Liaoyuan John writes to Lynn Catoe, shortly after they began conferring about her proposed UFO bibliography. Among the interesting bits in this letter are Gordon Evans’s withdrawal from ufology, reports of a John Keel impersonator, a black Cadillac cruising Ivan and Alma Sanderson’s farm, warnings of “odd incidents” Ms. Catoe might experience, and the news that John is now “trying to lead away from the extra-terrestrial thesis and point in new directions.” The “episode with the man in the pickup truck” happened to Ms. Catoe while she was driving to visit the Sandersons in October. A man stopped her and insisted on crawling under her car; when she reached the farm she discovered three lumps of putty on the bottom of her gas tank. John tells the story in more detail in Chapter 17 of The Mothman Prophecies.
ADDENDUM: In the comments, Clarence Carlson expressed curiosity about Gordon Evans. Here’s a link to a transcript of Jim Moseley’s UFO convention in June 1967, which includes a talk by Evans. There’s also a talk by John, and contributions by Gray Barker, Long John Nebel, Ivan Sanderson, and other people who show up in these letters.
This is good stuff! This seems to be (to me anyway) the first indication that John is turning away from the ETH. And of course there is the “usual” weirdness.
I’m also trying to recall anything about Gordon Evans. I know he was a UFO researcher. Thanks Doug!
Comment by Clarence Carlson — March 2, 2020 @ 3:56 pm
Clarence — Yes, that’s early in John’s moving away from the ETH. I added a link to a transcript of Moseley’s 1967 UFO convention, which includes a talk by Gordon Evans.
Comment by Doug — March 3, 2020 @ 4:08 pm
Thanks Doug. That is an interesting document. Love this old stuff!
Comment by Clarence Carlson — March 4, 2020 @ 1:15 pm
Clarence — Thanks! There’s more coming up.
Comment by Doug — March 5, 2020 @ 10:27 am
Hm, “Here is a list of books which may seem to be totally unrelated to the subject at hand.” Wonder what was on that list? Anyone know?
Comment by scales — March 11, 2020 @ 2:33 pm
John didn’t keep a copy of the list in the file. Your guess is as good as mine!
Comment by Doug — March 11, 2020 @ 4:14 pm