A PERSONAL AD BY ZODIAC IN 1974?

5/25/2020

Inspector David Toschi

On April 26th 1975 an article entitled Slayer of 14--A Possible Profile appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. It would be over one year until the San Francisco Chronicle featured an article about David Toschi and his endless pursuit of the Zodiac Killer. This article on August 26th 1976 was headed by the title Tips Still Pursue Multiple Slayer and contained an important piece of text on the third paragraph, of "With the transfer of his long time partner, William Armstrong, to the fraud detail, Toschi is the only San Francisco detective on the case now, one of the most baffling in the history of American crime". The first major newspaper article in the Chronicle for 16 months, referencing Zodiac and Toschi's long time partner William Armstrong, which coincided with an advertisement placed in the personal column of the Chronicle on August 26th 1976 (to run for one week) beginning with the name "Zodiac" and stating "Your partner is in DEEP REAL ESTATE". That is a coincidence too far - and with little doubt - the newspaper article and the advertisement were connected in some way.

One of the most common crimes in America is mortgage fraud, so the reference to partner William Armstrong having been transferred to fraud detail in the newspaper article, could very well be the inspiration behind the advertisement from Zodiac, stating "Your partner is in deep real estate".

But was this the only time the Zodiac Killer targeted the detective duo of David Toschi and William Armstrong via the newspapers or through a personal advertisement? We know that the emphasis of the Zodiac Killer switched from killing people to bomb threats in the latter part of 1969 and throughout 1970. Whether or not he reappeared in 1974 is open to debate, but he certainly would have been aware of his so-called return, even if he wasn't the responsible. The last letter in 1974 credited to the Zodiac Killer in the newspapers, was the Red Phantom letter postmarked July 8th 1974. So, what are the chances that the Zodiac Killer would mail another letter in the August of 1974, indicating his intention of bombing certain locations in San Francisco, getting David Toschi and William Armstrong to "run all over town", including map directions and requesting that an advertisement be placed in the personal column of two newspapers, just like the advertisement above?

On or shortly before August 16th 1974, an unaddressed letter found in a U.S. Post Office opened with the cordial greeting "Good morning gentlemen and politicians", but carried the ominous message that he had placed explosives in "hard to find places" all over San Francisco. The letter stated he was an educated older man who had fell on hard times, losing his money to unscrupulous businessmen and politicians, but was now going to exact revenge by blowing up various buildings in San Francisco. He had placed 350 pounds of plastic explosives and 13 cases of dynamite around San Francisco and demanded that advertisements be placed in the personal columns of the San Francisco Examiner and Oakland Tribune newspapers indicating that $350,000 be paid to him.

The author included a map and location of a payphone, insisting that "two policemen", whose names are specifically set forth in his letter were to make the pay off. The San Francisco Police Intelligence Unit complied with his wishes, however, no further contact was made by the subject and the matter was closed. Bearing in mind the revitalized interest in the Zodiac Killer in the months preceding this communication, and the relentless pursuit of the killer by David Toschi and his partner, William Armstrong, one couldn't help thinking that the two policemen named to "run around town" with a suitcase of money, may have been Toschi and Armstrong. They were two high profile "policemen" who would certainly have been known by name. I couldn't imagine the author of the letter choosing two ordinary "beat coppers" to run around after him. Not withstanding the fact, that both David Toschi and William Armstrong may have been referenced in another 'personal column advertisement' just two years later, with the pseudonym "Zodiac" front and center of that message.

The following newspaper article from August 27th 1976 is courtesy of Cragle, a regular contributor to both Zodiac forums.

46 Comments

Rubislaw 32 link

5/25/2020 05:29:30 am

Most interesting , Richard , this report of the intentions of a claimed bomber , August 16th 1974 , with threats to set off a series of explosions in San Francisco .

'' ...He has placed 350 pounds of plastic explosives and thirteen cases of dynamite in San Francisco...''

Reminders here , perhaps , of the Zodiac's Bus Bomb Letter , almost 5 years prior , sent to the SF Chronicle November 9th 1969 :

''...Take one bag of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and one gal. of stove oil and damp a few bags of gravel on top and set the shit off and will positively ventalate (sic) any that should be in the way of the blast .''

And then , we might move forward one year , to September 20th 1975 , in the wake of the finding and arrest of Patty Hearst . A typed letter to Patty's father , R.A.Hearst , at the SF Examiner .

The letter was from a '' Brigadier General Matrix '' , with its tone and content appearing to impersonate '' Brigadier Jack D.Ripper '' , from Stanley Kubrick's '' Dr.Strangelove ''.

