THE 'CONCERNED CITIZEN' CARD

11/4/2018

Having not covered this topic previously, I thought I would add the "Concerned Citizen' card to this site, mailed from San Francisco and postmarked August 10th 1969, one day after the article 'A Murder Code is Broken' featured in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper. In this article "Vallejo Police Sergeant John Lynch, in charge of the investigation of the murders and of the cipher letter writer, asked The Chronicle to send Harden's code breaking worksheets to him for further checking; which was done." (see foot of article for newspaper cutting).

Many have asked the identity of the "concerned citizen." Was it Donald Harden, the Zodiac Killer or a third party who broke the code independently? The latter having not been aware of the code being broken, as published in the newspaper.
The Chronicle, according to the August 9th 1969 newspaper article had "already done" sending Sergeant John Lynch the worksheets, so why would Donald Harden be mailing the cipher key through the mail, when clearly he was already in contact with police. Therefore, this option can be summarily dismissed as the least likely option.

The Bay Area murderer, as of August 4th 1969, had already given us his pseudonym with the dramatic introduction of "This is the Zodiac Speaking", so why would he now be acting coy in giving us the cipher key under the guise of a "concerned citizen". This tactic may have surfaced during the 1974 communications, but to implement it so early, just after threatening to "cruse around all weekend killing lone people in the night then move on to kill again, until I end up with a dozen people over the weekend", seemed an immediate backpedal. From "ruthless killer" to "concerned citizen" in a matter of days.
On the other hand, this may have been the start of his game with both the newspapers and law enforcement alike.

The card reads:
Dear Sergeant Lynch.
I hope the enclosed "key" will prove to be beneficial to you in connection with the cipher letter writer.
Working puzzles criptograms and word puzzles is one of my pleasures. Please forgive the absence of my signature or name as I do not wish to have my name in the papers and it could be mentiond by a slip of the tongue.
With best wishes.
concerned citizen.

Although it has been stated on many forums that the author of the "concerned citizen" card may have mailed it, unaware of the code being broken and published in the San Francisco Chronicle on August 9th 1969, this seems highly unlikely. The author used the wording "cipher letter writer", exactly as published in the newspaper. This, from a grammatical standpoint, is highly likely to have been copied from the newspaper, indicating that the person who mailed in the cipher key already knew it had been broken. This could indicate it was Zodiac after all.

Zodiac researcher David Oranchak has comprehensively covered all aspects of the Zodiac ciphers on his excellent ZodiacKillerCiphers website, including two articles on the topic covered in this article. The first is a 'Detailed Analysis of the 408 Solution' and the second is entitled 'Who is the Concerned Citizen'. The latter will show you the code key mailed by the "concerned citizen" for handwriting comparison purposes.

THE CONCERNED CITIZEN CARD [PT2]

Vallejo Times-Herald - Cryptogram Deciphered by Teacher August 9th 1969

Concerned Citizen Envelope

127 Comments

Richard

11/4/2018 06:22:32 am

That is for you Rubislaw.

Richard

11/4/2018 07:41:48 am

We can pretty much conclude the author of the August 10th "concerned citizen" card had read the August 9th Chronicle article showing part of the broken cipher. So was he a helpful citizen who used the article to create the key and mail to Vallejo PD. This seems a stretch, when the article had stated Harden's worksheets had already been sent to Vallejo PD. So why would an anonymous good citizen bother to send a key that they must have known Vallejo PD already had in their possession. It is extremely probable the Zodiac, knowing his code had already been broken in a matter of days, decided to play with Vallejo police in this "concerned citizen" guise. It is also noteworthy that the author of the "concerned citizen" card used the phrase "absence of my name", so soon after "I will not give you my name because you will try to slow down or stop my collecting of slaves for my afterlife."

Rubislaw 32 link

11/4/2018 08:18:03 am

Thanks for that Richard.

I would suggest that LE are only too aware,that ''concerned citizen'' was the Zodiac.Effectively,weighing in with his solution to ''his'' cipher [408],having been surprised,and humiliated,by finding that a couple of crossword addicts [The Hardens],had beaten him to the post,on a ''reveal''.

Not only that,but The Harden's solution wasn't ''quite'',how ''Zodiac'' saw the solution,himself [...on account of the 8 polyphonic symbols,that Zodiac had deployed..].

So,the published ''Hardens'' solution,made the solution,of Zodiac's creation,look a bit ''scrappy''.

''Double Humiliation'' for concerned citizen/Zodiac,then [?].

It certainly looks that way,on ''dates'' documentation,also.

Perhaps,a pertinent question,might be,if ''Zodiac'',had the intention of posting his solution,in the first place [?].

