TELEPHONE INTERVIEW — TAPE #48, SIDE #1
Q: Mark Russell Bell
W: Bill Mc Wethy (Maxine’s husband, 62)
M: Maxine Mc Wethy (the Mother, 60)
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I NOTICED THE LISTENING DEVICE WASN’T ATTACHED SOON AFTER I BEGAN THIS CONVERSATION. I WENT OVER SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS INTERVIEW MATERIAL WITH HIM. THE NEW INFORMATION IS INCLUDED.)
Q: Oh, hi, Bill? Hi, how are you doing? (“YOU”) You feel alright now? Oh, that’s good. So, are you feeling — you’re comfortable, at least?
W: Yeah, just I’m shaky.
Q: What about the dehydration?
W: And dehydrated quite a bit . . .
Q: You’re drinking lots of water?
W: Yeah. A lot of water.
Q: That’s good. And the weather’s good?
W: Yeah, the weather’s better now than it was. (“IT”)
Q: It’s like summer out here.
W: Yeah.
Q: And so Missouri Bear married your grandfather?
W: Yeah. Noble.
Q: I’ve been running into a lot of Nobles recently. So that was Noble Mc Wethy?
W: Yeah. They’re buried right outside of Tupelo here.
Q: Background-wise you’re Scottish/Irish or just Irish?
W: Dutch/Irish.
Q: Dutch/Irish. That’s right.
W: My dad was Indian/Dutch/Irish also so —
Q: Indian/Dutch/Irish. And what was your mother’s maiden name?
W: Evans. E — V — A — N — S. (“PP”)
Q: Oh, like — like Bob Evans.
W: Yeah.
Q: Well, that’s interesting. And what was her first name?
W: Her name was Rosie.
Q: Rosie Evans. Okay. I’m sure this is important but I don’t really know exactly how it all adds up. Do you have a Mc Wethy family tree?
W: I’ve got it put in a album. (“YEAH”)
Q: Oh really? Well, Maxine might be sending me her (“II”) family tree for the Bells. So if she can make a photocopy of that, that would be good for me to have too.
W: Alright. My brother had a copy. You saw the album that I inherited from him.
Q: Oh great. Will you tell Maxine about that?
W: Yeah, I will.
Q: Okay, fine, because this is a (“AA”) family ‘haunting’ so to speak.
W: Yeah.
Q: And we’re all part of it. Okay, anything else you wanted (“ADD”) to add that I didn’t ask you while I was in Oklahoma? I know that He gave you a lock.
W: Yeah. And they like to play with this little bell that we got here, you know?
Q: Right.
W: Take it up in the attic. (“OH BOY”)
Q: “They” — yeah. (“HA[PPEN]”) Anything happen recently?
W: No, just lost some money on Twyla’s side.
Q: Right. She told me about that.
W: And we lost money last month.
Q: Right. That was her check — I mean the money from her check or something.
W: Yeah. I think we lost $12 here the other day.
Q: Oh really? (“YEAH”)
W: When they were down.
Q: Hmm. So what are your feelings in a broad overview in terms of the phenomena? Do you still — you still don’t know what exactly Mighael is?
W: No, uh-uh. I’ve still got my own doubts as to what he is.
Q: If somebody asked you what would you say?
W: Really I don’t know what he is.
Q: Because the name Michael — you think of the archangel Michael in the Bible. Or you can think of aliens. Or Spirit. Holy Ghost. Anything, really. Anything and everything.
W: Yeah.
Q: Which is kind of the way He acts with all the different spirits. An amassing of spirits. Anyway, (“YYY”) okay, well, put Maxine back on and I’ll say hello to her real quick.
W: Alright. I’ve got to catch her. She’s on the back porch. Honey. Here she comes.
Q: Okay, thank you.
M: Yes?
Q: He sounds good.
M: Yeah, he’s getting along pretty good.
Q: So I guess dehydration is still a problem even though he’s drinking water.
M: Yeah. He drinks about everything. (“YEAH”)
Q: But it doesn’t do any good.
M: (sighs) I don’t know.
Q: Yeah, who knows?
M: Yeah. (small laugh)
Q: But — by the way, on Friday I spoke to a friend of mine named Sherri. And she’s connected me with an agent in New York so I’m going to call him on Monday.
M: Really?
Q: About sending him the book. Right. A good agent.
M: Good.
Q: So we’ll keep our fingers crossed and today I went to a memorial service and I interviewed Daryl Hannah and —
M: Oh, did you really?
Q: Yes. (“THE”) The director Bob Altman and various other people. So my book does have some Hollywood names now. So anything new with you?
M: No.