The August 16th 1974 letter opens as :

'' Good morning Gentlemen and Politicians...''

The September 20th 1975 letter :

'' Now Gentlemen , let me tell you how we make an A-Bomb...''

And , goes further :

''...When you fire off the shell , the explosive charge instantaneously joins the two sub-critical masses , and forms one sub-critical mass and you have a great big flash...''

November 9th 1969 - Guy Fawkes ( ? )
August 16th 1974 - I.R.A. Man ( ? )
September 20th 1975 - Jack D.Ripper ( ? )

But , may all be the Zodiac .

( Temple , Texas letter from Brigadier General Matrix to R.A.Hearst :
Ref HEARNAP FBI File 37 , Page 573 . )

Rubislaw 32 link

5/25/2020 06:21:57 am

Comparisons to the above ?

December 11th 1971 , to the Washington Post , Washington D.C. :

Sirs ,......D B Cooper

------------------------

March 28th 1972 , to the Oregonian , Portland , Oregon :

Gentlemen , .........A Rich Man

-----------------------

Richard

5/25/2020 12:18:59 pm

They initially thought that this man was the same person threatening to blow up the Church of Satan and also stab a member. It reminded me of LaVey contacting Paul Avery saying a man wanted to join the Church, with Avery quipping that "the man was that strange even the Church of Satan didn't want him". The Matrix tone is similar, making me think of an SLA connection for the above, however, it's the deliberate selection of "2 policemen" that interests me. The drawing of a map isn't unlike the SLA but the rest doesn't quite fit. I wonder who those names were?

Richard

5/25/2020 12:21:10 pm

Or should I say ""Zodiac was so bad even the Church of Satan didn't want him".

Rubislaw 32 link

5/25/2020 02:34:53 pm

Yes , this '' August 16th 1974 '' guy is almost certainly fraudulent .

As a general observation , the difficulty in examining the Zodiac , and with what we are presented with , officially , is that his deeds were a combination of fantasy and reality , fiction and fact , lies and truth .

The authorities will be satisfied if they only nail him for the murders . The rest , it appears , the law courts won't touch with a barge pole . And , if those murder cases are judicially damaged that much , then there is little chance .

I think it telling that , when the FBI elected to interview LaVey . which was in connection to his possible complicity in a plot to assassinate Edward Kennedy , they concluded that he , LaVey , was simply a professional fraud , and that his practice and Church were just stuff of ''theatre '' .LaVey had been brought up in the world of the Circus - so , perhaps not difficult to see .

5/25/2020 05:15:32 pm

The relationship between cops and newspaper reporters before the 1970's was cozy.

The photographers at a homicide would manipulate the crime scenes for shock value.

The private detectives would arrive on scene to make payoffs so cops would let them in.

The homicides for hire were dead ends for cops. But, they were big sellers of newspapers.

The claim of Anton LaVey being a police photographer for a time may actually be true.

5/25/2020 12:24:28 pm

Richard - It sounds like the Lindberg ransom fraud - dirty cops running around trying to get money to the kidnapper.
Toschi is known as "Dirty Harry" for a reason - they made movies about him - could he be involved more in the Zodiac?

This may be R. A.

Richard H. Adler Psychiatrist at Gladman Hospital in Oakland?

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Zodiac_Killer_Cover_Up/QbFEBAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Richard+H.+Adler+is+the+zodiac+killer&pg=PA152&printsec=frontcover

Richard

5/25/2020 12:31:34 pm

Yes, somebody with a newspapers.com subscription could find these ads in the San Francisco Examiner and Oakland Tribune. If it was signed R.A. we'd be in business.

Richard

5/25/2020 01:46:20 pm

Dirty Harry was made to run all over town with ransom money, travelling from one payphone to another. This person drew a map with a payphone, requested two cops, not one, and demanded 300,000 dollars. The ransom in Dirty Harry was 200,000 dollars.

Rubislaw 32 link

5/25/2020 11:10:26 pm

Yes, I had seen that , about LaVey , BB , that he had been a crime photographer for two years , mostly working for the SFPD . This was after he had left life in the Circus , behind him . An accomplished organist , so obviously quite a resourceful and generally talented person .

I knew a crime scene photographer . Temperamentally sound person , and on call 24 / 7 .

The Church of Satan was probably a '' calling '' ( ? ) .But , more in a sense , like an actor to the stage . And , probably paid a lot better , than most actors .

