THE 1978 LETTERS- A CONVENIENT FALL GUY

3/10/2018

"Paul Avery and Kate Coleman who wrote the sizzling expose of Black Panther violence in the July 10th New Times 'have gone out of the area' after receiving the predictable threats", wrote Herb Caen. The bogus letter reopened old wounds, driving the populace to seek closure on the long-unsolved case. Zodiac tips quadrupled. "The Zodiac was shot to death by San Francisco police in March of 1976," a reader informed Caen, "about four months after he set the Gartland Hotel fire that killed thirteen people". Zodiac Unmasked.

On July 19th 1978 a typewritten letter from Los Angeles arrived at the San Francisco Chronicle stating:
"I am the ZODIAC and I am in control of all things. I am going to tell you a secret. I like friction tape. I like to have it around in case I need to truss someone up in a hurry....I have my real name on a small metallic tape. You see, while you have it in your possession, I want you to know it belongs to me and you think I may have left it accidentally. I am athletic. It could be swim fins, or a piece of scuba gear. But maybe you play chess with me. I have several cheap sets in closets all over. I have my name on the bottom of the lid with the scotch tape....My tape is waiting for me all over California. Do you know me? I am the ZODIAC and I am in control".

Representation of the communication, not the original

Arthur Leigh Allen

Sergeant John Lynch from the Vallejo Police Department interviewed Arthur Leigh Allen, with Allen stating that he traveled to Salt Point Ranch, located on the coast, due west of Napa on September 26th 1969 for a spot of scuba diving. Clearly, Arthur Leigh Allen was a prime suspect for Zodiac, so it must have been obvious to Allen that he would incriminate himself by inserting "swim fins" and "scuba gear" into the narrative of the 1978 letter, unless you believe a double bluff.

This letter followed the "I am back with you" correspondence mailed to the San Francisco Chronicle on April 24th 1978, just three months earlier. Arthur Leigh Allen had been released from the Atascadero State Hospital on August 31st 1977, and this letter is often touted as his return to the persona of the Zodiac Killer after a lengthy absence. Or was it more likely that somebody known or unknown to Allen was attempting to implicate him in the murders by dropping subtle clues pointing in his direction? The author of the July 1978 letter seemingly wants to push us in the direction of tape: "I like friction tape", "I have my real name on a small metallic tape", "I have my name on the bottom of the lid with the scotch tape", and "My tape is waiting for me all over California". It appears like a selling job, trying to push the tape angle in connection with trussing people up, whereas the author may have had other intentions.

The Zodiac Killer mailed us a 'Bus Bomb' diagram on November 9th 1969 and April 20th 1970, employing the use of electrical circuits.
'Friction tape is a type of adhesive tape made from cloth impregnated with a rubber-based adhesive, mainly used to insulate splices in electric wires and cables. Because the adhesive is impregnated in the cloth, friction tape is sticky on both sides. The rubber-based adhesive makes it an electrical insulator and provides a degree of protection from liquids and corrosion. In the past, friction tape was widely used by electricians, but PVC electrical tape has replaced it in most applications today. The frictional properties of the tape come from the cloth material, which is usually made from cotton, while the fabric base protects electrical splices against punctures and abrasion. Wikipedia.'

Was this the implication, with 'pipe bombs' having been discovered at Allen's residence, along with supposed bomb manuals. But more credible, is the emphasis on "swim fins" and "scuba gear," considering Allen's penchant for scuba diving, and the opportunities for such pursuits provided by Lake Berryessa, Lake Tahoe and Fisherman's Wharf near to the Presidio Park - in three Zodiac linked crimes.
Permanent marker pens, in conjunction with water resistant tape or labels, are ideal for scuba divers and boat enthusiasts for personalizing your equipment. dolphindiveathens.com/marking-your-dive-gear/. "I have my name on the bottom of the lid with the scotch tape....My tape is waiting for me all over California".

With Arthur Leigh Allen the prime Zodiac candidate for many years, isn't it plausible that somebody was attempting to throw Allen under the proverbial 'school bus' in an attempt to keep him in the frame, while keeping an interest in the Zodiac case burning bright. These two letters could actually be from Zodiac (depending on the validity of DNA evidence), and is simply a game by the real killer to keep the spotlight firmly focused on his convenient "fall guy".