Or,was his arm forced,by his personal embarrassment [?].

After all,''concerned citizen'' only posted the solution,in terms of ''cipher keys''.He couldn't even be bothered to write out the solution,for Lynch.

Looks like ''concerned citizen''/Zodiac,was ''well pi**ed off'' [?].

Richard

11/4/2018 09:05:51 am

I see no reason for Zodiac willingly giving the key to the solution in just over a week. He certainly didn't reveal any of his other ciphers, assuming they have a solution (or a puzzle). The fact that the Zodiac/concerned citizen mailed the cipher key literally hours after the Chronicle article suggests to me cause and effect. The fact he used the wording "cipher letter writer", which quite frankly is a piece of grammatical gobbledygook, only hours after this same exact phrase in the Chronicle is strong evidence that the "concerned citizen" or Zodiac read the Chronicle article and the publicized solution. In other words, the article triggered the August 10th card. It didn't occur through happenstance.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/4/2018 09:42:29 am

Yes,that is where I am at,Richard,over the ''forcing his arm'' over the matter,or not.

What is perhaps tantalising is,whether this initial ''humiliation'' affected ''Zodiac'' on possible solutions,offered,in the future [?].

It does seem a possibility,that,like journals that offer a solution to a puzzle,in ''next week's edition''...that Zodiac may have had this idea,in mind initially.

That,perhaps,Zodiac intended to have everyone waiting around,in eager expectation,of solutions to puzzles,offered in the future.

But,as we might surmise....The Hardens ''spoiled the party'' for Zodiac,at the first hurdle,so to speak.

And,we never received a solution,again.

Richard

11/4/2018 10:02:30 am

To the last part very true. The other question we have to ask ourselves, is did the ease at which the Harden's solve his cipher have a direct influence on the difficulty we see in the remaining ciphers. Had the 408 cipher been made as difficult as the 340 cipher and hadn't been solved, would any of his remaining ciphers ever have been constructed. Had he even the remotest knowledge of ciphers, then he must have known the 408 would be solved fairly quickly, so was it the ruse to making us believe the 340 cipher had a solution too. It was the hook to pull us in. The Zodiac Killer only wrote the August 4th letter because he was challenged by Chief Jack Stiltz to provide more details. If DCB Marsh hadn't laid down the challenge to Zodiac to send a cipher with his name, then in all probability the 340, 13 and 32 cipher may not have existed. The challenge by Marsh simply wetted Zodiac's appetite. The more pertinent question is what drove Zodiac to create the first cipher?

Rubislaw 32 link

11/4/2018 10:38:53 am

These are interesting questions,posed.

If we buy into Lafferty's library findings,then Zodiac first took out Kahn's ''Code Breakers'' book,on February 13th 1968.

So,Zodiac could have been ''self learning'',as a hobby,for almost 18 months,before ''venturing'' with the ''408'' cipher.

As we know now,that little project,as a tool of fear,ended up a bit ''shambolic'' for Zodiac.So,we assume that he licked his wounds,to reconsider this aspect....coming back,quite quickly,as it happens,with the ''340''.

The ''340'' does seem to be a celebration,of a sort,in the light of successful attacks,at Berryessa and Presidio.So,he probably had ''upped his game'' for that ''340''.

But,it appears that he made it too difficult....then decided that,for whatever reason,he wouldn't offer a solution.

Maybe,the outcomes of both the ''408'' and ''340'' had put Zodiac off further cipher puzzles [?].

As transpired,Zodiac did offer further cipher puzzles...but not for another 6 months...more than likely spurred on by Marsh's challenge,as you intimate,Richard.

As to your last question,I think it was an interest,from childhood,through kits and comics....which he then started to consider,as early as February 1968.

The use of codes was very prevalent then,particular among large commercial companies,concerned about concealing information from rival companies.Such as Banks and Oil Companies.There would be a small department devoted to this work,almost as a matter of course.

It was the ''secrecy'' thing for Zodiac.

The addition of ''intrigue'' to his persona.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/4/2018 10:58:05 am

....of course,we should at least bear in mind the two Fairfield letters,in December of 1969.

These coming between the Z340 and Z13.

But,as is apparent,from the first Fairfield letter,if eventually proved authentic,Zodiac employed a ''cut and paste'' approach,based on the ''340''.

The likelihood therefore,that Zodiac would have used the same cipher keys,for that first Fairfield letter.

The inference that this would have not have been a ''new'' cipher,as we were to see,eventually,with the Z13 ''my name is....'' cipher,he displayed in April 1970.

