Unsigned file copy, with Bruce’s original handwritten draft on a brown paper bag, and the original mailing envelope in which it was sent to his secretary Jan Mathews. Memo from Lenny Bruce to legendary lawyer Melvin Belli, with marvelous association, reading in large part: "ASSAULT TRIAL - Subpoena the film taken during ‘run’ - get an expert witness that will project the film in court to show that they show everything but the actual ‘punch’ - plus testify that no movie cameraman will run with his camera - unless it was a put up job…or he stole it! / OBSCENITY TRIAL - please find out what words were used so that I can structure a defense. / FELONY - Disqualify the expert witness, thereby making the evidence invalid. But most important - Get corrected dates - judges.]” Accompanied by Bruce’s holographic instructions to his secretary Jan Mathews who typed the letter -- Bruce wrote these notes ‘to melvin’ in pencil on all sides of a brown paper lunch bag that he then mailed to Matthews for typing. The typed memo is dated 11-21-62; an accompanying envelope addressed by Bruce to Matthews is postmarked 11-19-62 with the instruction ‘call belli’. The obscenity case probably refers to his October 24 arrest at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. The assault reference refers to an incident where Bruce allegedly assaulted a television newsman covering one of his earlier court appearances - that trial was held in May 1963. With a postal service proof of mailing receipt signed by Belli.
Unsigned file copy, with Bruce’s original handwritten draft on a brown paper bag, and the original mailing envelope in which it was sent to his secretary Jan Mathews. Memo from Lenny Bruce to legendary lawyer Melvin Belli, with marvelous association, reading in large part: "ASSAULT TRIAL - Subpoena the film taken during ‘run’ - get an expert witness that will project the film in court to show that they show everything but the actual ‘punch’ - plus testify that no movie cameraman will run with his camera - unless it was a put up job…or he stole it! / OBSCENITY TRIAL - please find out what words were used so that I can structure a defense. / FELONY - Disqualify the expert witness, thereby making the evidence invalid. But most important - Get corrected dates - judges.]” Accompanied by Bruce’s holographic instructions to his secretary Jan Mathews who typed the letter -- Bruce wrote these notes ‘to melvin’ in pencil on all sides of a brown paper lunch bag that he then mailed to Matthews for typing. The typed memo is dated 11-21-62; an accompanying envelope addressed by Bruce to Matthews is postmarked 11-19-62 with the instruction ‘call belli’. The obscenity case probably refers to his October 24 arrest at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. The assault reference refers to an incident where Bruce allegedly assaulted a television newsman covering one of his earlier court appearances - that trial was held in May 1963. With a postal service proof of mailing receipt signed by Belli.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