Q: Well, no news is good news.
M: No news.
Q: Okay. (“WELL SO”) And I also spoke to an astrologer who’s going to do my chart.
M: Really?
Q: Yeah. And I’ve had photos taken of all my priceless relics that I have here. So everything is going well.
M: What about the guy that you — whoever you’re going to go meet.
Q: Well, he’s in New York so hopefully, I’m just going to mail him a copy of the book for representation. (“UM”) He’ll get ten percent (“WH”) which is the normal agent’s commission. (“YEAH”)
M: Yeah.
Q: So that’s fair.
M: Uh-huh.
Q: I guess that’s all for right now. I’m glad you’re not telling — you didn’t tell Bill, obviously, that I’m the 'Antichrist.' Right?
M: No, I didn’t tell nobody. (“NICK”)
Q: Right. It’s none of their business.
M: No. (small laugh) (“LEAST”)
Q: Not until they read about it in my book when it can be fully explained. So they don’t freak out and think, “Oh my God.”
M: (laughs)
Q: Oh, it’s so much.
M: Yeah, it is. Well, I called Twyla a while ago and she said he hadn’t been there in a few days so I don’t know where he’s at. She hadn’t heard him, anyway. She usually hears him if he’s there. So there’s no telling where he’s at or what he’s doing.
Q: (laughs)
M: Out spending my money, I guess.
Q: (laughs)
M: (laughs)
Q: Yeah. Either that or, oh, I — it’s not — it’s just — (“UH-UH”) He’s a basket case.
M: Yeah, He makes me a basket case.
Q: Well, anyway, I’m a basket case from transcribing. But a happy basket case.
M: Yeah.
Q: Let me see what else I should ask you real quick. I just had a glimmer of a thought and I can’t remember what it was.
M: Oh dear. (small laugh)
Q: But okay, so in terms of the Mabus and the Son of Man and all these prophecies that I’m fulfilling. You know — it’s interesting. (“YOU KNOW”) So you haven’t told anyone those things.
M: Um-uh. (“AND”)
Q: What about — you haven’t spoken to that woman who I called about the family tree?
M: No, I didn’t even call her yet. (“OKAY WHAT”) I don’t think I will.
Q: I’m surprised she didn’t call you under the circumstances.
M: Yeah, I haven’t had a chance to even call her. (“BUT YOU”)
Q: Are you going to go ahead and send me the family tree pages you do have?
M: Yeah. (“OKAY”)
Q: Also, go ahead and make a photocopy of Bill’s family tree and send that too.
M: I don’t have one.
Q: Oh, no, he’s got one, though.
M: Well, it’s just a —
Q: That’s okay.
M: — book that he gets out of California that they’re trying to get him to —
Q: Well, he said in his brother’s photo album there was something.
M: He might have something like that. (“SO”)
Q: So send that to me too. Believe me, it’s important because he has an Evans in his family tree.
M: Um-huh.
Q: He has an Indian in his family tree. I mean there are all kinds of interesting possibilities here.
M: Yeah. (“SO”)
Q: So that’s your mission for right now — to send me the Bell pages and whatever you can get in terms of Bill’s ancestry.
M: Okay. (“I’M S[URE]”)
Q: I’m sure that will be —
M: I think there’s one of the Bell pages missing.
Q: That’s okay because my family historian can use what you have and then she can connect the dots.
M: Are you still using the pictures we sent you?
Q: I had some of them photographed.
M: Did you? (“BUT UM”)
Q: In terms of the book, they probably would like to have the originals. Is there one or two you need back?
M: Well, I need the one with the form of a ghost —
Q: Okay. (“OH”)
M: — because she’s wanting it back.
Q: Okay, I can return that. That was in the special too. Well, that’s her property and she wants it back so do you think she would give it (“US”) to us back again if we needed it?
M: Oh yeah.
Q: Okay, fine. I’ll mail that. As soon as I get my photo back from the photographer I’ll mail you (“UUU”) that.
M: Alright. I wouldn’t care if it was mine.
Q: Right. No, I understand. People own things and I respect their rights. So okay, well fine. Everything’s fine for right now and (“A WASTE”) is Twyla going to call me and go over typos on the manuscript? (“N”) Or is Brenda reading it now?
M: Yeah, it’s here. Brenda was reading it.
Q: Okay, just remind Twyla to call me and go over any typos or name corrections. (“CAUSE THAT”)
M: Well, I think she’s already read what she wanted to. I don’t know.
Q: Exactly, but I just need someone to call me and go over the typos.
M: Yeah.
Q: Are you going to see her this weekend?
M: No, I don’t think she’s coming down. (“DO”)
Q: Do you call her?
