon.
Mr. Brigham is now pressing for action, saying that he will bring suit on
Noice's behalf unless the money is promptly forthcoming. Noice, he says,
is starving or at least has no money of his own.

I don't remember whether you have had information about
the separation of Mr. and Mrs. Noice. It occured in Brazil. Apparently
she left him nothing much beyond a return ticket and he landed in New York