5/25/2020 02:34:12 pm

Yes! It sounds like we're on a good lead here.

Rubislaw 32 link

5/25/2020 04:02:19 pm

The world according to Lyndon Lafferty ?

Richard Adler was the psychiatrist treating Marion Grant , for a nervous breakdown . Richard Adler had been recommended to Marion's husband '' Bill '' Grant , by Grant's psychiatrist , Edward Adams who , had treated Grant , in the past , for alcohol addiction and gambling addiction .

Marion Grant was a very popular person , locally . Her husband was quite unpopular . Many were concerned about Richard Adler being hired to treat Marion. It was known that Adler's own profession had investigated Adler , in the past , for having had sex with his patients .

Given Marion's perceived state of mind , at the time , and that she had had an affair with Judge Sherwin , her boss , at a time that Bill Grant was in a world of his own , was cause for alarm for local folk that knew and cared about Marion . This included Lyndon and his wife , Yvonne .

5/25/2020 05:02:53 pm

The psychiatrists are allowed to talk now that it's over 50 years.

The living one's should do a tell-all. It's time. Nobody can be
required to keep silent forever.

Rubislaw 32 link

5/25/2020 05:27:40 pm

I take your point , BB .

I knew Lyndon , for a short while , and would never expect Yvonne to speak up . And indeed , why should she , to the general public .

But , Jerry Johnson has elected to hang out with the amateur sleuths , in the past , and will know more of what Lyndon claimed , as Lyndon's sometime investigating partner .

How is it , that those few , in the Zodiac community that claim some kind of friendship with him , will not , at least , reach out to him ?

It is / would be Mr.Johnson's right not comment on the matter - but there are those , in a position to ask him - but will not do so , nor explain to others , why they are unable to do so .

It stinks .

Rubislaw 32 link

5/25/2020 08:29:07 pm

On a reflective note , it must be apparent to the casual viewer looking in , that the vast majority of regular Zodiac followers are desperate to lay their hands on any morsel of substantiated information , with the aim of exposing the Zodiac .

For , we just want the truth to emerge .

There are a few , however , that once locked in to an adopted suspect , spend most of their time defending the guilt of that suspect and , as the reality of their time investment in that erroneous suspect becomes apparent to all , but themselves , dig in as if like enacting trench warfare , even to deny more information to others , simply on the basis that it makes their suspect's guilt look even more ridiculous .
As the contributor '' Eyeful Tower '' commented , these miscreant sleuths damage the credibility of their fellow Zodiac followers , halting any possible progress , and even setting it back .For , it is pretty clear that law enforcement themselves , won't feel disposed to leak anything more , when there is deliberate suppression of information that really ought to be freely available .

Let alone , those few that are here for profiteering .

The fraudulence is all their's .

5/26/2020 02:29:48 am

This ad has also been theorized to be associated with the death/possible suicide of Fred Manalli the very day before. Manalli has long been suspected of the Santa Rosa hitchhiker deaths and, by extension, a possible Zodiac suspect.

Other than the Zodiac reference, “deep real estate” is commonly used to describe someone buried deep in the ground. Was this a reference to Manalli’s death? The Imperial wizard reference has also been theorized to be possibly related to the KKK.

In addition to William Joseph Grant, suspect Larry Kane was also in real estate. Additionally, a now deceased man named Joseph Holt was recently identified throug DNA to be the killer of two women in the Lake Tahoe area in 1974. He also was involved in criminal activity in the Bay Area. He too was a realtor.

5/26/2020 02:45:45 am

Stating the obvious, the ad clearly suggests that Zodiac had a “partner”, which can mean anything from an accomplice, a spouse or lover.

Lastly, the words “I’ll terminate your case” sounds to me as possibly coming from a Prosecutor, Judge, Attorney, Social Worker or Psychiatrist. Basically, someone who handles cases. Maybe Zodiac was suing somebody or petitioning someone.

5/26/2020 03:20:40 am

Interestingly, there’s an episode of the Streets of San Francisco from 1975 that deals with a disgruntled man whose home was condemned and replaced with a high rise tower. He then exacts revenge by shooting at the developer’s executives. A lot of real estate-related grievances during that period apparently.

Richard

5/26/2020 04:08:48 am

A lot depends on the interpretation of the advertisement, notably, is the advertisement addressing Zodiac, or is Zodiac addressing somebody else. I always hear Mo, that "deep real estate" is inferring that somebody is buried. Can you find one example doing a Google search?

