Charles Morgan's 2 dollar bill

[Thiussat]

I was watching the Charles Morgan segment and found the $2 bill interesting. Since I have an interest in cryptography, it dawned on me that the bill was most likely a type of book cipher. This is, a code where the ciphertext consists of either numbers or letters describing which page, paragraph, and line in a book one should look for a particular word. Once you find that word, you move to the next word on some other page. Eventually all the words will make a message. The strength of this cipher depends on keeping which book is the codebook from any adversaries. If they know which book is being used, then breaking the code is easy. However, since there are so many books in the world, one could choose any of them as the codebook, which makes breaking the code difficult if not impossible (especially before the computer age).

This is the idea that was used in the infamous Beale Cipher. A man supposedly named Thomas Jefferson Beale left three ciphertexts in the 1880's and claimed that if one could break them, one would find the location of a bunch of buried gold (which he claimed he buried in 1820). Two of his ciphers have been broken, but the third remains encrypted. Beale used the Declaration of Independence as his codebook for at least one of the ciphers. (Did UM ever do a story on Beale?).

At any rate, I think that Morgan's 2 dollar bill was definitely a cipher of some sort. As I said, I think it's a book cipher due to the mention of Ecclesiastes, which was written on the bill and also told to his wife by "green eyes" on the phone. The problem I am having is being able to read the 7 Spanish words Morgan wrote on the bill. Does anyone know what these 7 words are? I think if one puts those words together with Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, one might have a shot at breaking the code.

[truthbtold]

UM did do a segment on Beale. However, in that segment, they said only 1 of the ciphers were solved and 2 remained a mystery. What are the 2 solved ciphers you speak of? What did they say? Was a second one solved relatively recently?

[Thiussat]

Originally Posted by truthbtold

UM did do a segment on Beale. However, in that segment, they said only 1 of the ciphers were solved and 2 remained a mystery. What are the 2 solved ciphers you speak of? What did they say? Was a second one solved relatively recently?

I don't know for sure. You might be right. I only used Beale as an example of what a book cipher is.

Here's what I have for the 7 words:

1. ACEBEDO (this means "a plantation of holly trees" in Spanish)
2. BEJA?AN (I can only partially read this. Any Spanish speakers have any idea on this?)
3. CAJERO (this means "cashier" in Spanish)
4. DUARTE (the only thing I can find is that DUARTE is a city in LA County, California)
5. ENCINAS (this means an "evergreen oak tree" in Spanish)
6. FUENTE (this means "fountain" in Spanish)
7. GRAD??? (Can only make out first 4 letters)

So I cannot read #2 and #7. And I am not sure about #1. Any ideas?

[DarkDante]

Not sure if this would be of any help to you Thiussat there is some information included on the NBC version of this segment that was left out of the syndications including some speculation on the writings on the dollar bill.

They alleged that Morgan may have gotten swept up in the turbulent times in Arizona at the time and become involved in organized crime specifically the trafficking of narcotics. The named one of the potential organized crime syndicates that Morgan may have been involved in, which ties into what Don Devereux mentioned about "getting too close to the flame". At this point Stack also makes mention of the murder of another Arizona man: Don Bolles

There were also certain lines from the The Ecclesiastes 12 verses 1-8 highlighted by UM as possibly having some significance in regards to Chuck Morgan's fate:

men are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets...
Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
or the golden bowl is broken;
the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

[wiseguy182]

i found it interesting the words being with ABCDEFG. i wonder if there's some significance to that.

[rhzunam]

Originally Posted by Thiussat

I don't know for sure. You might be right. I only used Beale as an example of what a book cipher is.

Here's what I have for the 7 words:

1. ACEBEDO (this means "a plantation of holly trees" in Spanish)
2. BEJA?AN (I can only partially read this. Any Spanish speakers have any idea on this?)
3. CAJERO (this means "cashier" in Spanish)
4. DUARTE (the only thing I can find is that DUARTE is a city in LA County, California)
5. ENCINAS (this means an "evergreen oak tree" in Spanish)
6. FUENTE (this means "fountain" in Spanish)
7. GRAD??? (Can only make out first 4 letters)

So I cannot read #2 and #7. And I am not sure about #1. Any ideas?

I think they are all last names. Duarte is a common last name and I suggest that number 2 would be Bejarano. Acebedo is also pretty common. The only one I would say isn't is Cajero. And the last one.

[MariposaLKB]

The only word in my Spanish dictionary from college that starts with "bej-" is bejuco, which can mean cane or whip. It is also a part of an idiomatic expression that means failing to get what you want. There is a verb form starting with those three letters that means to beat or thrash. Not remembering how to congugate verbs, I wonder if what appears on the two dollar bill could mean "beaten"? The online translator I tried was no help.