Richard

3/10/2018 12:27:34 pm

Enter your theory here Rubislaw.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/10/2018 02:20:34 pm

Well,thanks a bundle.....genuinely [!],Richard.

What I really wanted to ask was,if the ''typed'' version of the July 19th 1978 letter is genuine.....and if so,where did you get it from [?].

I'm guessing that it is ''artistic licence'' [?].But nevertheless,good to see up.

I presume ''we'' are down to trusting Mr.Graysmith,with its ''authenticity of existence'' [?].

Yes indeed,somewhere in the world [..symbolised by a Thistle...],there is a murder re-investigation into a young woman,ongoing,and now three years old.The victim,brutally beaten to death,with a metal bar,on July 14th 1978.....just five days before the typed letter,claimed to be sent to the SF Chronicle.

The letter certainly has a lot going for it,on the cryptic references.

Friction tape = havoc

Small metallic tape = a brass desk ruler

Scotch tape = a Scottish murder

I would suggest that there has been a minor correction :

Athletic should read Aquatic [?].

It's ''priceless'' Zodiac speak....of course,I would say that.

Brenda Page R.I.P.

Richard

3/10/2018 03:05:04 pm

I deliberately didn't state anything about the typed letter, for you to determine whether it was genuine or not. It is artistic license, but being typed it can't be far wrong. I just enhanced the 1987 letter envelope to the best it will go, revealing most if not all the words. He writes Rush to Editor twice similar to the July 31st 1969 letters.
https://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/4/9/7/1/4971630/1987envelope_orig.gif

Rubislaw 32 link

3/10/2018 04:14:19 pm

Amazing work,Richard,and thanks.

You must have had to get out an old typewriter,just to start the presentation [?].

I am sure it must be close to the real thing.

Now,all we need,is for Mr.Graysmith to honour your site,and offer us an explanation.

''Secretly'',I do believe that he was allowed to publish it,with ''Athletic'',instead of the actual ''Aquatic''.But,that can only become apparent,in time.

I have a newspaper in mind,that I might try to use,in order to ask Graysmith to reveal more about it.But,he is officially retired,from Zodiac matters.

Naturally,I have ''badgered'' the seconded police.....knowing they wouldn't tell me [!].....but pressing them,in case they forget....which is unlikely,I suppose.

''The Real Smoking Gun'' ?

Who knows [?].And,maybe not the only one.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/11/2018 12:51:57 am

Yes Richard....I think that you have interpreted the 1987 envelope ''spot on''.

So,that was the Vallejo Times.Interesting,with the Celebrity Cipher going to them,also [1990].And then,the Eureka Xmas card,going to the SF Chronicle.

Though not personally convinced of the Zodiac authenticity of the 1987 letter,it is interesting that all three avoided The SF Examiner.....where Paul Avery was employed,at the time.

The Celebrity Cipher [2 Secret Pal references],and Eureka Xmas card [1 Secret Pal reference ],were clearly meant for him [IMHO].

Perhaps ''Zodiac'' was trying avoid ''first tier'' security,by avoiding the SF Examiner,all together [?].

Sadly,history shows that Avery never got to hear about either of those two 1990 correspondences.

John

3/10/2018 04:45:19 pm

Richard, if it's okay with you I would like to venture off topic: I was reading the Zodiac's April 20, 1970 where he writes he was "swamped out by the rain we had a while back." It got me thinking about California's weather, specifically floods. So I did some searching and found out there were severe winter floods in the San Joaquin Valley/ Central Valley area in 1969.(I didn't find any severe floods near S.F/ Vallejo) These floods could be the ones the Zodiac was referring to in the letter. And guess what city is found in that area? Modesto. Kathleen Jones supposedly had her encounter with the Zodiac near Modesto. The Zodiac's home base could have been these areas instead of SF/ Vallejo/surrounding areas. Just putting that out there.