Richard

11/4/2018 01:19:30 pm

[1] "This is the murderer of the 2 teenagers last Christmass at Lake Herman + the girl on the 4th of July near the golf course in Vallejo
To prove I killed them I shall state some facts which only I + the police know."
"I hope the enclosed "key" will prove to be beneficial to you in connection with the cipher letter writer."

[2] Here is part of a cipher the other 2 parts of this cipher are being mailed to the editors of the Vallejo Times and SF Examiner. I want you to print this cipher on the front page of your paper. In this cipher is my idenity".
"Working puzzles criptograms and word puzzles is one of my pleasures."
[3] "I will not give you my name because you will try to slow down or stop my collecting of slaves for my afterlife."
"Please forgive the absence of my signature or name as I do not wish to have my name in the papers and it could be mentiond by a slip of the tongue."

Richard

11/4/2018 01:52:55 pm

If this typewriter was the same as the one used in Riverside we could have a link, but this was written in lower case, rather than upper case like the Confession letter. Notice that the "a" arm of the typewriter was obviously slightly misshapen. The "a" always falls down and towards the preceding letter in the "concerned citizen" card. If any other dubious typewritten letters are suggested as being connected to Zodiac, look for the slightly skewed lower case "a" .
Something went totally awry with the "a" when he typed "signature.".

Richard

11/4/2018 01:58:01 pm

See here: https://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/4/9/7/1/4971630/38jj_orig.gif

Drew

11/5/2018 11:26:58 am

Of course I had to check the typewritten "Zodiac" letter allegedly found in the Gaul/Sharp case. All caps. Interestingly no one other than law enforcement was aware at this time that the Riverside Killer used only capital letters or indeed that the Zodiac would later claim responsibility. Whether this letter was actually left in Gaul's apartment in November 1969 though remains a matter of some debate as I believe the claim wasn't made until decades later and then by unconfirmed sources. It is not a case that I know much about. As intriguing as the possibility that Zodiac targeted Scientologists is, when I learned about the sex stuff I decided that it wasn't likely to be Zodiac. At any rate, I thought the letter might be of interest here.
http://www.zodiackillersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=434

Drew

11/5/2018 11:32:50 am

I should correct my above statement, because I believe that the January 69 detective magazine did reveal the all caps typewritten letter of the Riverside Killer.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/4/2018 05:43:39 pm

Some interesting comparisons on previous style of composition,compared to the ''concerned citizen'',Richard.

Thanks indeed,for pointing out the exclusive use of capital letters,in the ''Confession'' typed letter.It had never occurred to me,before,to compare typed print of the ''Confession'' letter,to that of the ''concerned citizen'' one to Sgt.Lynch.

So,must remember to ''log'' that lower case ''a'',given away as a clue,if the same typewriter was used.

Thinking about typed messages....

We have the ''Confession'' letter,from late 1966,probably Riverside.

Then,the ''concerned citizen'' letter,from August 1969,probably Vallejo.

Then,the ''Scotch Tape'' letter,July 14th 1978,to the SF Chronicle [?].

Well,on the basis of Graysmith's word,anyway,the last of the three.

If I can just get in with a newspaper,long enough to hold their attention,perhaps I can get them interested enough to push Graysmith,on the July 14th 1978 typed letter.

I'm really looking at the lower case ''a'' now,as well as a firmer confirmation of the letter's authenticity....plus,whether,as I suspect,''Zodiac'' wrote ''Aquatic'',instead of ''Athletic''.

I have already pushed the police and judiciary,''twice'' on the murder weapon used on Brenda Page.

I will not let this letter go,and the lower case ''a'',is an extra consideration now,as a possible link to the same typewriter.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/4/2018 05:50:08 pm

......correction,read July 19th 1978,instead of July 14th 1978.

July 14th was Dr.Page's savage murder.

July 19th,a reference to a ''Scottish murder'' [?].

[....sounds,more like ''Macbeth''.....]

Judith

11/4/2018 06:59:11 pm

Off topic but pertinent. I drove to the corner of a Bell and Arden Way in Sacramento this afternoon. I sat and looked at the apartment buildings where Nancy Bennallack and Judith Hakari potentially lived. One can easily see the two-story apartment building with balconies and sliding glass doors. Whoever killed Nancy climbed a fence and then wooden posts up to her balcony and went through her sliding glass door. He stabbed her to death, nearly decapitating her. This was October of 1970. Earlier that year in March and very nearby at another apartment building, someone abducted Judith Hakari from apparently the parking lot. Her body was found dumped up in Placer County a month later. Neither female had been sexually assaulted.
I understand that they will be running DNA retrieved from the murder of Nancy into the GED match system. There is a very good likelihood that this is the doing of the Zodiac Killer and then we will have our man.
What I can tell you is this. In 1970 Peter's best friend moved to Sacramento to be near my sister who was still in high school and who he would marry the next summer. Peter came up from the Bay Area frequently and spent weekends partying with my sister's boyfriend in Sacramento during 1970. He was also physically capable of climbing up the side of buildings and for that reason his friends called him "Fly". He was 21 years old. He had spent a year at San Jose State on the gymnastics team.
Who killed these girls?

