And This Is Factual!

[David Orsam]

Yep, I agree. I was really just saying no matter which way one jumps on Mike's truthfulness, even if everything he says is a lie, the way he wrote it and what he wrote it on is damning.

Yes, I think we were both saying the same thing.

Daves united!

[DirectorDave]

Yes, if it's all a lie, it's quite creative, showing skill in creating a false narrative, but if these are genuinely private notes written to Anne it would be very strange for him to be saying things like "you and me wrote the diary" if it wasn't true, as there would be no point.

Yep, I agree. I was really just saying no matter which way one jumps on Mike's truthfulness, even if everything he says is a lie, the way he wrote it and what he wrote it on is damning.

If this was a psychological evaluation, the data points would make "Mike Barrett = Forger" clinically significant.

Not just the Prime suspect, but barring his wife being more the master forger than him, he is the only suspect....except Maybrick, and no one with any sense would still be claiming that.

[David Orsam]

David. I could be wrong, but I'm thinking the last sentence on the last note in post #4 might read: "you [will] never win untill [sic] you speak to me."

Yes, I think you are right RJ.

[David Orsam]

In Mike's sworn affidavit there is reference to a sort of 'honey trap' where Anne comes over, makes nice, and shortly afterwards obtains the red diary.

This is the honey trap passage:

"It was about 1st week in December 1994 that my wife Anne Barrett visited me, she asked me to keep my mouth shut and that if I did so I could receive a payment of £20,000 before the end of the month. She was all over me and we even made love, it was all very odd because just as quickley (sic) as she made love to me she threatened me and returned to her old self. She insisted Mr Feldman was a very nice Jewish man who was only trying to help her. My wife was clearly under the influence of this man Feldman who I understand had just become separated from his own wife. It seemed very odd to me that my wife who had been hidden in London for long enough by Feldman should suddenly re-appear and work on me for Mr Feldman."

And of the red diary:

"My wife is now in possession of this Diary in fact she asked for it specifically recently when I saw her at her home address."

[rjpalmer]

David. I could be wrong, but I'm thinking the last sentence on the last note in post #4 might read: "you [will] never win untill [sic] you speak to me."

Why exactly is Barrett after Anne's "help"? Is this some sort of scheme to get her to help him privately expose the Diary is a fake, to apply leverage to Smith & Co?

Rhetorical question.

[David Orsam]

The notes that I saw, in their original form, weren't crumpled enough to have come from a wastepaper basket I don't think.

While keeping in mind the possibility that Mike could have created these notes to try and prove to someone that the Diary was a forgery and that Anne was involved my feeling is that they are genuine notes intended for Anne which he never had the chance to deliver and Alan Gray retrieved them. My main reason for saying this is that I've seen other notes written by Mike, a couple to Caroline and one to his friend Jenny (and a few one liners which appear intended for Anne), none of which say anything incriminating so it's not like the notes I've posted were the only ones Mike created and didn't deliver. However, it's fair to say I would say that wouldn't I?, bearing in mind that if the notes are genuine it's pretty much game over and the Diary is a modern forgery.

[rjpalmer]

I don't see it that way at all.

What I find interesting, if we accept these at face value as private communications, is that Anne has been asking Mike for certain tapes, receipts, etc., with the obvious inference that she is seeking to destroy any evidence that Mike still might have.

This is credible, because it brings to mind the strange affair of the maroon diary and how exactly it ended up in Anne's possession by early 1995. In Mike's sworn affidavit there is reference to a sort of 'honey trap' where Anne comes over, makes nice, and shortly afterwards obtains the red diary. This note seems to support the credibility of that claim, at least to me.

Anne at this point is in the 'fold' of Paul Feldman. I've said it before, but if I were Keith Skinner, I would seriously consider the possibility that Anne and Feldy were playing games behind his back.

(P.S. Though I should of course add that Feldman may have been entirely oblivious to all of this).

[Pcdunn]

So Mike lies and cofabulates truth and reality with what he wishes had happened or would happen.
No problem with that. He strikes me as a true rascal at the least, and a con man at the most.

So he is writing ill-spelled notes to his former wife, which apparently weren't sent to her, simply to provide extra material for a frame that she was actually involved in the hoax? And that she had a hand in the watch?

Did these notes come from his wastebasket, do you know? At least one seems to have been crumpled up and then smoothed out again.

[David Orsam]

What are we left with.

Him forging documents.

Yes, if it's all a lie, it's quite creative, showing skill in creating a false narrative, but if these are genuinely private notes written to Anne it would be very strange for him to be saying things like "you and me wrote the diary" if it wasn't true, as there would be no point.

[David Orsam]

Yes, looking at again, my transcript should have said "receipts" not "receipt".

[DirectorDave]

"Recites (presumably receipts) for the watch" -- are we ignoring this little tidbit? He had them, promised them to her... Are we to assume she paid for the engraving on the watch?!

Or just more lies?

OK let's try this again....I tried it on another thread.

Let's say everything he says is a lie.

What are we left with.

Him forging documents.
More "Barrattisms" that are found in the diary.
Proof that he was paid decent money (20 years ago) as a professional editorial contributor to magazines.

[Pcdunn]

"Recites (presumably receipts) for the watch" -- are we ignoring this little tidbit? He had them, promised them to her... Are we to assume she paid for the engraving on the watch?!

Or just more lies?

[DirectorDave]

£120.00 quid a month for making word puzzles and quizzes....nice work if you can get it Mike, especially if you can't write a sick note.

[rjpalmer]

Should we be concerned that he mentions 'receipts for the watch'?

[DirectorDave]

Incredible.

At this stage in proceedings I'd say predictable.

Good spot Sam, and well done David "the truth shall out" but only if someone like yourself has the fortitude for the task.