Jack the Ripper: The Secret Police Files (18 page)

At about the same time as all this was being discussed by my wife and I, I spoke to William Graham about our idea. This was my wife’s father and he said to me, it’s a good idea, if you can get away with it and in fact he gave me L50 towards expenses which I expected to pay at least for the appropriate paper should I find it
.

I feel sure it was the end of January 1990 when I went to the Auctioneer, Outhwaite & Litherland, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
.

It was about 11.30am in the morning when I attended the Auctioneers. I found a photograph Album which contained approximately, approximately (sic) 125 pages of photographs. They were old photographs and they were all to do with the 1914/1918 1st World War. This Album was part of lot No.126 which was for auction with a 'brass compass', it looked to me like a 'seaman's Compass', it was round faced with a square encasement, all of which was brass, it was marked on the face, North, South, East and West in heavy lettering. I particularly noticed that the compass had no 'fingers'
.

When the bidding stated (sic) I noticed another man who was interested in the items (sic) he was smartly dressed, I would say in his middle forties, he was interested in the photographs. I noticed that his collar and tie were immaculate and I think he was a Military man
.

This man bid up to L45 and then I bid L50 and the other man dropped out
.

At this stage I was given a ticket on which was marked the item number and the price I had bid. I then had to hand this ticket over to the Office and I paid L50. This ticked was stamped. A woman, slim build, aged about 35/40 years dealt with me and she asked me my name, which I gave as P Williams, XXXXXXXXXXXXX I think I gave the number as 47. When I was asked for details about me the name Williams arose because I purchased my house from a Mr. P Williams, the road name I used is in fact the next street to my mum’s address, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
.

I then returned to the Auction Room with my stamped ticket and handed it over to an assistant, a young man, who gave me the Lot I had purchased
.

I was then told to return (sic) my ticket to the Office, but I did not do this and left with the Photograph Album and Compass
.

When I got the Album and Compass home, I examined it closely, inside the front cover I noticed a makers stamp mark, dated 1908 or 1909. To remove this without trace I soaked the whole of the front cover in Linseed Oil, once the oil was absorbed by the front cover, which took about 2 days to dry out. I even used the heat from the gas oven to assist in the drying out
.

I then removed the maker’s seal which was ready to fall off. I then took a 'Stanley Knife' and removed all the photographs, and quite a few pages
.

I then made a mark 'kidney' shaped, just below centre inside the cover with the Knife
.

These last 64 pages inside the Album which Anne and I decided would be the Diary. Anne and I went to town in Liverpool and in Bold Street I bought three pens, that would hold fountain nibs, the little brass nibs. I bought 22 brass nibs at about 7p to 12p, a variety of small brass nibs, all from the 'Medice' art gallery
.

This all happened late January 1990 and on the same day that Anne and I bought the nibs we then decided to purchase the ink elsewhere and we decided to make our way to the Bluecoat Chambers, in fact we had a drink in the Empire Pub in Hanover Street on the way
.

Anne Barrett and I visited the Bluecoat Chambers Art shop and we purchased a small bottle of Diamine Manuscript ink. I cannot remember the exact price of the Ink. I think it was less than a pound
.

We were now ready to go and start the Diary. We went home and on the same evening that we had purchased everything, that is the materials we needed, we decided to have a practice run and we used A4 paper for this, and at first we tried it in my handwriting, but we realised and I must emphasize (sic) this, my handwriting was too (sic) distinctive (sic) so it had to be in Anne's handwriting, after the practice run which took us approximately two days, we decided to go for hell or bust
.

I sat in the living room by the rear lounge window in the corner with my word processor; Anne Barrett sat with her back on to me as she wrote the manuscript. This pose was later filmed by Paul Feldman of MIA Productions Limited
.

Several days prior to our purchase of materials I had started to roughly outline the Diary on my word processor
.

Anne and I started to write the Diary in all it took us 11 days. I worked on the story and then I dictated it to Anne who wrote it down in the Photograph Album and thus we produced the Diary of Jack the Ripper. Much to my regret there was a witness to this, my young daughter Caroline
.

During this period when we were writing the Diary, Tony Devereux was house-bound, very ill and in fact after we completed the Diary we left it for a while with Tony being severely (sic) ill and in fact he died late May early June 1990
.

During the writing of the diary of Jack the Ripper, when I was dictating to Anne, mistakes occurred from time to time for example, Page 6 of the diary, 2nd paragraph, line 9 starts with an ink blot, this blot covers a mistake when I told Anne to write down James instead of Thomas. The mistake was covered by the Ink Blot
.

Page 226 of the Book, page 20, centre page inverted commas, quote "TURN ROUND THREE TIMES, AND CATCH WHOM YOU MAY". This was from Punch Magazine, 3rd week in September 1888. The journalist was P. W. WENN
.

Page 228 of the book, page 22 Diary, centre top verse large ink blot which covers the letter’s’ which Anne Barrett wrote down by mistake
.

Page 250 book, page 44 Diary, centre page, quote: "OH COSTLY INTERCOURSE OF DEATH". This quotation I took from SPHERE HISTORY OF LITERATURE, Volume 2 English Poetry and Prose 1540-1671, Edited by Christopher Ricks, however, Anne Barrett made a mistake when she wrote it down, she should have written down 'O' not 'OH'
.

Page 184 in Volume 2 refers (sic)
.

