MarkBennett

+1

I decided to answer this question because I actually own a copy of Ha Ha Ha. I gave it a professional review, although not a written one or anything. The cover and paper used in the book are of high-quality for a paperback. The editing is excellent, the story...believe it or not...is SOLID. Also, the paragraphing, chapter divisions, etc all pro-level work. Looking at the manuscript itself, you could tell that whomever actually wrote it...well...it wasn't their first book, I would bet on it. I've seen literally hundreds of first-time-novel attempts. Ha Ha Ha is not one of those. The writer was experienced. Of course it is fiction, and not written by Cooper himself, but the story behind it is very well constructed. It reads well, it's entertaining. Don't go to Amazon. You can pick up a copy for six bucks from Dona Elliot at the Ariel Tavern. If you send a manila envelope, pre-stamped to $2.50, inside another envelope along with a ten-dollar bill, she will send you a copy. I would call her first to make sure she has more in stock. I talked to her once about the book. She says she knows where more copies exist. Oh...and the alleged *contest* with the clues was a bonus. You try to find them inside the book. Details on back of book. I bought a copy also...it's not just a slapped together thing. It's 330 pages. I haven't read it, so I will read it also. Interestingly, the last two pages are a message from Dave and Laurel Fisher of the Ariel General Store talking about the annual DB Cooper event and inviting everyone to attend. It's possible they were involved in publishing the book. That would be a question for Dona Elliot.

very nice photos - more! PIX of Mark Bennett, now up at the Mountain News, by popular demand, of course. nice! - more !! Oh no just like Curtis E said now I'm publicly part of the DB Cooper case. How many copy's of HA HA HA DB COOPER. When will the next big event be at the symposium or is it over. I will be more then happy to show up. It would be the first time speaking publicly but I'll give it my best shot. I would like to invite Curtis Eng along with Larry Carr. To discuss my contact with them. Along with the evidence. And all major News Net works. But cowards like Bark Bennett and children under 5 are ask not to attend. GC 148 Paul Geivett PS PLEASE BRING MY 6...20 dollar bill or mail by Christmas time is of the essence. Paul Geivett The coward List will grow for now it has one 1 Mark Bennett 2 ? Honestly, Paul? You're ragging on me? Who else on this forum has bought your book and is willing to give it a serious review? I can tell you I don't play those games on this forum. Keep it up if you like, but I'm not responding.

very nice photos - more! PIX of Mark Bennett, now up at the Mountain News, by popular demand, of course. Thanks, Bruce. That's me, all right. Of course, I was much younger then.

Agree! Bruce is the best! I read Bruce's write up, and said to myself "That sounds really fun. I wish I were there!" Then, I remembered I was! Mr Bruce Smith I am having the owner of Ariel sign the book and young Brandon J, Who typed my book DB COOPER CASE SOLVED 6 13 13. Will try to get a two more shirts for you. Will sigh Gray Cop GC 148 and Dan Cooper across the back. Will number them 002 003. thanks for dancing you made some of those women's day Your a real Gentlemen. M Bennett I'll be honest I really think that my book will be to much for you. Not the cost but 42 years of evidence and 30 things to look at the same time. you have $ $ over you eyes. But that your thing. Vickie only your friend. That must be a Will and Grace thing but thats ok. Would like to see someone else write the money was planted. I can show you. But you won't like it. You will never show your face again. But that will be your Owen foot in your mouth. Your about to make yourself look so foolish. Well how about it.GC 148 THE GRAY COP I'm sorry, Paul. I don't understand a word of what you just said.

Agree! Bruce is the best! I read Bruce's write up, and said to myself "That sounds really fun. I wish I were there!" Then, I remembered I was!

I think that $10 claim is a bit misleading. Not sure where the $10 came from, but I paid $15 for Geoff's talk on Friday, the symposium and access to the exhibit. The really was for access to the exhibit, so it's unfair to say that was a charge for the symposium. I saved the program from the 2011 symposium and the difference in presenters was striking. 377 Geoff Doug Crispen-Kenck (although his presentation was the same type as this year) Ron and Pat Foreman Marla Cooper plus, Himmelsbach was scheduled to attend, but declined due to illness. Brian Ingram was there and answered questions. Jerry Thomas was there and severed on a panel discussion at the end. Bruce was there, although he didn't present. There was just a lot of Cooper talent there -- in the audience and on stage. There may be a couple of others, but I don't have my program here so I'm doing it from memory (not memory from 2011, but from looking at the program last night). The dearth of informed speakers was the real problem. So, RobertMBlevins, I see you confronting the same problem if you try to hold an event in Auburn. Who can you get to come? And, not trying to be confrontational, but only raise a point, but you've burned a lot of bridges here and might have a hard time getting some local people to show up.