As for the last one, there are alot of words that start with those letters in Spanish. Many are cognates of English words having to do with graduation, gradation, gradual, etc. There is also a word for stairs, grada, and graduable which means adjustable.

[rhzunam]

I just saw the Charles Morgan segment. It's definitely Bejarano. And the first name is Acevedo (another last name).

[truthbtold]

I always thought that the "cypher" on the bill correlated with a specific bible in the hotel that "Green Eyes" had some involvement. Odds are that clues were left in a bible in a particular room in that hotel.

[Thiussat]

Originally Posted by rhzunam

I just saw the Charles Morgan segment. It's definitely Bejarano. And the first name is Acevedo (another last name).

Thanks for that. It was my understanding that Acevedo was a common misspelling of Acebedo. At any rate, it's pretty clear that he used a "V" and not a "B" in his spelling. The only one I am not sure of now is the last one. I have "GRADUAS" right now, as it's the closest real Spanish word I can find.

Originally Posted by truthbtold

I always thought that the "cypher" on the bill correlated with a specific bible in the hotel that "Green Eyes" had some involvement. Odds are that clues were left in a bible in a particular room in that hotel.

Well, "Green Eyes" habitually called Morgan's wife and told her to read Ecclesiastes 12:1-8. She did not give any reason for doing so, but did reference that passage on numerous occasions. I am assuming it might be a key of some sort, but I don't know for sure.

Also, on the back of the $2 bill, Morgan marked 7 signers of the Declaration of Independence (1-7). I figured out who all of those people were and their corresponding numbers as he marked them. They are:

1. John Hancock
2. Charles Thomson
3. Benjamin Franklin
4. Thomas Jefferson
5. Robert Livingston
6. Roger Sherman
7. John Adams

It probably is not a coincidence that he had 7 Spanish names and then 7 signers of the DOI. The question now is how these two sets of names relate to each other and then how both relate to Ecclesiastes 12:1-8.

[rhzunam]

Originally Posted by Thiussat

Thanks for that. It was my understanding that Acevedo was a common misspelling of Acebedo. At any rate, it's pretty clear that he used a "V" and not a "B" in his spelling. The only one I am not sure of now is the last one. I have "GRADUAS" right now, as it's the closest real Spanish word I can find.

I think I've always seen it as Acevedo not Acebedo.

As for Graduas, could it be Graudar (which is Graduate in Spanish)?

[garytelecastor]

The names on the $2 bill were:
1. Acevedo
2. Bejarano
3. Cajero
4. Duarte
5. Encinas
6. Fuente
7. Gradillas

In an article concerning the murder they referred to Eccl 12: 1-8 as having significance in the Freemasons:

Gilles

This is one of my favorite pieces of ritual, I printed an esoteric interpretation on the esoteric thread, which I have re-printed below. I must admit it is unusual for a Brother who has not gone through the chair to deliver it, I dont think I have ever seen it done by anyone other than the Chaplain, however please dont think I am being critical, I am not. When you deliver this piece well it will leave you with a tremendous sense of achievement, Good Luck to you.

Anyway, here goes;

The last chapter of Ecclesiastes is chapter 12. It is a literary masterpiece and is a perfect selection for that part of the 3rd degree in which it is used.

I must add that only about 1 Lodge in 6 I visit use this piece and I am not going to give away any part of the ceremony or at what point it is used. I have in my possesion an esoteric interpretation by W.Bro Rev F.A.Shade and I would like to share it with everyone.

Ecclesiastes Ch 12 v 1-7;

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleaseur in them.
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain.
In the days when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened.
And the doors shall be shut in the streets when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low.
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree will flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the whell broken at the cistern.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Comment
The verses are a most illuminating description of the physical body of a man suffering from the disabilities and the infirmaties of old age. They commence with an injunction to man to remember and to practise in his youth the duties he owes to his creator, which duties are taught in the first two degrees. Then the verse describes the approach of old age, when man loses the desire and faculty to enjoy the material pleasures of life and lacks the strength to give effect to the many lessons of life, as his body - described metaphorically as his house - is useless.

The keepers of the house, represent the shoulders, arms and hands, being to the body what guards and keepers are to a palace.

Shall tremble. In extreme old age man's limbs become paralysed and consequently tremble; for this reason he loses the power to defend himself.

The strong men shall bow them selves. The strong men are the legs that become bent as old age advances; man then walks with difficulty. Also, the back becomes hunched in old age and he walks with a stoop.

The grinders shall cease because they are few. The teeth which previously groung the food have now fallen out, and chewing the food is therefore extremely difficult.

Those that look out of the windows be darkened. The windows are obviously the eyes which, as time advances in old age, become dimmer and dimmer. Ultimately the eyes lose the faculty of sight.

