bigscoop
Gold Member
- Jun 4, 2010
- 13,373
- 8,689
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- Older blue Excal with full mods, Equinox 800.
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Yep, I know, the notion seems a bit ridiculous at first glance, but maybe not? I say this because there are certain details in the Beale Papers that are obvious fabrications, so the question was; "if the story contained any measure of truth then what condition might exist that would cause this unknown author to manufacture details in an otherwise true tale?"
Now then, like every other theory out there this one is also highly speculative in nature except for one detail, it does present an actual Thomas J. Beale of the correct spelling who resided in Richmond, VA. Note that this is not a Thomas Beale, of a Thomas Beal, or any other variation of the name, but rather it is Thomas J. Beale, or TJB, just as presented in the pamphlet.
Also note that this theory presents an entirely new direction, this theory suggesting that, perhaps, Thomas J. Beale was just another servant to an otherwise unknown and unnamed entity and that just like Morriss he too was left holding an empty bag.
Since there is no hard evidence that the adventure in the story ever took place this isn't a theory that I hold too much faith in, however, since all theories at this point are based purely on speculation I figured I'd finally toss this one into the mix as well simply because of it's vastly different proposition. So here you go, something new and fresh to be forever mauled over.
Who was Thomas J. Beale?
First, let us go back to the very core of the mystery at hand, this being the accurate identification of, “Thomas J. Beale.” Over the years there have been several suspects and these same suspects and all of the same evidence continues to be debated and tossed about to this very day without conclusive solution. Regardless which Thomas Beale we choose there is always something waiting in the wings to rattle that Thomas Beale off of the proverbial pedestal. So who, exactly, was “Thomas J. Beale?” Hold this thought.....
In the pamphlet we learn that our author, after having scheduled interviews, proceeded to question Morriss in regards to the narrated events. These detailed meetings have always offered the notion that perhaps our author was a lawyer, the language and details offered strongly suggesting that this might have been the case. However, not necessarily. Could be that Morriss was in poor health and that scheduled interviews were required solely for this reason and no other. This might also explain how our author came into contact with J. B. Ward? Now then, who exactly, was Thomas J. Beale? Could he have been the actual author? Think not? Well, maybe you are right, but then again, maybe you are wrong?
In the story we learn that after a period of time the key and will arrive to Morriss so he will be able to proceed in meeting the requirements of his assigned charge. It is in these details that we quickly assume this to mean that Beale is in control of that letter containing the key, but what if he wasn't the person in control? What if the individual in Saint Louis was really in control of that letter and the deposits, Thomas J. Beale just being the elected captain and foreman/supervisor of the operation? What if Thomas J. Beale only delivered the goods to someone else who was actually responsible for the securing of those goods?
“If” this condition actually existed then it could very well be that Thomas J. Beale himself never knew the final location of those deposits, the contents of the all-important key being completely unknown even to him. Years later, perhaps after feeling like he had been cheated of his share, Beale is forced to hold interview with Morriss in an attempt to recover the iron box and the three ciphers, and to also rehash all of the potentially important details in both of their memories? These details also including the reference about our unknown author having important business affairs in Richmond.
“If” our correct Thomas J. Beale had been around 20 - 25 at the time of his grand adventure in 1822 then this would only make him about 62 – 65 in 1862, or in his late 80's in 1885. Odd, very odd, that an alderman (older man) named Thomas J. Beale was living in Richmond in the 1860's. So I ask again, who, exactly, was this Thomas J. Beale with a “J” living in Richmond?
“If” this Thomas J. Beale of Richmond was the actual author then this might explain all of the discrepancies in the tale, his possession of the ciphers and the letters, his association with Ward and his reasons for keeping his identity anonymous, and his reason for going public with the story at such a late age. This could also explain the description offered of Thomas J. Beale, an old man reliving his youth, and, it could also explain the additional attempt of misdirection regarding the suggestion that Thomas J. Beale was from a western portion of the state, and so on and so on. And last, why is this TJB the only TJB of the “possible” correct age and era that we can locate?