Richard

3/11/2018 01:15:47 am

Here is a snippet I did on the basement angle John.
So again taking the Zodiac Killer at face value we shall look in this region of Cow Hollow or the Marina District for basement residences and flood plains in the region. The 'My Name is..Letter' could easily have been telling the truth also. It was mailed on April 20th talking of "rain we had a while back." San Francisco's rainy months are between November and April, averaging over 100 mm monthly. Here is the chart. http://ggweather.com/sf/monthly.html If you take a look at this historical monthly and yearly rainfall map of San Francisco, it is evident that December and January were particularly heavy monthly rainfall totals in 1969/70 compared to the average, bearing out the Zodiac's claim of being 'swamped out a while back.'
The map here http://geology.com/sea-level-rise/san-francisco.shtml shows areas vulnerable to sea level rise, low level areas close to the coast at mercy to the weather, in addition to heavy rainfall and storm surges. Some residences within this area had basements, plus if you zoom in on the map you will notice Scott Street. One Zodiac suspect, Rick Marshall, highlighted in the 2007 movie apparently lived in a basement residence in Scott Street in 1969, a few miles from the crime scene.
The flooding in the San Joaquin Valley/ Central Valley area is interesting and Zodiac could easily have moved to this area, or somewhere in between Modesto and San Francisco/Vallejo, or he could have visited the area for his profession or family. He certainly could have travelled to San Francisco on a regular basis to post his correspondence. My only reservation, is him living there in July 69. Had he, then after the Blue Rock Springs attack, why hang around the area until 12.40 am- why not just head home and make the phone call at say Concord or Walnut Creek in relative safety. It all depends on the validity of the "basement" claim at the end of the day. It may simply have been a ruse on Zodiac's part.

Shawn

3/11/2018 06:42:27 am

"I am athletic. It could be swim fins, or a piece of scuba gear."

Reminds me of this 1960's? AD pre Zodiac Killer of the Zodiac watch with a Scuba Diver. AD below.

http://i.imgur.com/1Lm78.jpg

Shawn

3/11/2018 06:48:15 am

I have seen on numerous occasions people will automatically go to San Francisco as the place where the bomb was when they refer to the letter with the bomb being "Swamped out" by rain and flooding.

Forgetting that Geo profiling suggested he lived in Vallejo.

I wonder if Vallejo has a problem with flooding?

If Vallejo does not have a problem with flooding then maybe it is more likely Zodiac lived in San Francisco.

Richard

3/11/2018 07:11:57 am

Google will show many examples of flooding in the region of American Canyon. It lies next to wetlands and an old landfill site, close to the eastern fringes of the Napa River.
City of American Canyon website:
"Our waters, wetlands and uplands are part of an interconnected watershed system that drains into San Francisco Bay, the largest estuary on the Pacific coasts of North and South America.
From its headwaters near Calistoga to San Pablo Bay 55 miles downstream, a drop of water falling at the top of the ridge flows by gravity into the Napa River. There are 47 tributary creeks that flow into the Napa River. Fagan Creek, Sheehy Creek, Suscol Creek, American Canyon Creek and the North Slough are in our community. The Napa River Bay Trail is located on Wetlands Edge Road and Eucalyptus Drive. Parking is provided at the Wetlands Edge Viewing Area and Trailhead. There are several trail options for an enjoyable day hiking or biking."
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=american+canyon+flooding&rlz=1C1CHFX_enGB550GB550&oq=american+canyon+flooding+&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.10927j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Lake Chabot Dam once caused great concern in Vallejo, threatening a subdivision of thousands below it, but improvements have negated concerns.

Every winter it rains and the Napa River reaches its banks. And more often than residents care for, the river spills over its banks. So much so that Napa is in the middle of a $255 million flood control project that likely won't be completed until 2011.Considering Napa County suffered an estimated $135 million in damages just from last weekend's rains, it may seem like a bargain.

That same flood-prone river moves south through Napa and American Canyon and empties into Mare Island Strait at Vallejo.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/10/2018 06:06:33 pm

Hi John....just to chip in with what I have learned....but expect others to offer you more information,perhaps [?].

There were areas of the SF vicinity that were affected by all the precipitation,but just pockets and landscape depressions.

