The Secret Special Branch Ledgers

[Michael W Richards]

Hi All,

Stewart Evans is not a man given to talking bollocks.

He wrote in 2011—

"Whilst making tentative enquiries about the ledgers a few years ago we were warned that it was a sensitive subject and was best steered clear of. I took part in a public debate about the Whitechapel murders and I mentioned the Special Branch material. After the talk I was approached by someone who informed me that the material would never be released and if it appeared that it was going to be accessed it would be destroyed."

Interesting that someone so apparently well informed about the subject should have attended Stewart's talk.

If this doesn't tell you all you need to know about the WM, I don't know what will.

And yet collectively we playfully cling to the belief that a man known initially as Leather Apron and subsequently as Jack the Ripper stalked the East End bumping off unfortunates, and, further, based on the desultory evidence bequeathed to us by policemen who obviously knew better, that it's possible to put a name to him.

Stay safe, everybody.

Simon

This is what people aren't grasping Simon, these cases are indeed some kind of "hot potato". This fantasy madman drooling and slicing is Im sure a result of a level of carnage rarely seen done by one human upon another. Must be a monster. As some others recognize, we are all capable of monstrosities and the expression of violence isn't limited to those who are out of control.

[c.d.]

Hello Simon,

While it is certainly strange and somewhat disconcerting that someone as described above attended Stewart's talk I don't see a smoking gun here. Agencies like Special Branch are steeped in secrecy and have a culture of paranoia and distrust. They simply don't want people poking around in their files for any reason. Besides, there could be references to non-Ripper materials as well that they would rather not be leaked to the general public.

I know in the legal profession that attorneys coach their clients who are going to be deposed to provide the bare minimum response to even the most innocuous and harmless question and to slam the door in opposing counsel's face at every opportunity.

Someone can't get in your home if you don't allow them a foot in the door.

c.d.

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

Stewart Evans is not a man given to talking bollocks.

He wrote in 2011—

"Whilst making tentative enquiries about the ledgers a few years ago we were warned that it was a sensitive subject and was best steered clear of. I took part in a public debate about the Whitechapel murders and I mentioned the Special Branch material. After the talk I was approached by someone who informed me that the material would never be released and if it appeared that it was going to be accessed it would be destroyed."

Interesting that someone so apparently well informed about the subject should have attended Stewart's talk.

If this doesn't tell you all you need to know about the WM, I don't know what will.

And yet collectively we playfully cling to the belief that a man known initially as Leather Apron and subsequently as Jack the Ripper stalked the East End bumping off unfortunates, and, further, based on the desultory evidence bequeathed to us by policemen who obviously knew better, that it's possible to put a name to him.

Stay safe, everybody.

Simon

[packers stem]

Files

The Metropolitan Police had resisted allowing the public access to the Special Branch files under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act, 1958, which allowed them to withhold documents for more than the stipulated period. In order to do this all they had to do was persuade the Lord Chancellor that they had a 'special reason' for doing so. Invariably access was then refused.

In 1984 Scotland Yard claimed that the papers that were being withheld had, in fact, been destroyed and no longer existed. All that is supposed to have survived are the index ledgers which give minimal information but which do disclose names. A brief sight of some of the pages of the relevant ledger was given when a certain person who had been granted access posted them on the Internet. However, they quickly disappeared and, apparently, no permission had been granted to post these pages.

Whilst making tentative enquiries about the ledgers a few years ago we were warned that it was a sensitive subject and was best steered clear of. I took part in a public debate about the Whitechapel murders and I mentioned the Special Branch material. After the talk I was approached by someone who informed me that the material would never be released and if it appeared that it was going to be accessed it would be destroyed.

Quite possibly one of the most accurate prophecies of ripperology from Stewart there .....
less than 3 years later and ..... gone

[The Station Cat]

Yes some were very interesting especially the sighting on the night of the stride murder

www.trevormarriott.co.uk

That does sounding very intriguing and only makes me want to read this book more, but try as I might I can't find a copy ANYWHERE!! If anyone has a spare copy that I could purchase from them, I'd very much like to hear from you!!

[Trevor Marriott]

I'm going to re-read the relevant section again but I think I get it.

