The Diary—Old Hoax or New?

[Iconoclast]

I honestly think that to suggest the Diary was written by Bongo Barrett is more ludicrous than to suggest it was written by Maybrick. And surely if Barrett created the Diary then he's also responsible for the watch, so we now have him being capable of embedding old metal particles in the watch in such a way as to fool experts, and then selling the watch to a jewellers shop in the hope his engravings will be discovered and back up the Diary? And if he created (or was part of the nest of forgers who created) both then why make the signature on the watch match JM's but not the one in the Diary?? Did Barrett ever speak of the watch or Albert Johnson on record? Just wondering what his thoughts were.

All really good questions, Steven. I agree with you that the thought of Bongo producing this level of craft is a real stretch. If he did, he was also a truly brilliant actor, and if this is the case then he was a one-hit wonder master-forger and truly brilliant actor. Why did he save all of this skill and expertise to just this one venture? Why leave his acting prowess to a relatively late stage of his life?

The watch is a compelling piece of evidence but it doesn’t have to be a Bongo knock-off. In principle, and I think this may be an Orsam argument, Albert could have bought the watch as he described and someone such as that lovable rogue of a younger brother Robbie could have done a little creative work on the innards when Albert’s back was turned (after having read of the Maybrick ‘diary’ in the Liverpool Echo).

I certainly wouldn’t discard the watch, but equally I wouldn’t worry about having to link it to Bongo Barrett and his band of brigands.

PS I tried valiantly to get an apostrophe in my use of ‘wouldn’t’ but the editor wouldnt apparently let me do it. I did intend one and if one is there, great. Questionable editor, though!

Cheers,

Ike

[StevenOwl]

Hi Ike,
Basically, yes. He may have read two or there others, I don't know, but in initial discussions he didn't seem to know very much about either case. He could have been hiding his knowledge, of course.

I honestly think that to suggest the Diary was written by Bongo Barrett is more ludicrous than to suggest it was written by Maybrick. And surely if Barrett created the Diary then he's also responsible for the watch, so we now have him being capable of embedding old metal particles in the watch in such a way as to fool experts, and then selling the watch to a jewellers shop in the hope his engravings will be discovered and back up the Diary? And if he created (or was part of the nest of forgers who created) both then why make the signature on the watch match JM's but not the one in the Diary?? Did Barrett ever speak of the watch or Albert Johnson on record? Just wondering what his thoughts were.

[PaulB]

Hi Paul,

Is it true that Mike did not start reading any books about Jack or Maybrick until the scrapbook came into his possession (i.e., blank or otherwise), and is it further true that the only book he appeared to own was 'Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem' which contained only two small chapters on the Maybricks from which to work?

Clearly, you weren't living with the Barretts so you don't know for certain, but was it at least your (and other researchers') understanding that this was the sum of Barrett's library on Jack and the Maybricks when you first met him?

Ike

Hi Ike,
Basically, yes. He may have read two or there others, I don't know, but in initial discussions he didn't seem to know very much about either case. He could have been hiding his knowledge, of course.

[Iconoclast]

When was the Diary begun?Has the thought occurred the book may have been purchased with no idea of who was to be the central character.

harry,

One of the things I like about the Maybrick threads - unlike the plethora of inane posts, threads, and even entire sections - is that in the main part the degree of speculation remains germane to the issue of the scrapbook's authenticity (or inauthenticity). It is (for me) the function of other sections to debate meaningless, muddying questions which do not advance the case one iota. I think you know the sort of waffle I'm referring to:

• Did Kate wear red socks on the night she died?
• Who was Mr Fluffycake and what was the Bethnal Green connection?
• Quick poll: who thinks Charles Cross wore platform boots?

Now I've obviously made the above up, but they represent the sort of endless navel-gazing which more often than not dominates the so-called discussions on the Casebook. In contrast, the Maybrick section tends to focus on the specifics (the internal evidence, the scrapbook, the watch, the Barretts, the confession, the retraction, the research, et cetera). That makes it slightly 'special', I'd say.

If you're going to ask a question like the one you pose (above), could you add a bit of detail around why you feel it would be relevant and what relevance you feel that might be? If it's just idle speculation, it's idle navel-gazing (sorry, mate - I've done it myself so I know what I'm talking about). The Maybrick section of the Casebook is the best by far precisely because we don't often have to resort to pure, pointless speculation (again, I've done it myself, mea culpa). I (for one) would like to keep it that way.

Cheers,

Ike

[Iconoclast]

It was good enough to provide a date before which the "diary" could not have been composed. The other examples presumably support it. Why don't people accept them? For my part, I'm surprised that Mike was able to hide having read so many books on the subjects of Jack and James.

Hi Paul,

Is it true that Mike did not start reading any books about Jack or Maybrick until the scrapbook came into his possession (i.e., blank or otherwise), and is it further true that the only book he appeared to own was 'Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem' which contained only two small chapters on the Maybricks from which to work?

Clearly, you weren't living with the Barretts so you don't know for certain, but was it at least your (and other researchers') understanding that this was the sum of Barrett's library on Jack and the Maybricks when you first met him?

Ike