Richard

5/26/2020 04:46:03 am

I find it difficult to buy the coincidence of a Zodiac newspaper story mentioning David Toschi's partner, with a random advertisement containing the words "Zodiac" and "partner". This newspaper article and advertisement was either an orchestrated play on behalf of law enforcement, who may have been contacted by Zodiac. However, the language used in the advertisement, for me, negates the premise the advertisement was manufactured by law enforcement. I see it as Zodiac declaring his name in the first instance and then giving the message to Toschi and Armstrong, stating "your partner is in deep real estate" and now your next. Then the veiled threat. From everything we know, nobody knew who Zodiac was, therefore addressing his partner cannot possibly be known by anybody. This effectively makes the message meaningless. The only thing we do know is that the advertisement states "your partner is in deep real estate", coinciding with the mention of William Armstrong (Toschi's partner) being transferred to fraud detail. If the advertisement and article were in the same newspaper publication, then the advertisement couldn't have been triggered by the newspaper article. That would mean that possibly Zodiac initiated the newspaper article, some of its content and date through some form of communication, to which he then added the advertisement to coincide with the article. I cannot believe an article mentioning "Zodiac" and "partner" accidentally married up with the "Zodiac" and "partner" from the advertisement. These two were coordinated in some fashion.

5/26/2020 05:45:07 am

I see what you’re saying Richard. Just a couple of comments:

1. You mentioned the article was dated August 26, 1976. However, that’s the same date the personal ad appeared. If there’s a connection, that means either law enforcement placed the ad, or Zodiac had inside information about when the article was going to be published.

2. What is the purpose of the ad? Who’s the imperial wizard and what was supposed to be surrendered? In all other Zodiac correspondences (that I know of) he was very clear about communicating his message. He clearly expressed his threats, taunts, opinions, etc. However, this ad seems to carry a very subtle message. Therefore, I think it was addressed to Zodiac rather than from Zodiac and that the Zodiac knew what it meant.

In my mind, deep real estate is sometimes used to indicate burials, although I cannot find any verification for this. I think it’s used like the phrase “swim with the fishes” which sometimes is used to refer to killing someone.

Rubislaw 32 link

5/26/2020 05:55:48 am

Genuinely interesting comments from Richard and Mo .

ZODIAC , your partner is in DEEP REAL ESTATE . You're next . The Imperial Wizard can save you . Surrender to him or I'll terminate your case . R.A.

In the same month that this personal ad. was placed , William Joseph Grant and his wife , Marion , had moved out of their spacious residency , on Cordelia Road , and into smaller accommodation . Following Grant's court injunction victory against law enforcement for police harassment ( Vallejo P.D. ) , Grant's wife Marion had a nervous breakdown and , Grant was faced with her problems now , in addition to moving his elderly mother into their house . When Grant's mother passed away , he obviously felt it was time for he and Marian to find a new home , that required less general maintenance .

The implications are , I would suggest , that this personal ad. has been taken out by the Zodiac , as yet another example of the Zodiac's persecution of Grant . Keeping a watchful eye on Grant and , in effect , letting Grant know that his , the Zodiac's vendetta against Grant , was still on .

Much of that persecution , again I suggest , was making Grant out to be him , the Zodiac....so with this personal ad . the Zodiac has written it , as if by the psychiatrist Richard Adler , who was hired by Bill Grant , to treat his wife Marion , for her nervous breakdown .

As interpreted :

ZODIAC ( Bill Grant ) , your partner ( wife , Marion ) is in DEEP REAL ESTATE (...trouble , but as a pun on Grant's job as a salesman...) . The Imperial Wizard (..implications of a false accusation , that Grant is a White Supremacist ...) can save you . Surrender to him or I'll terminate your case ( Adler's treatment of Marion , as hired by Grant ) . R.A. ( Richard Adler ) .

Lyndon Lafferty's interpretation was that Bill Grant had written and placed the ad. , as if to distance himself ( Grant ) , from the gossip tongues still wagging locally , that Grant was the Zodiac .

And , if I might suggest , the tendency for Lafferty , given that he also thought that Grant was the Zodiac , was that Lafferty would come up with elaborate explanations for Grant , usually amounting to Grant suffering from multiple personalities .

Lafferty just never had a truly plausible motive explaining why Grant would do such things , being the case of course , that Laffery thought that Grant was the Zodiac .

