Originally posted by Mike J. G.
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One Incontrovertible, Unequivocal, Undeniable Fact Which Refutes the Diary
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Originally posted by Mike J. G. View PostExcerpts from The Fabulous National, pg.81 Liverpool Soundings, by Richard Whittington-Egan:
The year 1841 is noteworthy in that the race was won for the first time by a mare, the valiant "Charity." Since then, only a dozen other "remarkable ladies"
have finished first in this most arduous of races...
"Frigate" (1889)
It is interesting to recall in passing that it was in the year of "Frigate's" win that Mrs. Maybrick and her husband had a quarrel upon the Aintree course which was among the first causes of the murder for which she later stood trial and which became Liverpool's criminal cause celebre of 1889.
There is much mention in this chapter about the various record-times for many of the winning horses.
This chapter is interesting because in the OP, much is made of these "rare details" mentioned in the diary, of which, the national winner for 1889 was included.
Odd that those details can be found in a book authored by a well-respected Liverpool writer who also wrote about Maybrick's murder, and also more notably, Jack the Ripper.
Genius!
Except this bit: I was rather expecting some text which illustrated that Frigate's win in 1889 was the fastest for some period of time? I hadn't been aware that W-E had published that fact so I was full of anticipation. I hadn't expected to just get an irrelevant quotation boldened as my answer.
Must be my age.
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Originally posted by Iconoclast View PostWe know all this, Mike. The OP was nine long years ago so all that Frigate was a fast 'un malarky was long-since noted.
The OP is less ill-observed as the book (Harrison I) upon which the comment rested. The fact that some of the Frigate-related chat was out there in a few books is no longer one to shake the tree here, I'm afraid.
But tell me, just so that I'm reassured, what exactly W-E said about the record-times. He gets mentioned 'round these parts a few times, but he's been playing a fairly minor role in all this drama. I haven't even got a copy of "Murder, Mystery, and Moving Next Door to Them" so I can't check this for myself, I'm afraid.
Plus, I'm rather forgetful these days ...
I just find it interesting because I've never seen anyone specifically mention these books by W-E in relation to the details contained within the diary, and I have looked. I don't doubt that it may have been discussed somewhere, but I've not seen it.
It's surely not a coincidence that these were a popular series of books about this city, containing chapters re: Maybrick, Florence and her lover, the National, and so on.
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Originally posted by Iconoclast View PostOh - I've just spotted what you did there! You turned a quote box rather clumsily into a bold paragraph to draw my attention to the fact that you believe you had already answered my question!
Genius!
Except this bit: I was rather expecting some text which illustrated that Frigate's win in 1889 was the fastest for some period of time? I hadn't been aware that W-E had published that fact so I was full of anticipation. I hadn't expected to just get an irrelevant quotation boldened as my answer.
Must be my age.
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Originally posted by Mike J. G. View PostI just find it interesting because I've never seen anyone specifically mention these books by W-E in relation to the details contained within the diary, and I have looked. I don't doubt that it may have been discussed somewhere, but I've not seen it.
It's surely not a coincidence that these were a popular series of books about this city, containing chapters re: Maybrick, Florence and her lover, the National, and so on.
It is well-known in these circles, without ever having been well-read (perhaps).
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Originally posted by Iconoclast View PostMike, seriously - "Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem" plays a key role in the journal story. Mike Barrett had a copy of it which he had loaned to Tony Devereaux and which the police were very keen to get their hands on when investigating a potential crime. It has been said to be the basis for the journal, or at very least an inspiration for it.
It is well-known in these circles, without ever having been well-read (perhaps).
It may interest you to know that my family is acquainted with the Devereaux's. I know a lot of the younger Devereaux's, including Michael and Anthony, as we attended St. Austin's together and played football as children.
Did it not strike you as odd that Barrett had these books in his possession, considering the connection between the details in the diary and said books?
E.T.A. I guess my point was more re: Liverpool Soundings, as that's the only one that contains the relevant info re: the National, IIRC.
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Originally posted by Mike J. G. View PostTbf, there are many examples of hoaxing, not merely forgery, but hoaxing, where the perpetrator's in all likelihood didn't bother to do much research at all.
There's this weird notion that you'd have to be reading some rare books to have forged the Maybrick diary, when we know that isn't true, as all of the details were contained within books that you could purchase at the time in almost any half-decent bookstore. You could probably have obtained all of the Maybrick stuff in one lunchtime visit to W.H. Smith and had time to pick up a sandwich!
You make a fair point about not requiring a large number of books to construct much of the journal. It is predominantly built around the obvious facts which find their way into most Ripper texts. Nevertheless, as has been discussed a multitude of times on This Thread (it's more or less royalty now so I'm giving it capitals) and others (lower case 'cos they're rubbish - except for History vs Maybrick, of course) there are many subtler moments in the journal which are way beyond the reasonable expectations of any forger, whether casual or skilled at their art.
It is only one example, so let's not get hung up on one example, but the journal writer very clearly knows when in the narrative to have Edwin Maybrick return from America. It's very clear in the text that he's been away and he's been away in America. And Harrison (in Harrison II, I think) showed that Edwin was indeed away in America and returned around the time he returned in the journal. Maybe in itself not a mind-blowing entry, but one of many which were subtler than the average fact and therefore may very well point to authenticity rather than hoax.
I'll bet you're a reader of the Liverpool Echo? Their Diego Laurenz postcard is simply impossibly coincidental if Maybrick was not Jack the Spratt McVitie, I promise you.
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Originally posted by Mike J. G. View PostYeah, that was among the books I was discussing within W-E's republished works in the 80's. Most of the stories contained in that series had already been published in his other works in the 60's, etc.
