'Johnto'

[DJA]

Definitely.

[Wickerman]

The reference to Kelly being visited by her brother, and looked for by her father, can both be attributed to Barnett, in the Star, 12th Nov. However, both incidents may have happened while Kelly lived in Pennington street as Barnett also says he never met any of her brothers.

[DJA]

By memory Mary was visited by a middle aged man whom she avoided by moving.

It was surmised to be her father.

In my universe he was dead and it was likely to have been "my Jack".

[Prosector]

You may be right Mr Barnett, I apologise. g I thought that at least one of the papers had mentioned Johnto visiting MJK in Pennington Street but I haven't had time to go through all my files yet. However, several do mention her being visited by her brother in the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards without using the name Johnto. Mostly these are quoting Joe Barnett's evidence at the inquest, including the 5th Edition of the Star of 12th November. Interestingly this initially names him as James Barnet but later names him as Joseph Barnett. The Penny Illustrated Paper of 17th November appears to be quoting directly from local witnesses rather than from the inquest testimony when it mentions her being visited by her brother in the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards. I'll keep combing my files and update if I find anything different.

Prosector

[DJA]

That Maundrell property is certainly in the running.

[erobitha]

I've long suspected the two to be linked.

Locating the gay house would answer some interesting questions.

I assume by this there is doubt over the accuracy of Collingham Place in Kensington being the 'gay house'?

[MrBarnett]

I've long suspected the two to be linked.

Locating the gay house would answer some interesting questions.

Indeed it would. That part of her story appears to have some corroboration at least - from Mrs ‘Buki’.

[DJA]

Hyde Park Barracks would have been closer. HR seems to get the two mixed up. But yes, that’s another sort of coincidence.

I've long suspected the two to be linked.

Locating the gay house would answer some interesting questions.

[MrBarnett]

The above would suggest if she was accurate about the battalion and the right regiment, she must have had very recent contact with (brother or lover) prior to her death to know this. Logic would suggest our Mary most likely as you pointed out, knew someone in that btn. None of them are called Henry.

The movements of Guards regiments could have been picked up in the press.

[MrBarnett]

How does Wellington Barracks and a "gay" house in Knightsbridge line up in your books?

Hyde Park Barracks would have been closer. HR seems to get the two mixed up. But yes, that’s another sort of coincidence.

[erobitha]

1888

Sept: Dublin
Oct: Chelsea(?)
Oct: Dublin
Nov: Dublin
Dec: Dublin

The above would suggest if she was accurate about the battalion and the right regiment, she must have had very recent contact with (brother or lover) prior to her death to know this. Logic would suggest our Mary most likely as you pointed out, knew someone in that btn. None of them are called Henry.

[erobitha]

The second Battalion returned from the Sudan with some fanfare in late 1885.
Perhaps Mary inserted a brother into that bloody glory.
Wikipedia has them deploying to Dublin in 1895.

According to other sources that 1st btn was in Dublin in 1881:

”In 1881, the 1st Battalion deployed to Dublin, Ireland and the following year the battalion, as part of the Guard Brigade, took part in an expedition to Egypt, which came about in response to a revolt led by Urabi Pasha, an Egyptian military officer.”

https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Hist...805–1913)

[MrBarnett]

I figured that you would have better information,which is why I mentioned Wiki as a source.

No need to be narky.

I retract my narkiness!

[DJA]

Quite when Kelly left Pennington Street isn't clear, is it? If it coincided with the 2BSG’s arrival at the Tower that might support the idea that her brother was among them.

How does Wellington Barracks and a "gay" house in Knightsbridge line up in your books?

[DJA]

I figured that you would have better information,which is why I mentioned Wiki as a source.

No need to be narky.