From what he told, he used a password or passphrase which then lead to a BTC address and than mined to that address.
He does not have a wallet file.
Judging from that, it must be a brainwallet. I 'd start looking there. I 'd try with multiple possible passphrase, to see if the addresses that are generated are indeed theirs and have unspent coins there.
I agree, that's why I am testing with the script so that I can create several addresses from passphrase.
Right I am looking for a BTC address check service so that I can automate the process.
BTW, there will be both BTC and BTH, looks like!