It has always been presumed that Zodiac was telling the truth,on that occasion....and so it wasn't presumed that he necessarily resided ''further afield''.

Personally,I believe that Zodiac was a ''sometime'' resident of Vallejo.

It could have been,for example,that he was ''palming off'' himself,as someone he knew,to be of interest to L.E.....whom Zodiac knew to be residing in an affected spot [?].

The ''truth'' may have only been about the flooding....and not about Zodiac's own circumstances.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/11/2018 08:02:22 am

Great observation,on the swim fins/scuba gear,Shawn.

I had been looking,more along the lines of Subsea Engineering...an industrial connection.

But the Zodiac divers watch link,seems so much more simple....even though,''he'' has already told us,that he is the Zodiac.

And of course,there is still the possible Arthur Leigh Allen ''palm off''.

I ''know'' that Mr.Graysmith is unlikely to come out of the cupboard,on this.It's his right,and I would doubt that L.E. would try to ''gag'' him.

But I will consider trying to give the letter newspaper exposure...just don't want to upset L.E.,unduly.

Talk about Zodiac's ''moral ransom''....L.E. can be experts ''par excellence'' [!].

Shawn

3/11/2018 09:07:42 am

Whether we like it or not and as far as we know Arthur Leigh Allen was Law Enforcement's prime suspect for many years. If it is true what Tom Voigt says about there never being any DNA evidence properly obtained from under the stamps or flaps on Zodiac's envelopes. Then ALA was not cleared via DNA.

Toschi and Armstrong consulted a psychiatrist to convince a judge (for a search warrant) that ALA had two personalities which allowed him to write in two different handwriting styles. Explanation for why LE could not match ALA handwriting to Zodiac's handwriting.

Oh yea.....ALA wore a Zodiac Watch.

John

3/11/2018 09:52:17 am

Great discussion about the basement angle. I wasn't expecting this kind of enthusiasm about it. It's possible the Zodiac could have been "messing around" with the authorities regarding him being "swamped out." Now as Rubislaw and Shawn said, it's still possible that he lived in Vallejo...but I'll add this: if we believe the Zodiac was in the process of making a bomb, maybe he was reluctant to make it at his residence in Vallejo in case the authorities or any one else spotted him. Maybe his parents/sibling lived in the San Joaquin/ Central Valley area, in a out of the way house where the Zodiac could do his "Thing" in peace, away from prying eyes.

Drew

3/11/2018 01:15:21 pm

How widely known could it have been that ALA was a Zodiac suspect in 1978? Was anything about Allen ever published? It seems doubtful to me that this information would be publicly available. Even if Allen's name had appeared in print it's hard to believe anything about his hobbies would be known.

Richard

3/11/2018 01:42:05 pm

Certainly to police, family and friends I suspect.

Drew

3/11/2018 01:54:15 pm

Exactly! It is likely a very small group. Just throwing this out there because it is new to me, have you ever heard of a guy named Dick Woodruf? Properly spelled there may be a double f on the end of his name. This guy was named by Allen to police as someone who he thought may have spoken to police about him. I read the report on Tom's site:
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/zodiackillerfr/viewtopic.php?f=260&t=7967&start=40

It was first discussed here and in the thread I believe Morf may have found him on ancestry:
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/zodiackillerfr/did-arthur-leigh-allen-confess-twice-t7401.html

Rubislaw 32 link

3/11/2018 01:47:37 pm

Just from what I have gathered,Drew,and a ''sometime'' relationship with the SF Chronicle :

One would have to ask old policemen what was going on in the backrooms of police stations....but,from the press perspective,''suspects'',as such,was not ''high priority''.The press were living out the life of engagement with Zodiac....and it was really only the Editors that confided with the senior police.

So,and only based on press ''talk'',right from the start,it was always about Allen and Grant.

And Graysmith,effectively,bears that out.

Shawn

3/11/2018 01:51:55 pm

By 1978 the Zodiac Case was getting real cold. At one time Toschi was accused of the writing Zodiac letters to keep interest up in the case.

Numerous Law Enforcement and Numerous civilian informants knew the police were seriously investigating Allen as Zodiac. People gossip and talk. The number people who actually knew Allen was being investigated for Zodiac attacks could have been in the hundreds.

