Why did Florence Maybrick not use this at her defence!

[ChrisGeorge]

James Maybrick's alleged spousal abuse of Florence is of course one of the major planks in the case for the Diary being the real thing. On the other hand, there is no clue in Florence's autobiography My Lost Fifteen Years that she thought that her husband was a serial killer. Of course, she is trying to show herself in the best possible light in that memoir. To me personally, coming as I do from Liverpool, when I first heard about the Diary in 1993, it was the linking of two major Victorian murder cases that made me suspicious of the document. In short, it is too good to be true.

Chris

[Hatchett]

Hi,

I agree with you Eratta.

The odds were already stacked against Florence. Maybrick's family were against her, her once trusted servant was against her, her reputation had been indelibly destroyed. The Judge's summing up to the jury pin points the doomed position she was in.

Even Perry Mason jumping up in court brandishing a copy of the alleged diary at the eleventh hour would not have saved her.

Best wishes.

[Bob Hinton]

No defence

I'm sorry but you cannot kill someone because you think they may be a killer. If that was the case spouses would be piling up ten high all clutching their own personal copy of "Diary of a Serial Killer by Me"

[Errata]

[QUOTE=Inspector Abberline;172786]In Feldmanīs Jack The Ripper : The Final Chapter page : 331 - 333 . Both the author Feldman and Donald Rumbelow are of the opinion that Florence was aware of her husbandīs activities - according to the diary.
"My dear bunny knows all".
Even if she claimed to be innocent - a revelation that her husband was Jack The Ripper would have killed any case against her!

I'm not sure about that. I see horrible cases all the time with incredibly violent spousal abuse, child abuse, etc. And these women kill their husbands to protect themselves or their kids. And they still get convicted and serve quite a bit of time. Because the jury thought that she wouldn't have had to kill him if she just left him before it got to that point. Which is exactly what they would have told Florence Maybrick. "You didn't turn him in to the police, therefore you deserve everything thats coming to you."

[Hatchett]

Hi,

I'm glad you added that.

Best wishes.

[Inspector Abberline]

Why!

In Feldmanīs Jack The Ripper : The Final Chapter page : 331 - 333 . Both the author Feldman and Donald Rumbelow are of the opinion that Florence was aware of her husbandīs activities - according to the diary.
"My dear bunny knows all".
Even if she claimed to be innocent - a revelation that her husband was Jack The Ripper would have killed any case against her!

PS

Just so Iīm not misunderstood Donald Rumbelow does not believe in the diary!

[Addy]

Hi All,

As I understand it, Florence pleaded not guilty. If she would have told about the diary, who was going to believe her not being guilty? Who would want to be married to JtR? She was also trying to protect her children as much as possible.

And indeed, even at the time at first no one thought James had been murdered. There were so many people who knew about his habitual arsenic intake. Only when his brother Michael started to push the doctors, did murder enter the scene.

Greetings,

Addy

[Hatchett]

Hi,

I think the essence of this is that Florence, and no one else, knew about the diary. It was kept in Maybrick's place of work. If it existed. I personally don't believe so. But if it did exist then I dont believe that Florence knew about it.

I also believe that Florence was innocent of murder, and that Maybrick wasnt murdered at all.

I believe that at the time of Maybrick's death and the subsequebt trial, Flornce was kept in a state of isolation by Maybrick's family and a number of disloyal servants, and that she was in a state of utter confusion about something aweful she had been charged with that she was absolutely innocent of.

Best wishes.

[Jason]

Well she was eventually freed so who is to say she didnt ? "dont kick up a fuss and you will go free ...."............just a thought but who knows ?

[Inspector Abberline]

Hi

Florence Maybrick was facing the death penalty for murder. If the diary is true why did she not use the one thing that would certanly absolve her from all blame. Simply tell the court that she killed James Maybrick because he claimed to be Jack The Ripper.
Those who belive that the diary is not a forgery have to explain that.

Inspector Abberline