Rubislaw 32 link

11/4/2018 07:15:04 pm

Certainly acknowledged,on the Sacramento ''angle'',Judith.

I am confident that,whoever wrote the December 16th 1969 Fairfield letter,did it from a hotel,in Sacramento.....for example.

Personally,I think ''Zodiac'' went up to Sacramento regularly,from ''Vallejo vicinity'',to possibly visit the head office,of his employers.

So,certainly not discounting a ''Sacramento link'',for the Zodiac.

Richard

11/5/2018 01:26:11 am

That is the million dollar question Judith. I personally don't believe a Zodiac connection to either Bennallack or Hakari. The Talutian apartments were just one block away from the Markston apartments suggesting a strong link between the two however.
They certainly have a full DNA profile from the Bennallack crime scene from the blood of the killer, secured many years ago. Obviously it hasn't achieved a direct hit through conventional DNA databases, so GEDmatch is the next best option.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/4/2018 07:06:33 pm

Just reading through Vallejo Police files,it does seem rare that people offering up tips,would use,anything but a ''real'' sounding name....as opposed to a description of a person,such as ''concerned citizen'',''A citizen'',and ''A friend''.

On October 7th 1969,the Vallejo Police received a letter from ''A good citizen'',postmarked SF Mateo.It's contents referred to having strong feelings on ESP,and holding a pencil,that wrote out an address,that when subsequently checked by police,didn't exist.

Ok,yet another joker,one might think.But,on the basis of ''A good citizen'' alone,that that particular letter,was passed on to the FBI.

Richard

11/5/2018 09:14:31 am

Is that letter something from Lafferty's book.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 09:54:13 am

No,Richard...this official documentation,and I have always felt,that this ''A good citizen'' could be a letter,to look out for,in the future.

Lafferty's book,is ''no Bible'',but very valuable,from a ''ex-cop on the ground,in the epicentre,of matters''.Plus,some great finds,from Lafferty.

Here we go :

10-7-69 Letter received postmarked San Francisco Mateo signed ''A good citizen''.The letter states that the writer has a strong feeling of ESP.While having these feelings the writer writes with a pencil.On occasion,while thinking of the code letters,the pencil wrote : ''Go to 56 Beach Street.I get the name Jerry,prhaps he knows people or his name is XXXXXXX''.

City Directory lists no Jerry XXXXXXX.Beach Street starts in the 1100 block.Beechwood Street starts in the 700 block.

Sergeant Lynch 1969,Vallejo Police Department

Richard

11/5/2018 10:03:33 am

Can you link the page Rubislaw.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 10:18:34 am

Reference,to below :

''Solving the Zodiac'',by C.Symons.

Page 197.

Richard

11/5/2018 10:43:45 am

The Zodiac Killer mailed the Exorcist letter to the San Francisco Chronicle on January 29th 1974, either from San Mateo or Santa Clara County.
https://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/4/9/7/1/4971630/published/evidence.gif?1483596782

Richard

11/5/2018 10:51:21 am

There is a 56 Beach Street 1.4 miles from Union Square, San Francisco where Paul Stine picked up Zodiac. This October 7th 1969 San Mateo letter was only 4 days before the Stine murder.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Union+Square,+San+Francisco,+CA,+USA/56+Beach+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94133,+USA/@37.8070062,-122.4111659,16z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8085808ed3fd40bb:0xfe41d9b5994cb6ba!2m2!1d-122.4074374!2d37.7879938!1m5!1m1!1s0x808580fb7c5a26fd:0xa320fa291ad37b79!2m2!1d-122.4103686!2d37.807976!3e0

Richard

11/5/2018 11:09:04 am

It's a parking lot today.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 11:36:33 am

Thanks for the extra references,below.

A bit ''spooky'' that the ''A good citizen'' letter,came so soon before the Stine murder [?].

Industrious Zodiac [?].

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 02:44:15 am

Ah,Richard....there was something about the composition style,of the ''concerned citizen'' 's letter to Sgt Lynch,that rang bells.

Yes...the ''Slow boat to China'' letter,to Paul Avery,circa November 9th 1970.This letter,to encourage Avery,to contact Captain Cross,of the Riverside Police,over possible links,between the Bates case and Zodiac crimes.