Georger, I wonder if I could phrase this a little differently, and you can tell me if I'm still saying what you're saying -- since none of these people will see themselves in what you're saying. Just like a case where the police "knows" the identity of a murderer, but needs the evidence to prove it, they will look favorably at evidence that promotes their suspect and skeptically and the evidence that doesn't. Almost everyone with a preferred suspect in the Cooper case -- either because of a confession, a story relayed or some bit of evidence feels they "know" the identity of DB Cooper. Therefore, a physically description that doesn't match could not possibly be right, so we have to reinterpret it match the "truth". Each of those people doesn't feel like they're twisting the evidence at all. They feel the others with a preferred suspect are twisting the facts, because, of course, those other people are wrong. And, you're right...Anyone who is starting at the position that they "know" the identity of DB Cooper is a distraction because they are by definition taking a slanted view of the evidence. Am I at all close to stating your position, or am I still missing something?

Paul didn't show up? wonder why. he seems to have the whole thing figured out... As I described above, the symposium was really disappointing. There was no discussion of any suspects, including Marla. Grey Cop was at Ariel. I talked to him and he showed me handwriting samples from Kenny from the 1950s and the letters and the ticket. I'm not a handwriting expert, so I couldn't draw any conclusions. He also talked to me about stories about how someone else hid the money and directed the Ingrahams to find it and Kenny bought gold with all of the money. I have to admit he lost me on a lot of that story and Vicki was kind enough to walk over and rescue me. His book would probably be worth reading, but I didn't want to pay $19.95 for it. I didn't mean to run of like that but when Vicki? told me they were selling HA HA HA by DB Cooper a book that I do not own I bought 10. I asked you if you knew what Happy birthday Clair meant and you said no please wright that down on a piece of paper. Bruce said he didn't know. GC 148 How much money would like to bet that I have a wittiness that B I told that the money was planted and they were at the party less than a foot from you. PS it's a confession. Not a book. Just so I don't cross any lines what is VICKI to you out of respect. GC 148 When there are 6 suspects 5 will be wrong. that is reality no mater who it is so are willing to pick yours and stick with it. I had all six to choose from. This case could not be solved be for 2009 its Larry Carr that did it when I saw the ticket for the first time it was only a matter of time. It all started a long time a go. Will you say your sorry to Mr Blevins or will Vicki be your excuse I asked you if you wanted to go outside and see the truth you said no Paul Geivett I toll you I had just called Curtis E and that I have spoke to Larry Carr as well as certified all my evidence to Gary A Fowler PDX FBI Office did you fore get that part. did you know you can feed 4 kids over sea 1 dollar threw Christina Aguilar program Ill sell that book you didn't buy someday and mach the 20 that makes 40 so you will be feeding 160 kids what a man you are Vicki must be proud of you for feeding 160 kids see KENNETH you can't lose ever Paul Geivett 360 975 9601 Boo Paul, I assume you're referring to me. My remark about Vicki rescuing me was a bit flippant, so I apologize. Vicki is my very good friend, so I trust you won't cross any lines. You have to understand when making your presentation to someone, we're looking for an elevator pitch -- a minute or less and then Q&A. I have to admit there are similarities between the handwriting. But, you have to know much of the rest of your story is just "out there". Your experiences with the FBI as you describe them are far different than those of everyone else, who seem to keep the public at arms length. And, your description of how the money got to Tina Bar and how Kenny bought gold with it and paid off his girl friend's mortgage. After several minutes, it was becoming very difficult to follow. But, I tell you what I will do, Paul. I will order your book and read it and then I will contact you with comments and questions. Fair enough?

There probably 40 - 50 by the afternoon session.

thanks, Robert, but I don't think the problem was the venue or charging. The $15 charge included the exhibit and the members of the audience who were unfamiliar with the case were able to see a lot more about the case besides a seminar. That being said, I wouldn't mind something in Auburn, but I think you'd have the same short-coming we had. We didn't have the speakers or presenters that we had in 2011. How do you propose to get these people to fly into yours when the museum might have had a budget for some of that whereas you would not?

