Re: Question about the Beale ciphers

From: David Florman (david.florman@worldnet.att.net)
Date: 04/09/03 

From: david.florman@worldnet.att.net (David Florman)
Date: 9 Apr 2003 08:12:26 -0700

spymix@sbcglobal.net (spymix) wrote in message news:<dcb316a6.0304051157.edd0fa7@posting.google.com>...
> These ciphers are probably a hoax but it is still possible there is an
> actual unique text used for each cipher in of itself a challenge to
> solve.
>
> I have done some number frequency test on the 1st and 2nd cipher and
> it appears the 1st cipher, which is the location of the treasure, has
> the same characteristics as cipher #2 which has been solved.
>
> These same characteristics are---
> When sequentially starting with the lowest value of numbers and
> average repeats of these numbers it appears there are very few small
> gaps. They will also average more repeats but when the numbers grow
> larger the average is less repeats and many more smaller and larger
> gaps between numbers.
>
> Does this mean that cipher #1 was created the same way, from another
> text of course, as cipher #2 which used the 1st letter of each word
> count of the Declaration of Independence?
>
> If it is the same key as cipher #2 then I guess the trick is finding
> the right text for cipher #1!
> Which BTW could start the word count from the end of the text working
> back toward the beginning of the text using the first letter of each
> word.
>
> I have tried different documents and novels from that era between
> 1750-1820. Using the first 25 terms of cipher#1 and using the same key
> as cipher#2. Then using both forward and backward format with "Zilch"
> as the outcome.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Dan
  The "broken" cipher is a hoax. No keytext will ever break the other
two, legitimate ciphers. Why did the ciphers have to be held by a
party unknown to the next of kin? If they haven't been broken in all
these years what danger is there in letting a relative keep them? The
answer is twofold. The ciphers haven't been broken because everyone
assumes the substitution methodology, and the correct process was not
of Beales' design. It was provided to him by one of those who stayed
at home and invested in the enterprise. Dave

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