( So I have heard , Jerry Johnson wasn't as convinced as Lafferty , that Grant was the Zodiac and was not willing to accept Lafferty's generous offer of a partnership in the writing of '' The Silenced Badge '' . )

Richard

5/26/2020 06:19:28 am

That would make the reference to "partner" an accident or coincidence, whether taken out by Zodiac, Grant or whomever. The person taking out the advertisement just happening to coincide with the first Zodiac article for 16 months and just happening to mention a "partner" just like the newspaper article. I don't like these sort of coincidences.

Richard

5/26/2020 06:33:15 am

Reported in many northern Californian newspapers on August 21st and 22nd, just prior to this advertisement and newspaper article on the 26th, Jeanne Borgen (the psychic mentioned in the Zodiac article) drew a map that purportedly helped locate the body of a murdered boy, found one block from Handley Rock, Emerald Lake Hills in San Mateo. On the same day the newspapers reported the missing boy find on the 21st, Jeanne Borgen received a telephone call from somebody saying "I need your help and you know who I am". The following day she reported a man in an orange sports car driving past her Pinole residence several times, even approaching her house at one point. Four days later, the newspaper article referencing this appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, along with the advertisement.

Rubislaw 32 link

5/26/2020 06:46:44 am

It certainly has to be said that the term '' partner '' , Richard , finds itself time-wise at least , conspicuous in its apparent non-specific nature .

I wonder if this news about Toschi and Armstrong , was generally known about , prior to its formality in newsprint form ( ? ) .

5/26/2020 07:07:48 am

So many possibilities.

I’ll be a bit facetious:

-The ad was placed by Grant’s male lover “partner” who worked for the Chronicle, thus knowing to time the ad with the article. Maybe he was trying to get him to surrender.

-Law enforcement was trying to pull Zodiac’s leg by reviving interest in the case with a double dose of attention (article + ad). Maybe with input from RA.

Rubislaw 32 link

5/26/2020 07:42:20 am

It's certainly interesting that you mention '' Grant's male lover '' , Mo , for , if we but into Grant being subjected to persecution from an unknown Zodiac , then the '' bi-sexual '' angle on Grant , makes for plausibility .

The Vallejo P.D. were carrying out surveillance on Grant , and it is believed beyond reasonable gossip , that they had evidence of Grant having entertained young consenting men , at motels .

But the Vallejo P.D. held back from electing to arrest Grant on sodomy charges . Perhaps the orders came from '' upstairs '' ( CA DOJ ) . If law enforcement believed either of two scenarios - that Grant might be the Zodiac , or that Grant knew who the Zodiac might be...is almost immaterial....the Vallejo P.D. committed the cardinal police sin of getting caught for overstepping the legal mark , in that when they , the Vallejo P.D. were caught out , they had no proof that they had intentions to arrest Grant .

Personally , I believe that Grant was in a position to offer the investigating police enough information to lead them to the Zodiac .But,that is not the same thing as Grant knowing the Zodiac's identity definitively .

But morally , Grant could have helped - but instead elected to protect his '' precious '' reputation . And , the reality of this , as later became apparent to Grant's wife Marian , gave Marian a nervous breakdown . At that juncture , which was following Grant's court injunction victory , there was no turning back , for Marian and '' Bill ''..

All part of the tragedy of the case .

Richard

5/26/2020 08:27:27 am

The Richard Adler we know was a psychiatrist at Gladman Hospital in Oakland and Edward Adams was a psychiatrist also. We know the the pseudonym "Zodiac" can be attached to the the threatening letter to Edward Adams on October 17th 1970, stating "You are next", and we know that this advertisement stated "You're next" signed R.A. (we have surmised previously could be Richard Adler). So that (as you stated Rubislaw) is the only tangible link to the initials R.A. so far.

Richard

5/26/2020 07:53:45 am

We will find the definitive answer to this. Usually the answer to these things are really simple and lie in recent events. My guess is the answer will reside within the Chronicle during August. But the idea that the advertisement and article are just happenstance I don't buy. What was David Toschi investigating in the month of August? What newspaper reports were released about the KKK? What was Bill Armstrong investigating in fraud division? These are some pertinent questions.

Rubislaw 32 link

5/26/2020 09:36:58 am

Indeed Richard , and in fairness to other's opinions about the '' Real Estate '' ad . '' R.A. '' could have a number of interpretations .

But ,there are grounds for believing that the personal ad. was yet another example , like the Edward Adams '' cut and paste '', of the Zodiac persecuting Grant .

I have the December 7th Fairfield letter , the 13 hole card , The Pines card , all in addition as the Zodiac attempting to fit Grant up as the Zodiac , by the Zodiac himself . Then there is also the Benicia High School Note and Lafferty's library finds that suggest that the Zodiac may have been impersonating Grant .