Paul didn't show up? wonder why. he seems to have the whole thing figured out... As I described above, the symposium was really disappointing. There was no discussion of any suspects, including Marla. Grey Cop was at Ariel. I talked to him and he showed me handwriting samples from Kenny from the 1950s and the letters and the ticket. I'm not a handwriting expert, so I couldn't draw any conclusions. He also talked to me about stories about how someone else hid the money and directed the Ingrahams to find it and Kenny bought gold with all of the money. I have to admit he lost me on a lot of that story and Vicki was kind enough to walk over and rescue me. His book would probably be worth reading, but I didn't want to pay $19.95 for it.

'Informational purposes,' well sure. It's called sourcing. Gray was the first to mention the price of the home and the purchase of the empty lot behind what is now the Bonney Lake Safeway. You can dance around that all you wish, but ask him HOW he knew the price from records and HOW he knew Kenny bought another piece of property later that same year. The purchase of property, a fat loan, picking apples, making $212 a month slaving for NWA, none of it proves Kenny Christiansen was the hijacker. I guess I could mention his chute history, his anger with the airline, the letters home, his life 70-71, and everything that followed. Was he Cooper? How should I know? Tell you what. Talk to the witnesses, investigate the report for yourself. Put other media onto it and have them ask for the unedited version with all the contact information included. There is definitely a case against Kenny Christiansen for Cooper. But that case has not been proven to date.

I think I'm beating Bruce to today's notes.....(I didn't take notes, so I can't remember the names. That's why Bruce's recap is better) Best word to describe the symposium? Disappointing. It started at 9:00 with a presentation by one of the curators of the exhibit. She discussed a history of skyjacking. Then, Doug Crispen-Kenck did a presentation on Raleigh cigarettes. Nothing really about Cooper, so we moved right into.....a TWO HOUR BREAK. That was so people could view a DB Cooper reentactor as well as the exhibit. After lunch two parachute instructors/jumpers/not sure what else were there. One of them knew Cossey well. This was very interesting on types of jumps and what would have been successful and what wouldn't have. Unfortunately, they had to be cut off after an hour. Finally was the panel discussion, which included Geoff, Bruce and Robb Heady. No disrespect to Geoff or Bruce, but Robb's story was really the highlight of the symposium. He talked about being messed up from Viet Nam and how he did his hijack. Very interesting stuff. I was very glad he came. Then, it was off to Ariel. It was fun, but someone stole my jacket. That wasn't so bad because it was a cheap jacket, but the worst part was I had $200,000 (less $5,800) in the pocket!

From Gray's New York Magazine article: Well...I would say SOME research was done, and by SOMEONE... Porteous has been checking what he has and we've been comparing notes. I've decided to keep private the items found by the RE agent and save them for either NPR or my book next summer. But in fairness, I will tell you what Porteous and I think happened: We believe Kenny loaned Geestman's sister $5,000 in cash he certainly didn't get from his airline pay and that this was done in April 1972. We believe Christiansen assumed the equity loan in October 1972 that the Grimes took out on the house in June of the same year, and paid the remainder of the purchase price in cash. Kenny kept pretty good records and there is no record of any promissory note on the property. This would be approximately $6,500. The equity loan was paid off in 1990, after 18 years of payments. We still haven't figured out WHY Christiansen would take such a long time to pay off a reletively modest loan. It's strange. There are a LOT of references in that article showing where Gray interviewed people who worked with Kenny for years, and they are, in my opinion, revealing. But my favorite quote from the article is from stewardess Florence Schaffner. After 36 years, she wouldn't positively ID Christiansen as the hijacker, but after seeing the pictures presented to her, she said THIS: Sometimes I think the same thing about Christiansen. Sometimes I am not so sure. The only thing I'm sure about is the TRUTH will come out on him sooner or later. I have no idea which way it will go. Not a clue. I think the question here is what do we consider to be a financial transaction. What I asked Geoff was basically this: One of the reasons people who like Kenny Christiansen as a suspect is because he supposedly spent a great deal of money during the period shortly after the hijacking. Now, some of that is under question. Did you research that as part of your story. Geoff said no, he didn't look into that. Kenny's purchase of property was for informational purposes. He didn't look into the details of any of those transactions. So, yes, Kenny purchased some real estate in 1972. No conclusion is made about the source of the funds.

