# Who wrote The Beale Papers? · Beale ciphers > Four answers have been proposed. James B. Ward, the named agent, wrote the narrative, the letters and the ciphers. leads, with evidence 2 for, 1 against… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J0C43MZG/who-wrote-the-beale-papers Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:55+00:00 --- **0** # Who wrote The Beale Papers? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: james B. Ward, the named agent, wrote the narrative, the letters and the ciphers** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. James B. Ward, the named agent, wrote the narrative, the letters and the ciphers. leads, with evidence 2 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The pamphlet is anonymous. If its author can be identified and shown to have invented the story, the case is closed without reading a cipher⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HQJW3XSN/discovered-the-secret-of-beales-treasure)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HQ38405S/a-basic-probe-of-the-beale-cipher-as-a-bamboozlement). ## Answers 4 [**James B. Ward, the named agent, wrote the narrative, the letters and the ciphers.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J4GY2TXZ/james-b-ward-the-named-agent-wrote-the-narrative-the-letters) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J6Q86CTA/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Someone else in Lynchburg in the 1880s wrote it as fiction or a promotion, with Ward as front.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J5G6195P/someone-else-in-lynchburg-in-the-1880s-wrote-it-as-fiction) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**The anonymous narrator was a real person who received real papers from Morriss, as the pamphlet says.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J5ZT5NGB/the-anonymous-narrator-was-a-real-person-who-received-real) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 1885[anonymous puts forward: the anonymous narrator was a real person who received real papers from Morriss, as the pamphlet says.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPKM5FDS/the-beale-papers-containing-authentic-statements-regarding) 1. 1885[anonymous: ward is named only as agent; nothing in the pamphlet or outside it records him writing it.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPKM5FDS/the-beale-papers-containing-authentic-statements-regarding)Against: James B. Ward, the named agent, wrote the narrative, the letters and the ciphers. 1. 1982[Nickell puts forward: james B. Ward, the named agent, wrote the narrative, the letters and the ciphers.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HQJW3XSN/discovered-the-secret-of-beales-treasure) 1. 1982[Nickell: the letters use 'stampeding' and 'improvised' in senses not attested in English until after 1830.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HQJW3XSN/discovered-the-secret-of-beales-treasure)For: James B. Ward, the named agent, wrote the narrative, the letters and the ciphers. 1. 1982[Nickell: morriss did not keep the Washington Hotel until 1823.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HQJW3XSN/discovered-the-secret-of-beales-treasure)Against: The anonymous narrator was a real person who received real papers from Morriss, as the pamphlet says. 1. 1982[Nickell: robert Morriss was a real innkeeper in Lynchburg.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HQJW3XSN/discovered-the-secret-of-beales-treasure)For: The anonymous narrator was a real person who received real papers from Morriss, as the pamphlet says. 1. 1988[Kruh: nickell's and Kruh's stylistic comparisons find one author across the narrative and the letters.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HQB269MA/the-beale-cipher-as-a-bamboozlement-part-ii)For: James B. Ward, the named agent, wrote the narrative, the letters and the ciphers. 1. 2017[Schmeh: cipher stories were popular after Poe's 'The Gold-Bug', giving a ready model.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HSHC2KEC/the-top-50-unsolved-encrypted-messages-40-the-beale)For: Someone else in Lynchburg in the 1880s wrote it as fiction or a promotion, with Ward as front. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J0C43MZG/who-wrote-the-beale-papers%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J0C43MZG/who-wrote-the-beale-papers%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J0C43MZG/who-wrote-the-beale-papers%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J0C43MZG/who-wrote-the-beale-papers%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J0C43MZG/who-wrote-the-beale-papers%23add-source) Where it fits Beale ciphers **Who wrote The Beale Papers?** Key question · you're here [Did Thomas J. Beale exist?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J0KY19QQ/did-thomas-j-beale-exist)Most likely · beale is a fictional character [ Ask a question under this one ]