ButterField writes an excellent chronology of Allen as a suspect.

http://zodiackillerfacts.com/zodiac-theories/the-accused-the-accusers/allen-primed-suspect/arthur-leigh-allen-primed-suspect/

Excerpt Below...

Inspectors Armstrong and Toschi believed that Allen was a good suspect and were reluctant to exclude him based on a fingerprint, which, at the very least, was questionable, and the opinion of a handwriting expert. Handwriting analysis, graphology, is not an exact science. A graphologist examines handwriting and offers only an educated opinion. Two different experts with the same education, training, and experience can and do reach conflicting conclusions. Therefore, investigators decided to keep an open mind regarding Allen, despite the evidence that appeared to exonerate him.

The San Francisco Police investigation of Allen ended until further evidence surfaced.

Drew

3/11/2018 02:01:14 pm

I don't know that there were "Numerous" civilian informants that were aware of the Allen investigation in 1978. There was Cheney and his friend Sandy, but I haven't read of others at this time. That said, I will surely take a look at Butterfield's timeline. Thanks Shawn

Rubislaw 32 link

3/11/2018 01:35:18 pm

Just as more if a general comment on possible Zodiac links to 1978 :

April 1978,sees the ''I am back'' letter,and the subsequent breaking of the Toschi ''fan mail'' scandal.

May 1978,sees the Channel 9 letter,with string overtones of Beatles and Manson references.

July 1978,sees[...according to Graysmith..] the type written letter,with the three different ''tape'' riddles.

The April and July letters have a link in ''I am now in control of all things'',and ''I am in control of all things''.

The May letter appears as ''Foreign Zodiac'' as the Count Marco letter,for handwriting...but the Count Marco letter is authenticated by Document Examiners....and The May [Channel 9] letter is not.This letter becomes more responsible for giving birth to a Zodiac/Manson connection,than any other aspect to the Zodiac case.

Rather than argue the respective merits,or otherwise,regarding the three 1978 letters...or any two combination of the three...perhaps the most telling aspect of all ,is that the April 1978 letter,is the last Zodiac correspondence to have been officially authenticated.

What I do suggest is,that the Toschi ''fan mail'' scandal became a pivotal moment,in the history of the case's investigations.

Albeit negative publicity for the case,how L.E. dealt with the matter,and used the April 1978 letter as a political tool of public confidence rectification....became a public relations ''nightmare'',and subsequently threw doubt on the validity of the role of Document Examiners,in the Zodiac case,as a whole.

Perhaps,the April 1978 letter is the last officially authenticated one,more out of an unwillingness of L.E. to engage with the public again,over the matter of Zodiac correspondence authenticity,as an aspect to the case,in itself [?].

Poor Toschi....some legacy.

Richard

3/11/2018 03:19:04 pm

The letters and cards have been through many hands. We don't know if any fingerprints or DNA comes from the killer. But what about the pasted postcards? These individual letters or small fragments of words would be extremely difficult to cut out from a newspaper using scissors and a gloved hand. And unlikely to leave a full fingerprint on these snippets, and unaware of future DNA advancements, couldn't these pasted cuttings harbour and be a rich source of touch DNA on the underside of the pasted words, uncontaminated.
Secondly Classification of blue pen ink using infrared spectroscopy and linear discriminant analysis, to determine whether the individual microscopic constituents of the ink on different communications tally. Even the black ink. Different brands of pen will use different make up of chemicals, dyes, elements specific to each brand and pen, allowing us like a fingerprint to determine any consistency or otherwise through the different letters, or the car door at Berryessa. These techniques could isolate a particular brand unique to a particular store, and possibly where Zodiac bought his tools.
The main application regarding Questioned documents and the use of alternate light sources revolve around “ink differentiation”. Many inks have different formulations, even within the same apparent color type. A tunable forensic light source can be used to identify slight variations in ink type by viewing ink responses as the color of the light is tuned through the visible and infrared regions. Regardless of the skill of the forger, this examination would reveal that 2 different pens were used on the document.
https://spexforensics.com/applications/questioned-documents

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0026265X12000719

The same could be done on the glue used on the Halloween card, 13 Hole postcard and Pines card to determine if a consistency of brand and chemical make up exists, by producing a spectroscopy graph- thereby producing a fingerprint of the glue, and thereby validating whether these postcards originated from the same source.

