By the time the dust settled, the official credits read "Words by Dusty Fletcher and John Mason, music by Dusty Fletcher and Don Howell". Howell appears to have been an entirely fictional front through which someone managed to pocket some of the royalties at McVea's expense.
In the end, the official record indicated "Words by Dusty Fletcher and John Mason, music by Dusty Fletcher and Don Howell." It appears that Howell served as an imaginary front through which someone was able to secure a portion of the royalties for McVea's benefit.