JOHN KEEL NOT AN AUTHORITY ON ANYTHING

The next entry in John’s record fills us in on some activity in Point Pleasant. There are updates from Linda Scarberry and Connie Carpenter, and Doris Lilly has an encounter with a classic bedroom visitant in a checkered shirt. (Doris Lilly was the woman who had found wooden plugs in her phone.)

John goes on to report a long conversation with Apol/Appell, who tells him many sensational tales about Mothman — or, more precisely, Mothmen. It’s not clear if John talked directly with Apol, or only through Jaye Paro. I suspect it was through Jaye.

We’ll mark John’s birthday with a portrait of him as a teenager. The caption says: “Some friend of Junie’s drew this.” Junie (short for “Junior”) was John’s nickname as a child. There is also a figure study on this sheet, which I’ve cropped so you won’t get into trouble at work. As always, the best way to mark John’s birthday is to read his books!

One day after the last entry, John has a lot to report. Agar gave Jaye Paro a gold cross; Jaye’s fiancé Dave is missing; Long John Nebel (host of a popular all-night radio show) is looking for Princess Moon Owl; Linda Scarberry (one of the original Mothman witnesses in Point Pleasant) has some strange visitors; Joe Henslik (contactee and/or hoaxer) is not answering his phone. And the next day, a certain Helen Ogelmyer in Long Island calls John with an encounter similar to Jaye’s stories about Agar, including the importance of salt.

Jaye Paro weighs in with more strange stories, including Agar’s reports on their “Leader” and “new swarms of Energy People.” She’s upset by some recent phone calls from her fiance Dave, and John is disturbed by evidence that Agar is listening to his calls. And Princess Moon Owl is still making trouble.

The September 1967 notes continue… Apol/Appell is believed dead, and Jaye claims that she and a friend saw a bizarre ceremony in Port Jefferson (Long Island). As John says, “Whewwwww! What kind of a tale is this one?”

John sends another letter to Jaye Paro’s aliens, mostly about “Project B,” a report he sent out to other researchers. He has more questions, including several about early UFOs and his own grandfather (the aliens had told him his grandfather had been contacted).

John included in the file a letter from “Jim,” who I assume is Jim Moseley. Jim interviewed the Rev. Anthony G. De Polo about his experiences, which include alien contacts, MIB, and strange phone calls.

John’s notes for September 20, 1967 include an MIB story from Jaye Paro and news about Princess Moon Owl from Bob Nickland, entertainment editor at Newsday. The first suggests that Paro considered the MIB as demons; the second suggests that the Princess was promoting Paro’s show. John has obviously had quite enough of the Princess. (A note for younger readers: “What a revoltin’ development” was a catchphrase popularized by the comedian William Bendix.)

Once again, John writes a letter to Jaye Paro’s supposed aliens. He asks for help in protecting Paro (also known as Tim’na), and tries to develop a strategy for revealing them to a wider public. The contactee form he mentions is not included; he must have filed it elsewhere. The request for a recording of his voice is disturbing, no matter who asked for it.

John records his interactions with Vicki Hayes, a local contactee, and Joseph Henslik, who claimed a visit from the Men In Black. John finds Vicki’s story more credible than Joseph’s; earlier in his notes he says Henslik had admitted a hoax. Gordon Evans wrote for Fate, Flying Saucer Review, and other magazines.

John also notes that Apol/Appell had returned the fourth questionnaire, and transcribes Apol’s red pencil note. Tim’na was Apol’s name for Jaye Paro. I assume “Davis” is Isabel Davis, active in several UFO groups, but it could also be Frank Davis, who showed up now and then in Jaye Paro’s stories.