When I disposed of the photographs from the Album by giving them to William Graham, I kept one back. This photograph was of a Grave, with a Donkey standing nearby. I had actually written the "Jack the Ripper Diary" first on my word processor, which I purchased in 1985, from Dixons in Church Street, Liverpool City Centre. The Diary was on two hard back discs when I had finished it. The Discs, the one Photograph, the compass, all pens and the remainder of the ink was taken by my sister Lynn Richardson to her home address, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. When I asked her at a later date for the property she informed me that after an article had appeared in the Daily Post, by Harold Brough, she had destroyed everything, in order to protect me
.

When I eventually did the deal with Robert Smith he took possession of the Diary and it went right out of my control. There is little doubt in my mind that I have been hoodwinked or if you like conned myself. My inexperience in the Publishing game has been my downfall, whilst all around me are making money, it seems that I am left out of matters, and my Solicitors are now engaged in litigation. I have even had bills to cover expenses incurred by the author of the book, Shirley Harrison
.

I finally decided in November 1993 that enough was enough and I made it clear from that time on that the Diary of Jack the Ripper was a forgery, this brought a storm down on me, abuse and threats followed and attacks on my character as Paul Feldman led this attack, because I suppose he had the most to gain from discrediting me
.

Mr. Feldman became so obsessed with my efforts to bare the truth of the matter, that he started to threaten me, he took control (sic) of my wife who left me and my child and he rang me up continuously threatening and bullying me and telling me I would never see my family again. On one occasion people were banging on my windows as Feldman threatened my life over the phone. I became so frightened that I sort (sic) the help of a Private Detective Alan Gray and complaints were made to the Police which I understand are still being pursued
.

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 L20,000 before the end of the month. She was all over me and we even made love, it was all very odd because just as quickly (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
.

I have now decided to make this affidavit to make the situation clear with regard to the Forgery of the Jack the Ripper Diary, which Anne Barrett and I did in case anything happens (sic) to me. I would hate to leave at this stage the name of Mr. Maybrick as a tarnished serial killer when as far as I know, he was not a killer
.

I am the author of the Manuscript written by my wife Anne Barrett at my dictation which is known as The Jack the Ripper Diary
.

I give my name so history do tell what love can do to a gentleman born, Yours Truly -- Michael Barrett
.

D. P. HARDY & CO
.

Imperial Chambers
,

However on January 26th 1995 he again returned to his solicitor and signed a second affidavit in which he retracted much of what he had said in his first affidavit. This is also reproduced below. The first part of this second affidavit relates to a complaint he made to the police regarding the threats and assaults etc. he had been subjected to which he states made him retract his first affidavit.

Thursday 26th January 1995

MICHAEL BARRETT will say:-

Further to my statement of the 23rd January 1995, I have since contacted the Police and I am told that the Crime No. is 16391.J.95.CR.001, and that this Investigation (sic) has now been allocated to a Detective at Copperas Hill Police Station on 'A' Block
.

At this time I am staying at an address that is only known to Mr. Gray because this matter is becoming very serious, I have already had threats, my home attacked, and all this is ledged with the Police, also my phone wires were cut and now I have been beaten up, perhaps when they find me dead one day they might take me seriously
.

On Wednesday 18th January 1995 when they all called at my home I was pressurised by them. Feldman's man Skinner came earlier than the others and started a tape recording off and my very words at the beginning (sic) were, "FELDMAN YOU BASTARD GO AND GET FUCKED, BECAUSE YOU ARE A BLOODY BIG MAN WITH A HELL OF A LOT OF MONEY AND AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, I WILL NEVER GIVE INTO YOU. I REFUSE TO BE BLACKMAILED". The tape carried on as the other three people arrived, Mrs. Harrison, Sally Evemy, and a man who said, "he was an Independent Adviser". I made reference on Tape that the hatred between Anne Barrett and I must stop. The Independent Advisor never said a word, but the others made it clear to me that if the 'Diary of Jack the Ripper' is genuine I would get my money in June 1995, however due to my Solicitor advising me some time before this meeting, that I had been granted legal aid to take Shirley Harrison to Court, along with Robert Smith and that if I stay quiet I would get my money, so this being the case I decided to collaborate with these people and Anne's story by supporting the Diary, much to my regret but at the time I did not know what to do
.

I was also afraid that if Anne and I get arrested for fraud what would happen to our daughter. I did not know who the Independent Advisor was and I felt a serious threat to me either through the Law or if I didn’t (sic) conform personal injury maybe. My wife has for the past 12 months kept my daughter away from me and used her to threaten me and blackmail me that I will not see her again if I don't co-operate
.

Paul Feldman in June 1994 contacted me by telephone and I quote him "BARRETT I WILL FUCKING GUARANTEE (sic) I WILL DESTROY YOU AND YOU WILL NOT SEE YOUR (sic) WIFE AND DAUGHTER, EVER AGAIN"
.

This is the type of pressure I have been under and there is no doubt in my mind that Paul Feldman in particular wants me dead
.

I should inform you that I actually worked as a Barman in the Post House Public House about 7 years ago and I gained a full knowledge of the history of the old pub, and I decided when writing the Diary that I would put the name Post House in knowing full well that it had been called the 'Muck Midden' in the 1800's. This fact could actually be established and in particularly by me should I later need to prove what I had done
.

I am ready now should it be necessary to speak to the Detectives from Scotland Yard who saw me some time ago. Detective Thomas
.

When writing the Diary Devereux was a tremendous help to Anne and I but we did not go to anyone else for advice in the matter
.

I know it’s old hat and I am sick of trying to convince people about it but the truth is I wrote the Diary of Jack the Ripper and my wife Anne Barrett transcribed it onto the old photograph Album
.

I should also mention that because of personal injury to my right hand and arm I now sign as best I can with my left hand
.