Shawn

3/11/2018 03:55:16 pm

Hi Richard,

Like you basically said recently LE has little time and money to to devote to the Zodiac case.

From what I hear the cold case inspectors assigned to the Zodiac case throughout various jurisdictions might look at the case a little during off duty hours. Time dedicated to the case and turnover of cold case detectives really keeps them from getting up to speed on the case.

The FBI gave up on the D.B. Cooper case in 2016. They were obligated to follow every lead and did not want to devote anymore manpower to it. They closed the case at the FBI regional office in Seattle and sent all the evidence to storage.

They will only accept evidence such as the Cooper's parachute, Money or his Body. They will not pursue much of any other type of evidence.

I think this type of evidence culling is happening slowly to the Zodiac case also. I am hearing more and more they want a Hood, Gun, Knife or souvenirs Zodiac might have taken from the scene.

Other evidence is welcomed but not really appreciated.

Thanks,

Shawn

Rubislaw 32 link

3/11/2018 05:08:57 pm

Some inspiring comments,Richard,to wonder about a possible solitary Zodiac,and what he got up to in the ''creations'',that constituted some if his correspondences.

He probably was a stamp collector and model maker,going back to childhood.So would probably have a ''box of tricks'',and be quite adept,with tweezers,scissors,adhesives,paints etc.

Stationary,possibly a combination of purchase and stealing from work.It was a new era for fine felt tips,to actually write with....and we know he took to them favourably.But he could be a ''mucky pup'',with smudging and the odd ink print,apparently left behind.

Yes...on the potential for DNA....perhaps recently,more has been gleaned from the pasted cards [?].

One would think that,if possible he might wear gloves,when he was practicably able....and would suggest ''washing up'' gloves,for certain tasks [?].The fine medical variety were not freely available then.

Judith

3/12/2018 08:00:29 am

So he is trying to give us his name once again. Swimming fins and scuba gear are likened to a baseball bat and a glove. What sporting goods? My feeling is he did send these letters he needed to feel important always. For my suspect Peter Plante, July 1978 was just a few months after we were married about the time he took me for the disturbing trip to Lake Berryessa. Of course I am doing a backwards search using a suspects name but I did come up with an inexpensive chess set mass produced in America under the name of Peter Ganine. See EBay. Not sure what he means by the tape unless the word Plant is on these tins. Some vintage friction tape cans go by the brand name of Slipknot. Peter was a Sea Scout and learned to tie very many different knots. He spent his Summers on Lake Shasta water skiing on his parent's boat. He was on the gymnastics team at San Jose State. He could hold his body straight out from a pole holding on with just his hands. He could scale the side of a building with seemingly nothing to hold on to. His friends called him Fly. There were labeling machines that used metallic tape that you could punch letters onto, frequently used for name labeling. Seems like he thinks law enforcement has this in their possession.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/12/2018 08:22:22 am

More great comments,Judith,to add to the debate.

More particularly,that 1978 was the year that you and Peter,tied the knot.

If there is one outstanding theme,derived from the three 1978 letters,it is that Zodiac was proclaiming that he was back.

Back from where ? Many would maintain that he never went away.

But obviously,it could have been a figurative reference....that he had just decided that he was going to pick up again,on a terror campaign,that in his opinion,had lapsed.

So,with the April letter,we could be looking at a short message of ''foreboding''.The May letter,a ''celebration'' of his ''worldliness'',and how close he was coming to actually killing,again.And then,the July letter,where he claims to have finally killed again,and sends out the clarion call to the whole of California.

Yes,Zodiac was back.

But,where had he been ?

Toots

9/6/2018 05:18:49 pm

Cheap Chess Sets were also made by the
John Hansen Co.

I also agree that Scotch Tape = Scotland murders

I bet Z's first name is John. I also believe Z is "Bible John" from the three Glasgow, Scotland murders in the late 60's.