And again , Lafferty's claim that the DLV letter alluded to a complaint by ''someone '' who had attempted to acquire a driver's licence , in Grant's name , twice in one day . And , personally believe that the Zodiac was still '' giving it to Grant '' , in the mid-1990's , with the solution to Scorpion's S5 cipher.

The Husted Report placed the identity of the Zodiac ( wrongly ) on Grant , in 1978 , so it appears that the Vallejo P.D. was still of the opinion , themselves , that Grant was the Zodiac . But , of course , by then the Vallejo P.D. were off the case , on CA DOJ's orders.

But , all things considered , the CA DOJ must carry some of the blame for the debacle over Grant's investigation and , I believe that the CA DOJ have never really believed in Grant's guilt .

It just seems to illustrate a '' dis-joint '' between the CA DOJ and police forces in the field and , that to an extent , the Vallejo P.D.had acted with understandable intention , with the original surveillance operation .

Rubislaw 32 link

5/26/2020 07:18:39 pm

From what little information on Dr.Richard H Adler :

Dr.Adler successfully joined The American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology , October 3rd - October 4th 1971 , in Chicago .

In effect , his final examinations . Since it usually takes 8 years higher education to become a Psychiatrist , then Dr.Adler was probably about 26 years old , in 1971 .

This means that Dr.Richard H Adler was 31-32 years old , in August 1976 .

Whereas Dr.Edward Adams was almost 57 years old , in August 1976 .

And , William Joseph Grant was 56 years old , in August 1976 .

Both Dr.Edward Adams and Bill Grant , had spent military service time , in San Antonio , Texas . Adams in the Navy , as an instructor , and Grant in the Army Air Force as a trainee instructor .

As of 2011 , Dr.Richard H Adler was still a practising psychiatrist , attached to the Gladman Hospital , Oakland .

Dr.Edward Adams died May 24th 2003 , age 83 , and had retired to Carmel , CA . He was survived by his wife , and daughter Catherine .

Rubislaw 32 link

5/27/2020 04:25:20 am

In 1971 Bill Grant became a licensed Real Estate salesman .
In 1973 Bill Grant won a court injunction against LE for police harassment .
In December 1974 ,Bill Grant's lodging mother died .
By August 1976 , when Bill & Marion left their Cordelia Rd. property , Bill was also a successful public speaker , on behalf of both Alcoholics Anonymous and the Catholic Church .

Rubislaw 32 link

5/27/2020 07:23:41 am

I would suggest that , on a basis of respective ages , the claim that it was Dr.Richard Adler that was hired by Bill Grant , on Dr.Edward Adams' recommendation , to treat Marion Grant for a nervous breakdown , appears to fit .

The normal scenario for a practising psychiatrist would be to have affiliations with a hospital , for the regular work and a salary . Then , psychiatrists would build a private practice of their own , on the side .So, a relatively young psychiatrist , such as Richard Adler , would probably be dependent on experienced psychiatrists , such as Edward Adams , to help them build their private practice , by putting work their way .

Bur,it does seem also , that local people that knew Marion , might frown at a choice of '' young dishy doctor '' ( ? ) . And , who knows ( ? ) , it may have been the case that local gossip pointed to Adler having allegiances ( albeit without foundation ) to white supremacists .

From what Lafferty claims also , Marion did approach Yvonne Lafferty ,about her psychiatrist , though Marion never specified the precise nature of her mental anguish . Marion's psychiatrist ( Adler ? ) ,given Marion's inability to express herself fully , told Marion to bring Grant in with her , for a session with them , as husband and wife . So, Marion approached Grant with this proposal . Apparently Grant '' hit the roof '' and dismissed the proposal out of hand . So, as it transpired , Adler just had to treat Marion , the best he could , without full transparency from Marion .

The sheer arrogance of Bill Grant ( ? ) . That he could just expect Adler to '' cure '' his wife , on the basis of hiring Adler '' to do a job ''.And this , it seems , is the sort of person that Bill Grant was - secrets from the past , that he just could not let out - bar one , perhaps ( ? ) ,that felt no other recourse than to admit to his wife , Marion - and this one admission from Grant , gave Marion a nervous breakdown .

Naturally , Lafferty's interpretation of this , was that Grant had told Marion that he , Bill Grant , was the Zodiac ( ! ).

Well, Lafferty would think that , I suppose .

5/27/2020 08:16:05 am

Good work R32 - putting all this together - smart.