Both letters,although pushing a point,wanting to sound polite and gentle.

''concerned citizen'' :

''Please forgive absence of signature or name as I do not wish to have my name in the papers...''

''Slow boat to China'' writer :

''I wish to remain anonymous and know that you will understand why..''.

Also,choice of ''key'' phrases....''slow boat to China''....and,''slip of the tongue''.Gentle,and non threatening [?].

I believe that the ''Slow boat to China'' letter,was concocted by the Riverside Police,to pave the way,for laying bare the Bates link....that they should have told the FBI,a year previously.

By pushing the link into the public,the Riverside Police escaped the wrath of the FBI,behind closed doors.

So,could it be,that the ''Slow boat to China'' letter,was composed,stealing the ''style'' that ''concerned citizen'',over a year prior,had appeared to adopt ?

Well,one clue,perhaps is,that when Avery phoned Captain Cross,Cross claimed,that there had been a number of letters sent to him,by this ''believed'' anonymous letter writer.

Also,Cross claim,to....Sgt Lynch [!] [!].

So,it ,looks like Sgt.Lynch,of the Vallejo Police,was in on the ''ruse'',with Cross,to get Avery to put the Bates link,into the public domain....before the FBI got to hear about the link.

Talk about ''intrigue'',and ''underhanded play'' between law enforcement agencies [?].

This time,playing up to Avery's ''desperation'',for a ''piece of the action''.

Judith

11/5/2018 07:10:01 am

Hello Rubi, I'm a little confused by your approach. What would be the motivation for all of these various law enforcement agencies to cooperate behind the scenes and repress information Etc. regarding the Zodiac? What is the big secret?

Question number 2, Richard what is it that makes you think that the Zodiac did not kill Judith and Nancy? Is there not a letter where the Zodiac takes credit for murders in Sacramento? And yes, it would appear that the same person killed them both. As I sat in the parking lot at the corner of Bell and Arden Way yesterday, one apartment complex can see the other.
Here's a twist for you Rubi, Nancy was a court reporter engaged to a Sacramento County District Attorney.

Richard

11/5/2018 09:11:08 am

I suggested a link to Sacramento with the "In the Woods Dies April" card regarding Denise Kathleen Anderson (22), who resided in Sacramento, and was last seen on April 13th 1971 by her roommates at approximately 05.30 am.
The 1986 Zodiac letter referred to Koy Ien Saechao and Choy Fow Salee just north of Sacramento, but can we validate this as authentic Zodiac material.
https://www.zodiacciphers.com/zodiac-news/in-the-woods-dies-april

I certainly couldn't rule out Zodiac for the Bennallack and Hakari murders, but I have nothing about either crime to suggest he was involve either. The only connection put forward was regarding a possible link to Donna Lass
http://www.thequesterfiles.com/zodiac_and_the__nightingale_mu.html

I have nothing logical to suspect him, so until otherwise, I don't give it much thought. I'm really pretty neutral on this topic.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 10:14:45 am

Really interesting,Richard...that the ''In the Woods Dies April'' card may refer to Denise Kathleen Anderson....a Sacramento resident.

Must look into her.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 07:40:21 am

I don't presume to guess what your readers think,Richard....but really,there is a ''hilarity'' about this whole ''Bates link into the public domain'' business.

More particularly,that,by the time the FBI found out about it,the Riverside Police,The Post Office,and all the Bay Area police forces,had known about it,for a minimum of one year.

And,the FBI,had to share the news....with the rest of the world !

They,the FBI,must have been ''hopping mad'' over it [?]

And,it appears that,Sgt Lynch played a big role,in facilitating the Hardens 408 solution,landing in the public domain,in ''record time'',in order to ''stick one over'' on the Zodiac.

It seems now,that Lynch,was every bit a ''naughty boy'',as Captain Cross.

No wonder Zodiac saw Paul Avery,as his ''Secret Pal'',re-emphasised in 1990.

Zodiac and Avery,had both been ''shafted'' by the ''Law'',in some respects.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 07:44:09 am

Oh,I see your question now,Judith.

Refer to above comments from me....or,please feel free to re-phrase the question,if my answer does not cover it.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 07:57:11 am

On the matter of ''Nancy and Judith'',Judith,I have decided to have another look at the circumstances of their deaths.

''They'' were two of my original ''researches'',when I was looking at victims,in Northern California.

I have Zodiac down,for two murders,out of spite,through perceived rejection.And,that does not include Darlene Ferrin,for whom,I still believe that Zodiac knew.

''Nancy and Judith'' could still come into that category.He liked ''professional women'',and saw them as ''fellow intellectuals''.Trouble was,''they'' saw through him....and,quite possibly,with tragic consequences.