Judith

3/12/2018 08:51:48 am

In April of 1978 Peter and I had been dating for just a couple of months and then he dropped off the radar for 2 weeks no calls nothing. I actually called him up finally and asked him what was going on and that I thought we should remain friendly since my sister and his best friend we're married. That would be early May 1978 he came over to my sister's house where I was living and asked me to marry him that night. He was 29 and I was 19 years old fresh out of Sacramento and I'm pretty sure he thought he hit the lottery. All his friends did.

Judith

3/12/2018 08:59:00 am

With regards to the basement being flooded, Peter lived in a house two doors up from his parents during the classic zodiac crimes. They called it the Big Pink. There were many notorious parties held there. The living level was up a staircase with a basement you could stand in underneath. The house was built upside a very tall Hill that sloped down into the backyard. They told the story about how they chained a guy up in the basement for pissing on the rug during a party at the Big Pink. Peter often quoted the formula for building a bomb as though this was something I would need to know all you need is fertilizer yada yada yada wow..

Rubislaw 32 link

3/12/2018 09:55:22 am

Additional interesting information from you,Judith.

Peter does sound like a bit of a ''live wire'',with unpredictable and incredibly ''private'' sides.

As you intimate,there seems to be a roller coaster of emotions,going on with him....at precisely the time of those ''presumed'' 1978 letters [?].

Of course I have views,that focus ''elsewhere'',but knowledge of suspects,like other aspects of the case,should,to an extent,be brought together,and assessed.

In this area,try more to celebrate the difference....which is really a difference ''by implication''....as opposed to outright denial [?].

On the matter of the July 1978 letter,highlighted by Richard,in this article....I would suggest that it is almost ''pure riddle'',and sees Zodiac,at his ''warped'' best [.....in an ironical sense,naturally...].

The ''Chess sets'' deserve a mention also....clearly alluding to the claim that he has many,and that he therefore has many places that he resides,on a temporary basis.

To what extent the claims are truthful,may be another matter.

But,I do see Zodiac saying a little more than just a figurative reference to ''nefarious planning''.

Though Zodiac's puzzles and Ciphers,were ''conceived'' on pieces of paper,I have always felt that his cryptograms,in particular,were actively planned out on boards,with grid systems....such as a Chess board.

Richard

3/12/2018 12:57:27 pm

Thought I was on to something Rubislaw, but it ultimately failed. The 'Halloween' card was the first correspondence claiming a new victim after the Lake Tahoe murder of Lass, but I couldn't understand the connection of the skeletons. Thought the card may be an overhead view of a body sinking, with the ripples to the side of the first skeleton.
The Tahoe keys were the perfect launching site to travel directly into the lake and dispose of a body. Bodies stay submerged for years. Look at this article.
https://www.ranker.com/list/dead-bodies-in-lake-tahoe-legend/erin-wisti?utm_expid=16418821-388.pwrOe5-lSJetLqzNW0S00A.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2F

Tahoe Keys History. In the 1950's and 1960's the Tahoe Keys were built using an estimated 5 million cubic yards of soil that was dredged from the Truckee River marsh land. ... The Tahoe Keys concept was based on the name itself: “Key”. Namely, the old skeleton keys, that had knobs protracting from its narrow base.

The only other card with Secret Pal, was the 1990 'Eureka' card, depicting snow, not unlike the region of Tahoe. But more importantly "Two Keys", TK, Tahoe Keys (bit of a stretch). The symbol 7F at the foot of the card reminded me of keys- then I saw an overhead on Google maps of the Tahoe Keys and thought I'd spotted the strange symbol on the right side of the keys, but alas, not quite. So, I suppose Rubislaw, it's another one for the crackpot files.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/tahoe+keys+history/@38.9348639,-120.0025238,1751m/data=!3m1!1e3

Richard

3/12/2018 01:03:02 pm

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Hard+Rock+Hotel+%26+Casino+Lake+Tahoe,+U.S.+50,+Stateline,+NV,+USA/Tahoe+Keys,+South+Lake+Tahoe,+CA,+USA/3893+Pioneer+Trail,+South+Lake+Tahoe,+CA,+USA/@38.9420322,-119.9847093,13z/data=!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0x80999a9cf31c410b:0x37a13ecd88f9da57!2m2!1d-119.941231!2d38.9623621!1m5!1m1!1s0x80998f8489498f3b:0x5daa2d8ea7f89758!2m2!1d-120.0135156!2d38.9315746!1m5!1m1!1s0x809990739921d08f:0x1a2f31ff5c4426b1!2m2!1d-119.947585!2d38.951797!3e0?hl=en

Rubislaw 32 link

3/12/2018 02:22:00 pm

Thanks for the extra information,Richard.