Reply, You made me smile, Mark. See you on the 'morrow. Thanks, Bruce. I read you account with the vivid descriptions and my account with bullet points and everyone can say "Guess which one of these two writes for a living and which one doesn't".

The DB Cooper symposium is Saturday at the Washington State History Museum. Hope to see some of you there if you can attend. (NOTE: I SEE BRUCE AND I POSTED ABOUT THE SAME TIME). Geoff Gray gave a short talk and afterwards a few us (Geoff, me, Bruce Smith, Meyer Louie, Robb Heady, Vicki Wilson, Doug Kenck-Crispin and it seems I'm forgetting someone -- if so, sorry) went to a pub nearby. During the day, I learned a few things (and I didn't write anything down, so I hope Bruce will fill in more detals since he took lots of notes). 1. Geoff is not as close a follower of DB Cooper as most of us are. He doesn't read DZ and was unfamiliar with some of the topics (he didn't know who Mel Wilson was, for example). Still, he is interested enough to set this thing up and that's good enough for me and I thank him for that. 2. In Geoff's talk he mentioned a witness, Robert Gregory, who sat across from Cooper. This man was a paint salesman and gave a very vivid description not quite matching the one we're used to (5'9", 35 years old, reddish brown suit, colored shirt). Interestingly, the nephew of this man (who died around 2001) was in the audience and had come to specifically ask about that account, not knowing Geoff would bring it up. He said his uncle mentioned the story often and was very confident in it. 3. I did ask Geoff a few questions -- he said when he wrote his book, he liked four suspects (Weber, Christensen, McCoy and Barb Dayton). I asked him if he had a preferred suspect now. He didn't say he had a favorite, but said he was intrigued by Peterson. 4. I also asked him about Christensen's real estate transactions. Geoff said he didn't research Kenny finances and none of that was part of his magazine article or his book. 5. Finally, several of us met Scott Collins, the man who has a new book coming out this weekend claiming his dad was DB Cooper (mentioned a few posts back). His wife, Robin, was with him and introduced herself as his agent. I must say very disappointing is a bit of an understatement. First, they are not attending the symposium tomorrow due to family commitments, which is odd considering that's probably the best place he could sell them. I talked to Scott and he seemed interested in giving me a canned speech when I asked about it. He had notes written on the palm of his hand and started his long story with a poem. That could mean he was uncomfortable talking to people, but it appeared he didn't have anything of substance. No confession, no money. When Bruce arrived, he began talking to him probing for facts. Scott didn't like being challenged and became upset and left. Robin returned after a few minutes to talk to Bruce. Like I said, for me, quite disappointing. 5. Geoff also said he still talks to Larry Carr occasionally and that Carr has evidentally been transferred back to Seattle. 6. Finally, for my "Well Duh" moment, I've always been pronouncing "Ckret" wrong. I've been calling him "Check Ret". It's pronounced "Secret". (Thanks, Vicki. I confess my shame.)

RobertMBlevins, You have a couple of problems here. Even if the FBI agreed with that flight path and used it to determine where to search, that was in 1971. No parachute, body or money was found there. Subsequently, money was found on the other side of I5. It would be interesting to hear what the FBI thinks of the flight path today (Carr may have commented on that, I apologize to Georger for not reading the thread). But the real issue that gets people upset with you is on this issue you praise the FBI and challenge anyone who challenges what they say. Then, on the other hand, your surmise that the FBI totally took Cossey's word on the Amboy chute and didn't investigate it any further. You also claim the FBI totally took Marla at her word and didn't investigate any of her claims further. You seem to want to call the FBI the best crime investigation organization when they agree with you and they're a bunch fools if they don't. That being said, I for one wish you'd attend at least one of the Cooper events in Tacoma. Bridges can get mended if people want them to be.

Albert. Gore. Al Gore? Coincidence? Reply: Mark, do you think there is any truth to the rumor that Judge Collins lived in Grassy Knolls Estates? Just asking. BTW: Meyer Louie tells me that you're runnin' him down to Ariel and back on Saturday. Cool. See you at the WSHM and at the party. You gonna be around on Friday for Geoff's shin-dig? Yep...I'll be at Geoff's talk and the symposium as well as Ariel. So you there!