M: I called her a little while ago.
Q: Okay, fine. Well, when you speak to her just tell her to call me when she has a chance and go over any typos.
M: Alright. Are you going to be there for a while?
Q: Yes.
M: Okay, I’ll call her and have her call you. (“OH”)
Q: Great. By the way, the agent’s name is Jeff Herman, who I’m calling in New York. He’s a very well-known literary agent. So that’s encouraging.
M: Yeah.
Q: And the astrologer I spoke to is named Karma Welch as in Raquel Welch. So everything’s going well.
M: Is it really?
Q: Yeah.
M: Good.
Q: Okay. I’ll talk to you later.
M: Alrighty.
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: THE REMAINING TAPE ON THIS SIDE WAS LEFT BLANK BECAUSE WHEN I RECORDED MY NEXT CONVERSATION I HAPPENED TO CONTINUE RECORDING ON THE ‘B’ SIDE. I NEVER DID RECEIVE ANY MC WETHY ANCESTRY RECORDS AND DECIDED NOT TO CALL JEFF HERMAN, HAVING RECEIVED NO MESSAGE FROM MIGHAEL TO DO SO. THIS WAS EDITED ON OCTOBER 17TH, WHEN I SAW THE FOLLOWING IN SHAUNA SNOW’S “MORNING REPORT” COLUMN IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.)
Q: Oh, hi, Bill? Hi, how are you doing? (“YOU”) You feel alright now? Oh, that’s good. So, are you feeling — you’re comfortable, at least?
W: Yeah, just I’m shaky.
Q: What about the dehydration?
W: And dehydrated quite a bit . . .
Q: You’re drinking lots of water?
W: Yeah. A lot of water.
Q: That’s good. And the weather’s good?
W: Yeah, the weather’s better now than it was. (“IT”)
Q: It’s like summer out here.
W: Yeah.
Q: And so Missouri Bear married your grandfather?
W: Yeah. Noble.
Q: I’ve been running into a lot of Nobles recently. So that was Noble Mc Wethy?
W: Yeah. They’re buried right outside of Tupelo here.
Q: Background-wise you’re Scottish/Irish or just Irish?
W: Dutch/Irish.
Q: Dutch/Irish. That’s right.
W: My dad was Indian/Dutch/Irish also so —
Q: Indian/Dutch/Irish. And what was your mother’s maiden name?
W: Evans. E — V — A — N — S. (“PP”)
Q: Oh, like — like Bob Evans.
W: Yeah.
Q: Well, that’s interesting. And what was her first name?
W: Her name was Rosie.
Q: Rosie Evans. Okay. I’m sure this is important but I don’t really know exactly how it all adds up. Do you have a Mc Wethy family tree?
W: I’ve got it put in a album. (“YEAH”)
Q: Oh really? Well, Maxine might be sending me her (“II”) family tree for the Bells. So if she can make a photocopy of that, that would be good for me to have too.
W: Alright. My brother had a copy. You saw the album that I inherited from him.
Q: Oh great. Will you tell Maxine about that?
W: Yeah, I will.
Q: Okay, fine, because this is a (“AA”) family ‘haunting’ so to speak.
W: Yeah.
Q: And we’re all part of it. Okay, anything else you wanted (“ADD”) to add that I didn’t ask you while I was in Oklahoma? I know that He gave you a lock.
W: Yeah. And they like to play with this little bell that we got here, you know?
Q: Right.
W: Take it up in the attic. (“OH BOY”)
Q: “They” — yeah. (“HA[PPEN]”) Anything happen recently?
W: No, just lost some money on Twyla’s side.
Q: Right. She told me about that.
W: And we lost money last month.
Q: Right. That was her check — I mean the money from her check or something.
W: Yeah. I think we lost $12 here the other day.
Q: Oh really? (“YEAH”)
W: When they were down.
Q: Hmm. So what are your feelings in a broad overview in terms of the phenomena? Do you still — you still don’t know what exactly Mighael is?
W: No, uh-uh. I’ve still got my own doubts as to what he is.
Q: If somebody asked you what would you say?
W: Really I don’t know what he is.
Q: Because the name Michael — you think of the archangel Michael in the Bible. Or you can think of aliens. Or Spirit. Holy Ghost. Anything, really. Anything and everything.
W: Yeah.
Q: Which is kind of the way He acts with all the different spirits. An amassing of spirits. Anyway, (“YYY”) okay, well, put Maxine back on and I’ll say hello to her real quick.
W: Alright. I’ve got to catch her. She’s on the back porch. Honey. Here she comes.
Q: Okay, thank you.
M: Yes?