Rubislaw 32 link

5/27/2020 08:31:23 am

Thanks BB , and without intending to impose anything specifically , the nub of this '' faction narrative '' is the following :

Is it the case that the Zodiac was persecuting Bill Grant ? And , if the Zodiac was carrying out some sort of vendetta against Grant - then why ?

If one is persuaded by this scenario , then it represents the '' foot in the door '' to expose the Zodiac .

Richard

5/27/2020 11:25:16 am

You may be interested in the newspaper article I've attached at the bottom of the article Rubislaw, sent to me courtesy of Cragle. It was dated the day after the 1976 advertisement.

Rubislaw 32 link

5/27/2020 12:30:41 pm

Thanks for that article , Richard .

The personal ad . could have been , all part of a hoax ( ? ) . And , thanks to Cragle .

Strangely , I was in touch , only last year with Senator Diane Feinstein about another hoaxing Tom - this one I call '' Turkey Lurkey '' Tom . These hoaxers can be a nuisance .

With the personal ad. , there is the coincidences of '' Zodiac '' ; '' Real Estate '' : '' R.A. '' , and '' You're next '' on the psychiatry front . Plus the moving of residences of Marion & Bill .

But , still could be a coincidence though ( ? ) . But , I presume this personal ad . will have been put under the microscope , as much as the Zodiac letters .

As a footnote , years later when Marion was seriously ill , Lafferty received a phone call from Grant and , enquired of Marion's health .
Grant informed Lafferty that Marion had sadly passed away . So , Lafferty enquired about her funeral . To Lafferty's surprise , Grant told Lafferty that he had already had Marion cremated , and had scattered her ashes .

Marion's friends were all upset about this . It almost seems as if , near Marion's end , Grant didn't want any fuss - like last-minute death-bed confessions , for example ( ? ) .

What was it that Grant told Marion , that made Marion succumb to a nervous breakdown ? Well , I believe I found out , but have to keep it a secret for now .

I was shocked when it happened , and remember literally having to pick myself up , from having fallen out of a chair .

I see that this newspaper article is called : '' In S.F. , sanity is a relative thing . '' .

It reminds me of that expression , used in the classic TV series , The Twighlight Zone :

In Space , no one can hear you scream .

Cragle

5/27/2020 12:44:37 pm

I do believe that their is quite a strong possibility that the Ad may have been a hoax. The newspaper article references “Old Tom” being apprehended earlier in the month. So it could have been possible that the Ad was placed before he was stopped. It is interesting that the time that the Ad was placed their was a confirmed Copycat letter writer active.

Rubislaw 32 link

5/27/2020 01:28:56 pm

Indeed Cragle , and thanks again .

Sometimes we need a reality check , and the regular hoaxers of each era , seem to stay busy .

I wonder how long , this personal ad. has been knocking around (?) - with highlighted notice , that is . Surely , it was acknowledged before Lafferty's book .And , was it leaked , as such , as with some so-called '' unconfirmed '' correspondences ( ? ) .

Most strange .

Rubislaw 32 link

5/27/2020 06:05:22 pm

I see now that the DEEP REAL ESTATE personal ad. was first brought to the public's attention , with Robert Graysmith's '' Zodiac Unmasked '',first published January 2nd 2007 .

Then, re-introduced by Lyndon Lafferty , in his '' Silenced Badge '' book , first published February 8th 2012 . Shortly following the death of William Joseph Grant .

Rubislaw 32 link

6/2/2020 10:23:10 pm

Who's next ?

In 1968 , Democrat candidates running for the office of President , included late-comer Robert Kennedy and Senator Eugene McCarthy .
A postcard of Downtown Motor Inn , Albuquerque , New Mexico , written June 9th 1968 , and slipped under the door of McCarthy's Campaign H.Q. ,215 Central , Albuquerque , 9 a.m. June 9th :

'' YOU NEXT MCARTHY . BULLETS FOR YOU , LIKE KENNEDY . YOU ROTTON S.O.B. ''

Ref : Eugene McCarthy FBI File 5 Pages 49,50,51 .

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June 19th 1968 :

A letter received at Chamber of Commerce , Palm Springs , CA .

The letter postmarked June 17th 1968 , Yucca Valley , CA .:

'' We got Kennedy....! - McCarthy is next . g.o.p. - Dixiecrats Coalition....Heil Hitler ! ''

Ref : Eugene McCarthy FBI File 5 Page 77 .

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July 15th 1968 , a note is left attached to a door at the McCarthy-Logan Campaign H.Q. , 10th and Main , Hays , Kansas City , Missouri , between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.:

'' I am going to kill McCarthy , if he comes to town ( Hays ) , or Logan . '' The Panther '' .''

