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May 2010_june_july_2009.qxd 31/05/2010 6:15 PM Page 31 31 The Skull of Doom 31 The Skull of Doom it defeats all evils of witchcraft and is a exploration trips by Mr. Jowitt, Daily Express benevolent divine magic dealing with heaven counsel, who sought to throw doubt on some Continued from Page 29 and angelic forces.” Apparently Dorland drew Central American discoveries and adventures up this document as part of his promotional related by Hedges and his companion, Lady I was delighted recently to have a visitor efforts. My research indicates that it is the first Richmond Brown. Lord Chief Justice Lore who...had just come from a chat with you. This time Anna claims to have found the skull Hewart, in summing up today said to the jury: was a welcome opportunity for me to learn that herself. The statement appears to have the “You may not think that Mr. Jowitt put the case a relative of Mr. Mitchell-Hedges was living. I intention of establishing a provenience (history too high when he said that Mr. Mitchell-Hedges am taking the liberty of directing this note to and find spot) that could be verified solely by was an imposter.” you in that regard. Anna Mitchell-Hedges, since all of the people Frederick Mitchell-Hedges was not at Continuing, he wrote that he had involved in her adopted father’s expeditions to Lubaantun in 1928, nor was Anna. The British exhibited some of the artifacts donated by her Lubaantun were dead by then. Museum archaeologist J. Eric S. Thompson was father, and that “it would be a distinct honor not Dorland’s estimate of age comes at the site in 1927 and 1928. Thompson wrote only to show you what we have done, but also presumably from Frederick’s newspaper about Mitchell-Hedges in Maya Archaeologist the degree to which we have made use of the descriptions, since no source indicates that the (1963), and his characterization was not Mitchell-Hedges collection.” Dockstader may British Museum ever estimated the age of the flattering (p. 73): have been courting Anna, whom he assumed to skull. The British Museum’s own crystal skull He had penetrated the interior of British be heir to Mitchell-Hedges’s estate, and as her was previously thought to be Aztec, which if it Honduras to discover this immense mysterious father had donated collections, perhaps he had been true, would date it to around A.D. city, which in fact, had been known to thought the daughter might do the same. 1500, so 500 years old not 3,000. archaeologists and European residents since Anna responded quickly on March 10, By 1970, Anna Mitchell-Hedges, then the last century and had been described in print 1964, writing, “I am Sammy of the book, and I 63, and Frank Dorland had a falling out, partly many years before. Worst of all from an together with Jane, father’s secretary, used to because of publications in which he clearly had archaeological point of view, he had workers accompany father when he came to the a hand that detailed a variety of progressively build a wall on one of the terraces to make a museum. Were you there then and do you outlandish claims for the skull and characterized more impressive photograph. Later he and his remember us?” This first letter (OC 276, folder him as its owner and keeper. The exaggerations collaborator [Lady Richmond Brown] wrote a #11) is mostly a four-page typed description of and mythologies put out by Dorland and his book, Land of Wonder and Fear; to me the a Russian icon called “The Black Virgin of surrogates seem less bothersome to Anna than wonder was how he could write such nonsense Kazan,” which was exhibited at the New York the reports that the skull belonged to him, and and fear of how much taller the next yarn would World’s Fair. (According to Daniel Loxton, that he still had not found a buyer. At this point be. editor of Junior Skeptic, it was a later copy of Dorland proposed that he and Anna collaborate Anna eventually settled on the year 1924 the original icon.) Anna noted that her father on a book of their own, to be written by novelist for her great find, and specifically on January 1, had begun negotiations with San Francisco art Richard Garvin: which was, coincidentally, her 17th birthday. It dealer Frank Dorland to promote and sell the I have convinced Dick Garvin (who does seems odd that she would initially have such a icon, but “After father passed away Mr. Dorland sell) it is worth the percentage to you and me hazy memory of such a momentous birthday and I commenced negotiations again and I and you to furnish the information. This makes discovery. Her father never mentioned that