Joe:
You recently declared,
"It's pretty simple, really. I don't believe they were found at all. I believe they were
created by Chuck Aylor and Ted DeGrazia, and maybe a little help from their friends."
The theory that Ted DeGrazia was the creator of the Horse/Priest Stone is certainly an
interesting one.If another Stone Map book theory was to be tested on TreasureNet and other
forums,I would think that something with a solid DeGrazia connection would stand a good
chance of success.Rather than being relegated to marketing and sales via specialty
bookstores and publications dealing with lost treasures,such a book might have a broader
appeal to other categories of history buffs and those interested in American artists as
well.
For those already familiar with DeGrazia's stature as an artist and promoter of Arizona and
it's native peoples,it would certainly cause some controversy for an author,proof in hand,
to place Ted DeGrazia,Arizona's "Irreverent Angel",at the head of a group of fellow
conspirators devoted to the creation of a myth and perpetuation of a securities fraud.
Such a revelation would undoubtedly bring greater exposure to both the volume and it's
author,as well as the author's close friends and supporters.The value of the stones
themselves,post publication of this history,could very well exceed that of any previously
known work by DeGrazia,leaving the Flagg Foundation as sole owner of these priceless works
of art.
A "pyramid scheme",with Chuck Aylor depicted by DeGrazia as a "false prophet",in the role of
a priest standing atop a pyramidal stone pulpit,with the investors of Moel finding
themselves penniless at the bottom would make a good figurative analogy when carved in
stone.Likewise the self depiction of DeGrazia as a horse,a common subject of the artist's
works,trodding a "dangerous trail" of SEC fraud and "grazing" on the life savings of those
hapless investors who lived "north of the river" would make for provocative subject
material.That neither Degrazia nor Aylor came forward during the gathering storm of the Moel
investigation would speak volumes as to their true character and intent,as well as that of
their assistants,the Tumlinsons,the LaFrance's and of course the Mitchels,in such a hoax.
By extension,the assertion that Ted DeGrazia buried eighteen of his prized paintings in the
Superstition Mountains,a claim made by a close friend and confidante of DeGrazia,Bob
Ward,could prove,and be proven by that same association to be a,"with a little help from my
friends",way of assisting Bob Ward financially through future sales of his own book,"Ripples
of Lost Echos",while at the same time buying his silence on the true origin and purpose of
the stone maps.
These are merely a few recent thoughts,based on a few of the the "what if's and why's" of a
DeGrazia connection to the Stone Maps,as proposed by a number of writers of website posts
and articles on the subject.I do not mean to disparage you or others who believe in such a link.
I merely wish to suggest the ramifications of the theory and how an aspiring author could have
a field day with some of the information on the subject.
Regards:SH.