Q: He sounds good.
M: Yeah, he’s getting along pretty good.
Q: So I guess dehydration is still a problem even though he’s drinking water.
M: Yeah. He drinks about everything. (“YEAH”)
Q: But it doesn’t do any good.
M: (sighs) I don’t know.
Q: Yeah, who knows?
M: Yeah. (small laugh)
Q: But — by the way, on Friday I spoke to a friend of mine named Sherri. And she’s connected me with an agent in New York so I’m going to call him on Monday.
M: Really?
Q: About sending him the book. Right. A good agent.
M: Good.
Q: So we’ll keep our fingers crossed and today I went to a memorial service and I interviewed Daryl Hannah and —
M: Oh, did you really?
Q: Yes. (“THE”) The director Bob Altman and various other people. So my book does have some Hollywood names now. So anything new with you?
M: No.
Q: Well, no news is good news.
M: No news.
Q: Okay. (“WELL SO”) And I also spoke to an astrologer who’s going to do my chart.
M: Really?
Q: Yeah. And I’ve had photos taken of all my priceless relics that I have here. So everything is going well.
M: What about the guy that you — whoever you’re going to go meet.
Q: Well, he’s in New York so hopefully, I’m just going to mail him a copy of the book for representation. (“UM”) He’ll get ten percent (“WH”) which is the normal agent’s commission. (“YEAH”)
M: Yeah.
Q: So that’s fair.
M: Uh-huh.
Q: I guess that’s all for right now. I’m glad you’re not telling — you didn’t tell Bill, obviously, that I’m the 'Antichrist.' Right?
M: No, I didn’t tell nobody. (“NICK”)
Q: Right. It’s none of their business.
M: No. (small laugh) (“LEAST”)
Q: Not until they read about it in my book when it can be fully explained. So they don’t freak out and think, “Oh my God.”
M: (laughs)
Q: Oh, it’s so much.
M: Yeah, it is. Well, I called Twyla a while ago and she said he hadn’t been there in a few days so I don’t know where he’s at. She hadn’t heard him, anyway. She usually hears him if he’s there. So there’s no telling where he’s at or what he’s doing.
Q: (laughs)
M: Out spending my money, I guess.
Q: (laughs)
M: (laughs)
Q: Yeah. Either that or, oh, I — it’s not — it’s just — (“UH-UH”) He’s a basket case.
M: Yeah, He makes me a basket case.
Q: Well, anyway, I’m a basket case from transcribing. But a happy basket case.
M: Yeah.
Q: Let me see what else I should ask you real quick. I just had a glimmer of a thought and I can’t remember what it was.
M: Oh dear. (small laugh)
Q: But okay, so in terms of the Mabus and the Son of Man and all these prophecies that I’m fulfilling. You know — it’s interesting. (“YOU KNOW”) So you haven’t told anyone those things.
M: Um-uh. (“AND”)
Q: What about — you haven’t spoken to that woman who I called about the family tree?
M: No, I didn’t even call her yet. (“OKAY WHAT”) I don’t think I will.
Q: I’m surprised she didn’t call you under the circumstances.
M: Yeah, I haven’t had a chance to even call her. (“BUT YOU”)
Q: Are you going to go ahead and send me the family tree pages you do have?
M: Yeah. (“OKAY”)
Q: Also, go ahead and make a photocopy of Bill’s family tree and send that too.
M: I don’t have one.
Q: Oh, no, he’s got one, though.
M: Well, it’s just a —
Q: That’s okay.
M: — book that he gets out of California that they’re trying to get him to —
Q: Well, he said in his brother’s photo album there was something.
M: He might have something like that. (“SO”)
Q: So send that to me too. Believe me, it’s important because he has an Evans in his family tree.
M: Um-huh.
Q: He has an Indian in his family tree. I mean there are all kinds of interesting possibilities here.
M: Yeah. (“SO”)
Q: So that’s your mission for right now — to send me the Bell pages and whatever you can get in terms of Bill’s ancestry.
M: Okay. (“I’M S[URE]”)
Q: I’m sure that will be —
M: I think there’s one of the Bell pages missing.
Q: That’s okay because my family historian can use what you have and then she can connect the dots.
M: Are you still using the pictures we sent you?
Q: I had some of them photographed.
M: Did you? (“BUT UM”)
Q: In terms of the book, they probably would like to have the originals. Is there one or two you need back?
M: Well, I need the one with the form of a ghost —
Q: Okay. (“OH”)
M: — because she’s wanting it back.
Q: Okay, I can return that. That was in the special too. Well, that’s her property and she wants it back so do you think she would give it (“US”) to us back again if we needed it?