Judith

11/5/2018 08:15:17 am

Have you noticed that all the female victims were beautiful? Yes to stalking. Yes to knowing Darlene. Yes to rejection.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 08:42:34 am

Yes Judith....and he liked women to be short,or at least shorter than average....shall we say,diminutive [?].

That,perhaps,that women would feel that he,Zodiac,was their protector.

Not so unusual,for a man...but it does start giving clues to Zodiac's background,as probably being traditional lower-middle class,and ''conventional''.

Nobody

11/5/2018 09:22:19 pm

Yes indeed, he liked them beautiful, intelligent, young, and, to some extent frail. Basically he wanted to dominate them. In many ways it often seemed like men were simply "in his way", although of course they did, without much doubt, induce feelings of envy in him, and this in turn fueled his rage. By hurting the man he was in effect sending a clear message to his female partner to fear and obey him, or else. His eye was focused with a definite bias towards the female component of his "prey".

By the time he got to Stine, I think something different was taking place in his head at this point.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 08:31:52 am

I believe that,what it really comes down to,from a serious perspective,on the Bates link,is.....

That,eventually,and unofficially granted,that there became,and always been,ever since,an agreement that Zodiac was the scribe of Bates,and therefore the ''extortionist'' in the case of Cheri Jo Bates.

But,since there has always been doubts,that ''Zodiac'' murdered Cheri Jo,the Riverside Police felt,that was a good enough reason to resist attempts,by the FBI,to ''encamp'' in the Riverside Police's ''back yard''.....for fear of ''taking over the show'',and perceived ''alliances'' with the ''unpopular'' FBI,in the eyes of the local public.

Richard

11/5/2018 09:25:39 am

The Confession letter was typed with limited handwriting on the envelopes, the Bates letters were simply scrawl. I don't know how any reputable documents examiner can deduce anything from these letters. The desktop poem is Zodiac-like handwriting. But if we are talking about mailed communications, we have three Bates letters with the handwriting of a 3-year-old and a Z that isn't a Z, and typewriter print. How these can be tied to Zodiac is beyond belief. The desktop poem, however, is intriguing, and it is this desktop poem that gives credence to the mailed communications, because of CJB's murder and the Riverside library. The Zodiac link to Riverside (other than his admission) lives and dies on this desktop.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 10:08:39 am

These are fair comments,Richard,but you might be overlooking the ''magic ingredient'',to which we,the public,are not privy [?].

The FBI,once they were fully caught up,on the Bates case,set about retrieving the Bates correspondences,from the Fraud department of The Post Office.

So,yes....officially any forensics the FBI might find on the correspondences,wouldn't then,pass mustard,in a court of law....but,that doesn't mean to say that they,the FBI,didn't find,in forensics,something that satisfied themselves...in terms of investigations.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 02:38:51 pm

Hi Richard

With regard to the ''A good citizen'' :

Are you suggesting that,in 1969,there was a 56 Beach Street,in San Francisco.Though it no longer exits,now.

And,that there was not a 56 Beach Street,in Vallejo.

More to the point,that Sgt Lynch,may have been short sighted enough,not to properly check out,if a 56 Beach Street,existed [?],anywhere in the Bay Area.

Richard

11/5/2018 03:37:39 pm

All I know is it comes up on Google for a search of 56 Beach Street, San Francisco. The image, however, is now a car park. What it was in 1969 requires a deeper look. There is a Beach Street in Vallejo, 970 metres from the payphone, but no 56.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Beach+St,+California+94590,+USA/@38.0971497,-122.2377771,179m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8085730bb6186b13:0x54b18a4ec752b207!8m2!3d38.0963513!4d-122.2391885

When Darlene first got together with her husband, they lived at 560 Wallace, listed in her address book. Wallace joins to Beach Street, Vallejo.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/560+Wallace+Avenue,+Vallejo,+CA,+USA/Beach+St,+California+94590,+USA/@38.0977769,-122.2363005,168m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808573a810b54033:0x88e50210f0747c11!2m2!1d-122.2302842!2d38.0958546!1m5!1m1!1s0x8085730bb6186b13:0x54b18a4ec752b207!2m2!1d-122.2391885!2d38.0963513!3e0

Nobody

11/5/2018 08:42:51 pm

Richard, Google Earth shows aerial photos of 56 Beach Street, San Francisco going back to 1938. It forms a block in the corner of Beach, Stockton, and North Point Streets. In August 1938 it was basically part of a huge shipyard storage complex with lots of shipping containers on one side and what looks like a rectangular office block on the western side. There looks to be a large warehouse type building on the site. Move forward in history to July 1946 and wow, talk about demolition. The entire complex is gone. The entire site leveled for re-development. Unfortunately we do not see it again until June 1987. Then there are three large new warehouse buildings at the location. July 1993, same. March 2000, same. Dec 2002, same. Right through to present day, virtually no change.