The doors shall be shut - grinding is low. The doors are the lips, the streets are the mouth because it is the path or avenue through which food passes into the stomach, while the sound of the grinding is the feeble voice. It is evident that, having lost his teeth the old man cannot chew his food but noisily mumbles it with his lips closed to prevent any particles from falling out.

And he shall rise up at the voice of the bird. Noise does not disturb the young, but even the slightest sound will annoy old age, as steady nerves are absent. So great is wakefullness prevalent in the infirm that even the twittering of a bird will disturb sleep.

And all the daughters of music shall be brought low. The daughters of music are the ears. The voice becomes tremulous and feeble and the hearing difficult. Also, the ability to hear the upper vibrations in sound is lost.

They shall be afraid of that which is high Youth obtains enjoyment from scaling heights, but the aged dread doing so and regard height with alarm.

And fear shall be in the way. The old are filled with apprehensions of imaginary danger which they have neither the sight to avoid nor the strength to overcome. They are, therefore, full of fear whenever they venture out into the street.

The almond tree shall flourish. The almond tree commences to bloom in late Autumn and becomes a mass of white blossom in Winter. In the Winter of life the hair of the old similarly whitens and the head decomes frosted and crowned with a silvery crest.

The grasshopper shall be a burden. To feeble old age, the lightest thing, even a grasshopper or a locust, is an oppresive burden.

And desire shall fail. When youth has completely departed all appetites and desires cease. In ancient times it was a sacred duty 'to increase and multiply', and it was considered the greatest of misfortunes for either sex to become sterile.

Man goeth to his long home. The grave is naturally the last house, shelter and resting place for the material body.

The mourners go about the streets. It was an Eastern custom to employ mourners to make public lamentations in the streets for the dead. Actually, the passage alludes to the rattles in the throat, the mouth and throat being regarded as the street or road of the food, and the rattles were called the mourners because they are certain precursors of death.

The silver cord be loosed. Two explanations have been given to this phrase. One is that it is the string of the tongue. The other, and probably the more correct one, is taht it is the resplndent white cord- the spinal cord - which passes down the entire length of the backbone and which is liable in old age to be relaxed and weakened. There is another explanation, that the silver cord refers to the superphysical connection between the soul and the body, and which is often seen by clairvoyants and by those who are going through a near-death-experience.

The golden bowl be broken. By reason of its yellow colour, the brain is termed the golden bowl. In old age, the brain becomes unable to function and can therefore be regarded as broken.

The pitcher be broken at the fountain. The pitcher is the great vein that carries the blood to the right auricle of the heart, here described as the fountain.

The wheel broken at the cistern. The wheel is the aorta or great artery that receives its blood from the left ventricle of the heart or cistern and distributes it throughout the body. These last two expressions - breaking the pitcher and of the wheel- allude to the stoppage of the circulation of the blood, the last step in the decay, which is immediately followed by death. After death, "then shall the Spirit return to God who gave it."


The interpretation was prepared by Wor Bro. Very Rev. Frederick A Shade.

He goes on to write;


Ecclesesiastes 8. Vanityof vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

13. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14. For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

V.8. The author has made all earthly things small. His argument has come full circle. He prepeats his assertion that "all is vanity" with an air of finality. However, his melancholy refrain is not his verdict upon life in general but only upon the misguided human endeavour to treat the created world as an end in itself. And he remains assured, in spite of all the 'injustices of life under the sun that it will be well for those who fear God.' (8:12)

V13-14. The recitation then jumps to the last two verses of this final chapter. And so we have "the conclusion of the whole matter". Theory and practice will always be at odds, but what really matters is God; he sees everything, he knows everything.

The citation is read when a 2nd Degree Mason (Fellow Craft) is accepted as a Master Mason.

[TracyLynnS]

Here's another thread on this case. I don't think it has any more info than is posted here, but I did ask a question there that no one had answered.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...Charles+Morgan

[ILikeTurtles]

What was the significance of it being a 2 dollar bill?

[TracyLynnS]

Originally Posted by ILikeTurtles

What was the significance of it being a 2 dollar bill?

I think Thiussat's theory is pretty good, regarding the image on the back of the $2 bill being the portrait of the signing of the declaration of independence, showing 7 signers, and Charles Morgan's bill having 7 corresponding names written on it. It was probably chosen specifically due to that portrait.

Originally Posted by Thiussat

Also, on the back of the $2 bill, Morgan marked 7 signers of the Declaration of Independence (1-7). I figured out who all of those people were and their corresponding numbers as he marked them. They are:

1. John Hancock
2. Charles Thomson
3. Benjamin Franklin
4. Thomas Jefferson
5. Robert Livingston
6. Roger Sherman
7. John Adams

It probably is not a coincidence that he had 7 Spanish names and then 7 signers of the DOI. The question now is how these two sets of names relate to each other and then how both relate to Ecclesiastes 12:1-8.