M: Oh yeah.
Q: Okay, fine. I’ll mail that. As soon as I get my photo back from the photographer I’ll mail you (“UUU”) that.
M: Alright. I wouldn’t care if it was mine.
Q: Right. No, I understand. People own things and I respect their rights. So okay, well fine. Everything’s fine for right now and (“A WASTE”) is Twyla going to call me and go over typos on the manuscript? (“N”) Or is Brenda reading it now?
M: Yeah, it’s here. Brenda was reading it.
Q: Okay, just remind Twyla to call me and go over any typos or name corrections. (“CAUSE THAT”)
M: Well, I think she’s already read what she wanted to. I don’t know.
Q: Exactly, but I just need someone to call me and go over the typos.
M: Yeah.
Q: Are you going to see her this weekend?
M: No, I don’t think she’s coming down. (“DO”)
Q: Do you call her?
M: I called her a little while ago.
Q: Okay, fine. Well, when you speak to her just tell her to call me when she has a chance and go over any typos.
M: Alright. Are you going to be there for a while?
Q: Yes.
M: Okay, I’ll call her and have her call you. (“OH”)
Q: Great. By the way, the agent’s name is Jeff Herman, who I’m calling in New York. He’s a very well-known literary agent. So that’s encouraging.
M: Yeah.
Q: And the astrologer I spoke to is named Karma Welch as in Raquel Welch. So everything’s going well.
M: Is it really?
Q: Yeah.
M: Good.
Q: Okay. I’ll talk to you later.
M: Alrighty.
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: THE REMAINING TAPE ON THIS SIDE WAS LEFT BLANK BECAUSE WHEN I RECORDED MY NEXT CONVERSATION I HAPPENED TO CONTINUE RECORDING ON THE ‘B’ SIDE. I NEVER DID RECEIVE ANY MC WETHY ANCESTRY RECORDS AND DECIDED NOT TO CALL JEFF HERMAN, HAVING RECEIVED NO MESSAGE FROM MIGHAEL TO DO SO. THIS WAS EDITED ON OCTOBER 17TH, WHEN I SAW THE FOLLOWING IN SHAUNA SNOW’S “MORNING REPORT” COLUMN IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.)
Top o’ the Charts: Showing that there’s room on the pop album chart for the macabre among more palatable fare such as Celine Dion’s Falling Into You (No. 1 with 136,000 copies sold) and Kenny G’s The Moment (No. 2 with 133,000 copies), Marilyn Manson’s Antichrist Superstar made the week’s highest debut. The second full-length collection by the Florida-based industrial rock band came in third with 132,000 copies sold last week, according to SoundScan.
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I READ THE FOLLOWING YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 16TH, AT THE GYM. THE SOURCE IS HEAVENLY DISCOURSE BY CHARLES ERSKINE SCOTT WOOD. THIS BOOK IS A SATIRICAL IMAGINING OF CONVERSATIONS IN HEAVEN.)
JESUS: Father, Father, why am I such a failure?
GOD: Shall I tell you why?
JESUS: I beseech you.
GOD: Have I ever stayed the rush of the avalanche, the flooding of the tides, or the planets in their courses to save lives or to please you or myself or anyone?
JESUS: No, your laws are immutable.
GOD: And my law of life is self-interest. Give power to a few and short-sighted self-interest will twist that power into tyranny, robbery and war. The powerful few will hold all others slaves and fight among themselves in competition. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” “Love your enemies” are sterile cries, my son, till the people learn—all of them—that love is the best self-interest. Peace, as the greatest earthly blessing, must appeal to a wise self-interest before wars will cease. But it never will appeal while the sordid self-interest of a few lords finds profit in war. These lords must learn or be taught that their own greater self-interest lies in the welfare of all and universal peace; that the earth and its riches belong to all, not to a few.
GOD: Shall I tell you why?
JESUS: I beseech you.
GOD: Have I ever stayed the rush of the avalanche, the flooding of the tides, or the planets in their courses to save lives or to please you or myself or anyone?
JESUS: No, your laws are immutable.
GOD: And my law of life is self-interest. Give power to a few and short-sighted self-interest will twist that power into tyranny, robbery and war. The powerful few will hold all others slaves and fight among themselves in competition. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” “Love your enemies” are sterile cries, my son, till the people learn—all of them—that love is the best self-interest. Peace, as the greatest earthly blessing, must appeal to a wise self-interest before wars will cease. But it never will appeal while the sordid self-interest of a few lords finds profit in war. These lords must learn or be taught that their own greater self-interest lies in the welfare of all and universal peace; that the earth and its riches belong to all, not to a few.