Albert. Gore. Al Gore? Coincidence?

I don't think the real estate transaction is weird....If we can piece together all of the pieces, it probably makes a lot of sense. Kenny was a man who bought real estate before and was living in a cheap apartment. He was given an opportunity to buy a house (a house a little bit larger than a trailer, according to Geoff Gray's book). Maybe he didn't have the cash, and the Grimes wanted to sell during the post Boeing bust. So, he assumed the $7500 mortgage and gave the rest in cash or the Grimes carried a promissory note for the rest. I think the "Ten dollars and other consideration" is just boiler plate to avoid having to include the purchase price on the recorded document. I don't know, I'm just putting out a scenario. But, I don't think it's weird. Maybe that other $5000 story is true, but that's the one that's weird. Why would you lend $5000 to someone you don't know and how did she pay it back in two years? That's a lot of money for a single mother with three kids unless she had a really good job. But, if that's true, why did she have to borrow $5000 from a stranger and not a bank? There has to be a lot more to that story. Also, I'm happy to ask Geoff about this, but as near as I can tell, he never uses Kenny's real estate expenditures as part of his case. All I could find in his article was this: "According to property records, Kenny was able to purchase a house and some land. In October 1972, about a year after Cooper’s jump, Kenny paid $14,000 for a modest ranch in Bonney Lake, a small mountain town, in the Cascades. A year later, a deed shows he paid $1,500 for a parcel of land." By the way, if anyone wants to read Geoff Gray's original article, here is the url: http://nymag.com/news/features/39593

I think I mentioned this already, but I have to skip the events this year. Family is coming for Thanksgiving and I have something else planned for afterward. If any of you wish to question Geoff Gray on how he came to the idea that Kenny C bought his house for cash, or at least put a 50% down on it, email me at adventurebooksofseattle AT Gmail Dot Frickin' Com and I will send you all the available documents related to the sale. I will provide them in suitable resolution so you can print them up. I suggest making copies and taking them with you to the symposium. Suggestion: If you have a vid-cam, bring one. Failing that, maybe a voice recorder at least. Always get people on the record...

Hey, Next Friday, Geoff Gray is giving a talk at the DB Cooper Exhibit at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. Saturday is the symposium there, and Ariel is also Saturday. I'm planning on going to all of those. Who else from here is going? It would be fun to meet up with any of you from here who are going.

Why do people get frustrated with you, Robert? This is you on dropzone.com: This is you on Facebook: It's ok to be an advocate for your guy. It's just frustrating for others when you go to such effort to claim you're not.

Robert, For someone who claims to be interested in only finding out the truth, you do a lot of twisting of statements and facts to match your suspect. You say about Bill Mitchell "He said he thought Cooper was wearing a toupee. ". He didn't say that. In the document you attached he said "to the FBI I said that, you know, his hair could easily have been dyed or a toupee or something" because it looked "so bad". Not the same thing. You talk about Margaret Geestman's sale of land and refer to the lawyer being repremanded in the past and it was after the airing of "Decoded" to try to imply something suspicious there. She sold close to a year and a half after the airing, she was in her 80s and the infraction of the attorney, while deserving ,was certainly not a commission of a major fraud against a client. There is just nothing in that story that's suspicious and you try to make it one. And this quote by you, "Kenneth Peter Christiansen of Bonney Lake, WA, former US Army paratrooper and former purser for the hijacked airline was almost certainly the hijacker D.B. Cooper..." is not something someone would say who believes in only finding the truth. You also ignore (and don't seem to have any interest in finding out) the financial transactions that indicate Christiansen spent a lot more money after the transaction. You refer us to Gray -- although I reread his New York Magazine article and "Skyjack" and I can't see where Gray makes a big case about him buying property for cash. A man living in a cheap apartment and buying a cheap house assuming a mortgage from the previous owner does not indicate a radical change in life style. You puzzle me, and I mean that honestly. You say you're going to ignore Georger's responses to you, but you keep responding. Why? You have the Cooper Curse, like almost everyone else here. You've written one book, working on another and are one of the most frequent posters on this forum. Yet, when a DB Cooper symposium is scheduled right in your back yard, you don't go? Not making any judgments, but your actions don't match your words.