Nobody

11/5/2018 08:54:52 pm

As for Vallejo, there is a 560 Beach Street. Perhaps they started the street numbering at 560 as there were plans in the early days to continue the road through, but this never happened. Using my "way back" time machine in Google Earth, this street looks basically the same now as it did back in 1987. I cannot go back any further.

Nobody

11/5/2018 09:09:39 pm

Apologies, there is no 560 Beach Street in Vallejo. The numbering appears to begin at about 1097 or 1096. It is one of those confusing dead end streets that has several small blocks at the one end which are arbitrarily numbered. The lowest number for that street that I can find on realtor.com is 1107 Beach Street, Vallejo.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/5/2018 04:23:17 pm

Thanks for your efforts,in replying,Richard.

It essentially looks that way.....that there was a 56 Beach Street in San Francisco....but not one in Vallejo.

Interesting information,on Darlene,also.

The nub of what I ''might'' be getting at [...for,who really knows ?..].is :

I wonder if Sgt Lynch,on instruction,perhaps,filled in the report,deliberately incorrectly....with regard to the inference that ''a 56 Beach Street'',of any sort......didn't exist [?].

As if,perhaps,the FBI,just ''whisked'' the letter away,and told Lynch,to fill in ''inconsequential details'',in his report.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/6/2018 01:33:57 am

Ah....I see now that ''56 Beach Street'' in San Francisco,is by ''Fisherman's Wharf'',to the North-East side of the SF headland.

I think it is obvious to most,the likelihood of Zodiac,following Stine's murder,to fully abscond the crime,via The Golden Gate Bridge.

What,perhaps,the ''A good citizen'' letter did,was plant the idea,when later examined by the authorities.....that Zodiac,following Stine's murder,may have had the Bay Bridge,in mind,alternatively,as a means of extrication,from the SF headland....or,at least,point the authorities,in that direction.....that,that was were Zodiac was heading,after Stine's murder.

So,it looks very much,as if the ''A good citizen'' letter,was used,as an ''invested plant'',prior to attempting to execute a taxi driver.

A ''diversionary tactic'',in advance of inevitable investigations,that would follow Stine's murder.

This pre-supposes,perhaps,that Zodiac had satisfied himself,by then,that the authorities would be aware of the name ''concerned citizen''....and would later note the similar ''A good citizen'',and thereby,putting the authorities in some debate,as to which direction,did Zodiac actually go,following Stine's murder.

As subject matter ?

''Extra Sensory Perception''....nice one,Mr.Zodiac.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/6/2018 02:19:44 am

......and,of course....if we examine Sgt Lynch's report,on the ''A good citizen'' letter....what else,do we find ?

''A good citizen'' is referring to ''code letters''....as a subconscious reminder to the reader,of ''cipher symbols'',related to the efforts of ''concerned citizen''.

''concerned citizen'' = The Zodiac = ''A good citizen''

.....Oh yes,he was.

Nobody

11/6/2018 03:11:08 am

I'm wondering if you could elaborate a bit more on how "a good citizen" relates to coded letters. I tried to look it up in some cryptography books but all of the references are fairly recent. I could not find any mention of this in older code books. I am not having a go at you. I am just interested because I have never heard this before and am always willing to learn something new.

Nobody

11/6/2018 02:52:29 am

You may want to delete this Richard after you see it, but you are looking for a typewriter with a faulty "a" that sometimes drops or goes to one side. The author lived just around the corner from where Stine was killed. None other than the great, the almighty angry, Purple one, formerly Zakatorious the Pantheist!!!

Click on image to zoom!

https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane%3A48492

Nobody

11/6/2018 02:58:45 am

Granted, the "a" doesn't always drop. Only sometimes.

Typewriter must have been nearly worn out.

https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane%3A48493/datastream/PDF/view

Richard

11/6/2018 03:06:03 am

Yes, a few times. If it had every time I may have started getting worried.

Nobody

11/6/2018 03:14:40 am

But if we consider the time difference it also seems unlikely it would be the same typewriter, unless repaired or semi-repaired over time. By the 1980s it looks to be almost completely worn out. By the tone of the letters it often copped a bashing.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/6/2018 06:30:29 am

Thanks again,for giving this subject matter,an airing,Richard.