I was not familiar with the Tahoe Keys,specifically.A place where the dweller feels,partly on water,and partly on land.A fascinating place.

After a few years of re-visiting the Halloween card,it becomes more difficult to see more,that might be there....but it is,nonetheless,the most enigmatic creation of Zodiac.His ''Greatest Hit'',perhaps [?] [!].

On a ''personal suspect'' note,the Eureka Card,is of interest,since ''a certain person'',was forever being reminded,that they look like Groucho Marx.I wonder if anyone knows,to what extent,the Christmas card was ''doctored'',by the sender [?].An ''added'' moustache for the snowman,perhaps [?].

The Xerox photo of the two keys is,undoubtedly,an abstract composition of Groucho Marx smoking a cigar.But,is the significance of two actual keys,in the ensemble,of further inference....seems to be ''the big question'' [?].

Rubislaw 32 link

3/12/2018 03:38:06 pm

Just on a ''cheeky'' inquiry,Richard,with regard to the Halloween Card :

The front card Skeleton seems to have a tiny sketch in its right eye orbit.

I have heard,on more than one occasion,a claim that Zodiac has depicted a Jet Airliner,travelling left to right.

So difficult to tell,with images so far,made available [?].

Do you have the means,to blow up an image of that right eye orbit,in order to make a better judgement ?

Is it a trick too far,for a ''Graphics Magician'' ?

Richard

3/12/2018 04:18:27 pm

I have blown it up before and I've just checked again. Trust me Rubislaw there is no plane there. Without the original, all that is visible is pixelated distortion. It looks like a dot only. This is as far as it goes without distortion.
http://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/4/9/7/1/4971630/heights-p_orig.jpg

Rubislaw 32 link

3/12/2018 05:35:36 pm

Thanks for the information,Richard,and a relief to hear of what you have to say in the matter.

These claims come from ''You Tube'' ''Zodiac Doctors'',who guide you through Zodiac's mind,in about fifty episodes,from the comfort of their home sofas.

I gave up watching their self proclaimed ''wisdom'',a while back.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/12/2018 06:22:15 pm

Here is ''one'' possible solution to the ''Two keys'' conundrum,in the Eureka Card Xerox photo :

In Cryptography,there exists a ''Two Keys'' algorithmic philosophy,for possible implementation.

The two keys are called ''The private key'' and ''The public key''.

The private key is used for encryption [...cipher making....].

The public key is used for decryption [...cipher breaking....].

I would suggest that Zodiac may have reflected,in 1990,that most of his cryptograms had not been solved.That,he would perhaps,send a little dig to the authorities,that they might like to consider another philosophy,on how he planned those cryptograms.

It was yet another ruse....Zodiac had only pilfered this information,and didn't really understand it....but it looked a good idea to have ''the experts'' scratching their heads,further.

So we are to understand,the Eureka Card was misplaced,and forgotten about for a number of years....until,suddenly,it turns up,when a broom cupboard is being cleaned out,at the offices of the SF Chronicle.

Coincidentally,at just around the time of David Fincher's Hollywood film release.

Stranger than fiction [?].

BATMAN

9/25/2018 12:55:13 am

Seems like something Don Cheney would've done to frame Allen for that, he seemed to find a connection to Allen in every speculation/suggestion they throw at him in the 2007 documentary, seems like he wanted this guy to be persecutred to executed for molesting his kid/s.

If the real zodiac would've read in the news about his alleged death in 1976, he would've probably wrote a letter about how he "had risen from his grave to claim more victims" or something 1930s zombie-like that.

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