That's some mighty fine detective work Mr Marriott.

The section on the public's stories whilst on tour was very enjoyable.
More of those if you have any.

All the best.

Yes some were very interesting especially the sighting on the night of the stride murder

https://www.trevormarriott.co.uk

[martin wilson]

I'm going to re-read the relevant section again but I think I get it.

That's some mighty fine detective work Mr Marriott.

The section on the public's stories whilst on tour was very enjoyable.
More of those if you have any.

All the best.

[Trevor Marriott]

Relieved and disappointed at the same time if I'm honest.

The conspiracy theorists amongst us might not be so easily placated mind

Well they have all supposedly been now destroyed

https://www.trevormarriott.co.uk

[The Station Cat]

Having spent a lot of time, and money, on trying to secure their release, and from what I know and have seen, I do not think there were any smoking ripper guns to be found in them in any event.

Lindsay Clutterbuck read them all when preparing his University thesis, and had there been any major ripper revelations he would surely have mentioned them in that thesis.

The truth is they didn't know what they had until people started asking questions about them and wanting to see them.

www.trevormarriott.co.uk

Relieved and disappointed at the same time if I'm honest.

The conspiracy theorists amongst us might not be so easily placated mind

[Trevor Marriott]

Certainly makes you wonder what their game was doesn't?
But having said that if there was anything dodgy in there, they could just have easily denied there existence, or indeed have destroyed it, or not even have documented anything in the first place........................

Having spent a lot of time, and money, on trying to secure their release, and from what I know and have seen, I do not think there were any smoking ripper guns to be found in them in any event.

Lindsay Clutterbuck read them all when preparing his University thesis, and had there been any major ripper revelations he would surely have mentioned them in that thesis.

The truth is they didn't know what they had until people started asking questions about them and wanting to see them.

https://www.trevormarriott.co.uk

[The Station Cat]

As you will see out of 30.000 entries in the SB Register, there were only a handful of named informants, whose names were either in surname only, or pseudonyms, and could not be formally identified.

In other official documents uncovered there were specific informants who were named and could be identified. These documents were up for grabs in the public domain. So the police argument of not ever releasing the names of informants from the register did not stand up.

www.trevormarriott.co.uk

Certainly makes you wonder what their game was doesn't?
But having said that if there was anything dodgy in there, they could just have easily denied there existence, or indeed have destroyed it, or not even have documented anything in the first place........................

[Trevor Marriott]

Purchased it just now. So that's another £4.99 to add to that filthy pile of lucre you have already got Trev.

One thing puzzles me. The files must have been specific about informants, because with such a transient population good luck finding out which Donovan, Sullivan, or Kelly (for example) it was after a hundred odd years. That doesn't make any sense.

Anyway, I'll read the book.

All the best.

As you will see out of 30.000 entries in the SB Register, there were only a handful of named informants, whose names were either in surname only, or pseudonyms, and could not be formally identified.

In other official documents uncovered there were specific informants who were named and could be identified. These documents were up for grabs in the public domain. So the police argument of not ever releasing the names of informants from the register did not stand up.

https://www.trevormarriott.co.uk

[martin wilson]

Purchased it just now. So that's another £4.99 to add to that filthy pile of lucre you have already got Trev.

One thing puzzles me. The files must have been specific about informants, because with such a transient population good luck finding out which Donovan, Sullivan, or Kelly (for example) it was after a hundred odd years. That doesn't make any sense.

Anyway, I'll read the book.

All the best.

[The Station Cat]

No plans at this time sorry,although I am now actively seeking a new publisher

www.trevormarriott.co.uk

Oh, that's a blow!!

[Trevor Marriott]

Many thanks Trevor, read this bit.......

"This new publication incorporates material from the previous publications “Jack the Ripper-A 21st Century Investigation”(2002) and “Jack the Ripper- the Secret Police Files”(2013) and now includes new evidence and new facts obtained in the interim periods of time." and thought that's great!!

Then I saw this bit and my heart sank
"Available in Kindle only, price £4.99"

Any plans to publish it as a proper book? (can't take to Kindle I'm afraid).

No plans at this time sorry,although I am now actively seeking a new publisher

https://www.trevormarriott.co.uk