It may interest you to know that my family is acquainted with the Devereaux's. I know a lot of the younger Devereaux's, including Michael and Anthony, as we attended St. Austin's together and played football as children.
Did it not strike you as odd that Barrett had these books in his possession, considering the connection between the details in the diary and said books?
E.T.A. I guess my point was more re: Liverpool Soundings, as that's the only one that contains the relevant info re: the National, IIRC.
It is genuinely interesting that you know the Devereaux's as the daughter's dismay on the Maybrick video is very obvious - it is clear (to me) that Tony was an unwilling participant in all of this. He may very well have acted as a pawn in handing the journal over to Mike, but whether he did or he did not, I think it is profoundly unlikely that he was involved in any other way with the journal. I well understand his family's anger and concerns that his repuation was being impugned in this way.
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Originally posted by Iconoclast View PostFair enough about Liverpool Soundings, though "M, M, and M" is usually the preferred choice as inspiration for the 'hoax'.
It is genuinely interesting that you know the Devereaux's as the daughter's dismay on the Maybrick video is very obvious - it is clear (to me) that Tony was an unwilling participant in all of this. He may very well have acted as a pawn in handing the journal over to Mike, but whether he did or he did not, I think it is profoundly unlikely that he was involved in any other way with the journal. I well understand his family's anger and concerns that his repuation was being impugned in this way.
Look at you two now..chattin' like old mates in a pub...
Ikes thinkin' "Fair enough he's parked his ar*e on the sofa wiv his shellsuit"
Mikes thinkin'...."oooh..maybe Ike knows summatt"
and off it rocks!
I'm off to start a dating website....
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Originally posted by andy1867 View PostSee!!!
Look at you two now..chattin' like old mates in a pub...
Ikes thinkin' "Fair enough he's parked his ar*e on the sofa wiv his shellsuit"
Mikes thinkin'...."oooh..maybe Ike knows summatt"
and off it rocks!
I'm off to start a dating website....
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Originally posted by Iconoclast View PostIt is only one example, so let's not get hung up on one example, but the journal writer very clearly knows when in the narrative to have Edwin Maybrick return from America. It's very clear in the text that he's been away and he's been away in America. And Harrison (in Harrison II, I think) showed that Edwin was indeed away in America and returned around the time he returned in the journal. Maybe in itself not a mind-blowing entry, but one of many which were subtler than the average fact and therefore may very well point to authenticity rather than hoax.
I think it would make sense that Edwin, along with Michael, would be mentioned as part of that case, by varying sources during Florence's subsequent trial at St. George's.
I guess it would mean that whoever wrote the diary, or someone who helped, actually did a little more research than I'd have given them credit for, but it also isn't impossible for this info to have been available somewhere for one who was interested enough to look.
Originally posted by Iconoclast View PostI'll bet you're a reader of the Liverpool Echo? Their Diego Laurenz postcard is simply impossibly coincidental if Maybrick was not Jack the Spratt McVitie, I promise you.
There is a vast quantity of newspapers stored at Picton and in the city-center, though. I've rifled through a few of these myself, and there's always a few people on hand to help with any specific area of research you might be doing.
Impossible to rule out, and impossible to confirm, tbh.
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Originally posted by Iconoclast View PostFair enough about Liverpool Soundings, though "M, M, and M" is usually the preferred choice as inspiration for the 'hoax'.
It is genuinely interesting that you know the Devereaux's as the daughter's dismay on the Maybrick video is very obvious - it is clear (to me) that Tony was an unwilling participant in all of this. He may very well have acted as a pawn in handing the journal over to Mike, but whether he did or he did not, I think it is profoundly unlikely that he was involved in any other way with the journal. I well understand his family's anger and concerns that his repuation was being impugned in this way.
I've always wondered what I could find out if I did a little sleuthing, but it's honestly a bit of an awkward thing to do when you've not spoken to these people in a long time. I actually saw Michael and Anthony only recently, Anthony I saw in the Rocket pub near Old Swan, and Michael I think still lives in Aigburth with his girlfriend.
I'd always intended to talk to Mike Barrett when he was alive, but never got around to it, but I did briefly see him out and about once or twice.
I'm certain there's likely some people knocking around the pubs here who might have heard a few things about it all.
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Originally posted by Iconoclast View PostIt is only one example, so let's not get hung up on one example, but the journal writer very clearly knows when in the narrative to have Edwin Maybrick return from America. It's very clear in the text that he's been away and he's been away in America. And Harrison (in Harrison II, I think) showed that Edwin was indeed away in America and returned around the time he returned in the journal. Maybe in itself not a mind-blowing entry, but one of many which were subtler than the average fact and therefore may very well point to authenticity rather than hoax.
I say 'shabby' because the solution is simple. The 1957 book, This Friendless Lady, by Nigel Morland, which has long been put forward as one of the forger's sources, states, at page 40:
"Edwin Maybrick, for whom Florence had always held a great regard, returned from the United States after a visit on business lasting since the previous August. He dined with James the following evening..."
Morland's book also tells us that James' pet name for Florence was 'Bunny' and, often overlooked by proponents of the Diary, that Michael wrote lyrics (i.e. page 7 refers to "the strong religious and moral nature of his lyrics"), something which is said by Diary believers to have been an astonishing piece of knowledge for a forger to have acquired.
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Originally posted by andy1867 View PostSee!!!
Look at you two now..chattin' like old mates in a pub...
Ikes thinkin' "Fair enough he's parked his ar*e on the sofa wiv his shellsuit"
Mikes thinkin'...."oooh..maybe Ike knows summatt"
and off it rocks!
I'm off to start a dating website....
Alas, though, I'm already happily under the thumb!
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