There is absolutely no doubt that the story isn't true as narrated, however, might there be a completely different, and reasonable underlying explanation for this required condition? Perhaps, perhaps not? From the details offered in this tale we are lead to only assume that Thomas J. Beale was in total charge of everything, but was he?
Now then, like every other theory out there this one is also highly speculative in nature except for one detail, it does present an actual Thomas J. Beale of the correct spelling who resided in Richmond, VA. Note that this is not a Thomas Beale, of a Thomas Beal, or any other variation of the name, but rather it is Thomas J. Beale, or TJB, just as presented in the pamphlet.
Also note that this theory presents an entirely new direction, this theory suggesting that, perhaps, Thomas J. Beale was just another servant to an otherwise unknown and unnamed entity and that just like Morriss he too was left holding an empty bag.
Since there is no hard evidence that the adventure in the story ever took place this isn't a theory that I hold too much faith in, however, since all theories at this point are based purely on speculation I figured I'd finally toss this one into the mix as well simply because of it's vastly different proposition. So here you go, something new and fresh to be forever mauled over.
Who was Thomas J. Beale?
First, let us go back to the very core of the mystery at hand, this being the accurate identification of, “Thomas J. Beale.” Over the years there have been several suspects and these same suspects and all of the same evidence continues to be debated and tossed about to this very day without conclusive solution. Regardless which Thomas Beale we choose there is always something waiting in the wings to rattle that Thomas Beale off of the proverbial pedestal. So who, exactly, was “Thomas J. Beale?” Hold this thought.....
In the pamphlet we learn that our author, after having scheduled interviews, proceeded to question Morriss in regards to the narrated events. These detailed meetings have always offered the notion that perhaps our author was a lawyer, the language and details offered strongly suggesting that this might have been the case. However, not necessarily. Could be that Morriss was in poor health and that scheduled interviews were required solely for this reason and no other. This might also explain how our author came into contact with J. B. Ward? Now then, who exactly, was Thomas J. Beale? Could he have been the actual author? Think not? Well, maybe you are right, but then again, maybe you are wrong?
In the story we learn that after a period of time the key and will arrive to Morriss so he will be able to proceed in meeting the requirements of his assigned charge. It is in these details that we quickly assume this to mean that Beale is in control of that letter containing the key, but what if he wasn't the person in control? What if the individual in Saint Louis was really in control of that letter and the deposits, Thomas J. Beale just being the elected captain and foreman/supervisor of the operation? What if Thomas J. Beale only delivered the goods to someone else who was actually responsible for the securing of those goods?
“If” this condition actually existed then it could very well be that Thomas J. Beale himself never knew the final location of those deposits, the contents of the all-important key being completely unknown even to him. Years later, perhaps after feeling like he had been cheated of his share, Beale is forced to hold interview with Morriss in an attempt to recover the iron box and the three ciphers, and to also rehash all of the potentially important details in both of their memories? These details also including the reference about our unknown author having important business affairs in Richmond.
“If” our correct Thomas J. Beale had been around 20 - 25 at the time of his grand adventure in 1822 then this would only make him about 62 – 65 in 1862, or in his late 80's in 1885. Odd, very odd, that an alderman (older man) named Thomas J. Beale was living in Richmond in the 1860's. So I ask again, who, exactly, was this Thomas J. Beale with a “J” living in Richmond?
“If” this Thomas J. Beale of Richmond was the actual author then this might explain all of the discrepancies in the tale, his possession of the ciphers and the letters, his association with Ward and his reasons for keeping his identity anonymous, and his reason for going public with the story at such a late age. This could also explain the description offered of Thomas J. Beale, an old man reliving his youth, and, it could also explain the additional attempt of misdirection regarding the suggestion that Thomas J. Beale was from a western portion of the state, and so on and so on. And last, why is this TJB the only TJB of the “possible” correct age and era that we can locate?
There is absolutely no doubt that the story isn't true as narrated, however, might there be a completely different, and reasonable underlying explanation for this required condition? Perhaps, perhaps not? From the details offered in this tale we are lead to only assume that Thomas J. Beale was in total charge of everything, but was he?
