Leigh Brackett, V. E. Thiessen and the Beast-Jewel of Mars

The story: In mid-November, G. W. Thomas of the blog Dark Worlds raised an intriguing Pulp SF question: “Is Leigh Brackett V. E. Thiessen?” You see, Thomas found a website that states V. E. Thiessen, who wrote a short story titled “The Beast-Jewel of Mars” (Planet Stories, Spring 1955), is a pseudonym of author Leigh Brackett, who also wrote a short story titled “The Beast-Jewel of Mars” (Planet Stories, Winter 1948).

The sequel: In mid-December, Stephen Haffner of Haffner Press assured G. W. Thomas that V. E. Thiessen is not Leigh Brackett:
“I've been researching Leigh Brackett's papers, manuscripts, tearsheets, letters, and contracts for nearly 10 years. There is no evidence of her use of a pseudonym except as George Sanders in 1947 (or as Edmond Hamilton on occasion -- but more on that at another time) at any point in her career.”

The next chapter: Who is V. E. Thiessen?