eventually sent it to the States two years ago.” it a better book, makes more money all the way Anna found the skull, and his 1954 book In almost an afterthought, she adds: around. The skull is not sold, it is put to use in Danger My Ally was the first account in which When I come out [from England] it is so this manner and for public appearances to he said she even accompanied Lady Richmond that I take out the “Skull of Doom,” which was boost sales and interest. (OC 276, folder #11 - Brown and him to British Honduras. According the only thing my father ever kept from any of 3/10/1970) to Mitchell-Hedges’s hometown newspaper, the the expeditions. It is made of pure rock crystal Garvin’s book, The Crystal Skull Daily Mail had received a cable toward the end and is over 3,600 years old. I am taking it out so (1973), reports that “The skull, it is claimed, of March 1924 from the “explorer” to that research may be done on it, and I hope that was discovered rather recently--in the announce, “that, with Dr. T.W.F. Gann, of it too may one day find a home where it will be Lubaantun Tomb, part of the abandoned ruins of Liverpool University, the eminent archaeologist revered by all who see it. an enormous Mayan citadel, in British and authority on Honduran antiquities, he The correspondence includes various Honduras. The year was 1927” (p. 13). As [Mitchell-Hedges] had discovered the ruins of a typescripts of Anna’s contracts with Dorland, mentioned earlier, in correspondence and in vast Maya city in the heart of British Honduras” the “Black Virgin of Kazan” promoter, who published sources, the array of years given for (March 31, 1924). The paper quotes Mitchell- wrote Anna in November 1963: the skull’s discovery includes 1924, 1926, 1927, Hedges’s cable describing the astounding find The Skull of Doom, or perhaps more and 1928. “I am a little hazy about the exact of a “vast truncated pyramidal mound.... The likely the Skull of Knowledge, as I have said date,” Anna wrote in a note to Dockstader, “but stone structure reared to a height of 300 feet many times before, I would like to handle this we started the expedition in 1926 and left before above the valley.” A January 24, 1931, letter to art treasure for you...we can launch a the rainy season in 1927” (OC 276, folder #11 - the New York Times quotes Mitchell-Hedges as programme about the Skull and get your price. 9.20.1970). having: (OC 276, folder #11) Frederick Mitchell-Hedges, in the penetrated a hitherto unknown portion In July 1964, Anna Mitchell-Hedges company of Lady Mable Richmond Brown, of the hinterland of Panama, discovering a new signed an agreement with Dorland to promote spent two very brief stays in Lubaantún, the first race of people [in 1922-1923]. In 1924 with Dr. the skull for its eventual sale with an asking in 1924 and the second in 1925. They may T.W.F. Gann, he discovered the ruins of the vast price of not less than $50,000. possibly have had a third visit in 1926, but it is Maya City of Lubaantún in the interior of Three months after the contract was not entirely clear that they ever returned after British Honduras. He returned there on another signed, Anna sent Dockstader a typed statement, 1925. In January 1927, Mitchell-Hedges was expedition in 1925 and commenced the work of dated November 1, 1964, which was titled supposedly attacked and robbed in clearing and excavating the Maya City. “Mitchell-Hedges Godshead [sic] Skull-Mayan Bournemouth of a case with papers and five or According to the article, the British Skull of Divine Mystery.” The written six shrunken heads. But the much publicized Museum sent T.A. Joyce with the expedition in description (OC 276, folder #11) avers that the assault was later proven to be a hoax. In 1928, 1926 and then took over the work. skull is “estimated by the British Museum to be Mr. Mitchell-Hedges was involved in a libel In response to questions posed by Frank at least 3000 years old,” and that it “was found trial, the result of a suit he had brought against Dorland about the connection of Anna’s father by Anna Mitchell-Hedges in British Honduras the Daily Express, the newspaper that had to the Museum of the American Indian, in 1928 in the ruins of an abandoned Mayan exposed the robbery hoax. He lost the suit. A Dockstader wrote: complex.” The document also claims the skull New York Times article (February 15, 1928) has special powers, including that it wards off noted that: “the evil eye and carries protection from During the cross-examination of The Skull of Doom heaven, being white crystal and highly polished, Hedges, he was questioned about his Continued on Page 32