A phone call follows two days later , with a similar message .

Ref : Eugene McCarthy FBI File 6 , Page 28 .

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Comparisons , with the Zodiac's cut & paste , October 12th 1970 :

'' Edward Adams , The Zodiac is going to change...Adams you are next .''

And :

Personal Ad. , August 26th 1976 :

'' Zodiac , your partner is in DEEP REAL ESTATE...you're next...''

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Rubislaw 32 link

6/2/2020 10:36:34 pm

The Eugene McCarthy FBI File 1 is a recommended read throughout the file . It concerns a hoaxer / extortionist known as Roland Terrintine , for whom we unaware if he was ever exposed .

He bangs on with subject matter , such as the KKK , N*gg*rs and his ability to use a rifle silencer . And , apparently left the name '' Great Ogre '' ,also .

A realistic Zodiac candidate , indeed . Sadly , much of his actual correspondence work , is denied the reader , but some samples can be made out .

Rubislaw 32 link

6/3/2020 05:25:48 am

April 22nd 1968 :

A typed letter was sent to Senator Eugene McCarthy , with heading address , 322 South La Brea Avenue , Los Angeles , CA .

Contents of letter , included :

'' Dear Sir : .....In closing Mr.Senator , I know of no other men like him ( J Edgar Hoover ) in Washington ( that ) we would be a hell of a lot better of . ''

This letter was signed : '' Richard A.Freeman ''

Ref : Eugene McCarthy FBI File 4 , Pages 76,77 .

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We may observe comparisons with the Zodiac's March 13th 1971 letter , to the LA Times :

'' ...there are a hell of a lot more down there ...''

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And , further , three correspondences from February 1968 :

Example 1 :

'' To all FBI men Dear Sirs : ....congress and senet (sic )....you boys are doing one '' Hell '' of a good job ....Your's Truely ( sic ) .''

Ref : Eugene McCarthy FBI File 2 , Page 25 .

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Example 2 :

A San Bernardino postmark :

''...I sure wish to hell....''

Ref : Eugene McCarthy FBI File 2 , Page 6 .

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Example 3 :

A note :

''....scare the hell out of them...''

Ref : Eugene McCarthy FBI File 2 , Page 34 .

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Rubislaw 32 link

6/3/2020 05:34:45 am

February 1968 : '' one hell of a ''
February 1968 : '' wish to hell ''
February 1968 : '' the hell out of ''
April 1968 : '' a hell of a ''
March 1971 : '' a hell of a ''

Rubislaw 32 link

6/3/2020 07:14:06 pm

Were the Zodiac's puns and euphemisms endless ?

Well , whatever was going on in that '' noddle '' of his , one can never really put it past him .

'' Zodiac , your partner is in DEEP REAL ESTATE....''

Looks like the Zodiac attempting to impersonate Dr. Richard Adler , messaging William Grant , and by inferring that Grant was him , the Zodiac .

Apart from a pun on '' Real Estate '' , as was Grant's business , as a salesman , we could also look at '' Real '' , as a '' piece of eight '' .

Hence :

'' Bill , Marion is in '' pieces of eight '' over all that you survey...'' , and for which , of course , required the young psychiatrist , Adler , to treat , in order that Marion might come out of her tailspin of a nervous breakdown .

The impersonating of doctors is nothing new , and still goes on to-day . There are two , at present , that are jostling for control , at the main Zodiac Reddit website , as I write , and have conversed under slightly other hoaxed names elsewhere , recently also .

More a case of : '' The strange case of Dr.D and Uncle S . '', with one's sycophantic reaction , to the other's contribution , as :

'' WOOOOOOW ! THANKS , DR.D ! GREAT FIND ! ''

Who on earth are they kidding ( ? ) , but themselves .

Only an '' out in the wilderness '' Zodiac nihilist called Thomas Horan , has these self-proclaimed doctors out-trumped , by claiming to now hold the rank of '' Professor '' .

Rubislaw 32 link

6/3/2020 07:59:34 pm

The comedian and film director , Woody Allen , once modified the old adage : '' Those who can , do ... '' . Perhaps we could could take it even further on modification ( ? ) , to :

'' Those who can , do , and those who can't , teach , and those who can't teach , teach P.E. ,......and, those who can't do any of the aforementioned , hoax and moderate in the case of the Zodiac Killer .''.

A PERSONAL AD BY ZODIAC IN 1974?

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