The subject is,primarily ''concerned citizen'',but I would suggest,and from my perspective,it has turned out that Sergeant Lynch,has become,more the focus of attention.

Here we have a ''Mr.Dependable'' of the Vallejo Police.Trusted,with all matters ''meticulous''.A facilitator of putting the Hardens 408 solution out,as quickly as possible,to ensure it beat a ''possible'' solution from Zodiac,at any time.

That Lynch report,on the ''A good citizen'',I have known about,for about 4 years.But never really took it any further,in thought.

So,your information on ''56 Beach Street'' existing in San Francisco...and suddenly,the ''worm can'' is prised open.

How can it possibly be the case,that Mr.Meticulous Lynch,calls it wrong,in a seeming simple report,with regard to the existence of an address ?

''That'' just doesn't add up.Hence,more spotlight on the ''A good citizen'' report...with ''concerned citizen'',coming into play,again.

Speaking of which,the ''Slow boat to China'' letter,and its possible inspiration of style of composition,based on that ''concerned citizen'' letter.

Previously,I was looking at the ''collective'' Riverside Police,being responsible for it,and catching Avery's guard,down.

Well now,it would never surprise me,if it wasn't ''Mr.Meticulous Lynch'',who was,all along the actual creative writing scribe,of that letter,to Avery.

The ''sneaky'' Sergeant ?

Nobody

11/6/2018 03:12:58 pm

Hi Rubislaw,

You are totally correct with what you say. It seems very surprising to the point of seeming unbelievable that a member of LE could not even identify a street address in the city in which he was stationed. I have already proven that the street was in existence since 1928, unless of course the street names were changed at some point in time, but I am not aware of any such changes.

Key stone cops, perhaps? What a massive FAIL on their part!

Nobody

11/6/2018 03:29:40 pm

Beach Street in SF has been around for a very long time, as it appears on this spreadsheet of historic street names from the late 1800's-early 1900s.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11d9SrFZMN_1F4ZH389-G-Ox8fvHJchpLpWIOzxivP4Q/pubhtml

Nobody

11/6/2018 03:41:42 pm

:-O

Oh my, have I just been played, or what? I came in late to this discussion and should have taken more care to fully understand.

Am I reading correctly? Is the clue "56 Beach Street" based on nothing more than the words from a clairvoyant's "psychic pencil"??? Hahaha! Got to be kidding me. Is there anything of any real substance to this address?

10-7-69 Letter received postmarked San Francisco Mateo signed ''A good citizen''.The letter states that the writer has a strong feeling of ESP.While having these feelings the writer writes with a pencil.On occasion,while thinking of the code letters,the pencil wrote : ''Go to 56 Beach Street.I get the name Jerry,prhaps he knows people or his name is XXXXXXX''

I am always willing to help, but not with anything that belongs to X-files territory. :))

Richard, do you have anything substantial that firmly relates the letter writer to that address, you know, real evidence?

At present it seems like a case of Mr Squiggle: "Upside down, miss!" LOL!

Rubislaw 32 link

11/6/2018 05:26:54 pm

Yes,I know what you mean,Nobody,about the ''specificity'' of the address offered by ''A good citizen''/Zodiac,as ''56 Beach Street''

We can perhaps,understand,the geographic area,around Fisherman's Wharf,since the letter,telegraphs the investigating cops,post Stine murder,to look in that direction,as extrication from the crime scene,for Zodiac.

Apart from the ''560 Wallace'',as ex-residency for Darlene,there doesn't seem,a rhyme nor reason.

Any more takers,on this ?

Nobody

11/6/2018 06:26:05 pm

Thanks Rubislaw, I was a bit confused. As you suggest he (the Zodiac, or some hoaxer, or some well-intentioned individual???) could have sent this as a disguised "hoax" when in actual fact their was something to it.

As I implied above, it would be all too easy for LE to simply dismiss it out of hand as correspondence from some nutter. (They must have received dozens of such letters, and for that matter, police always have and always will. Psychics believe so firmly in their own skills that they truly believe they can help. Occasionally by sheer accident their ideas do end up amounting to something.)

But what if the Zodiac did have a hand in the letter? It would have at least been worth their while to drive to the location and ask any of the staff who worked there if they knew a man named Jerry. Perhaps they did do this and everybody shrugged and it was just an old shipyard storage area that smelled strongly of dead fish. They would have immediately presumed it was just a hoax.

As for them saying there is no such address, I am clueless. Perhaps this was based solely from a presumption that the letter was a hoax.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/6/2018 06:44:46 pm

Where I'm really at here is...that Lynch would have had a lawful obligation to officially document,a letter,that could be interpreted as pertinent to the Zodiac case.

So,''A good citizen'' 's letter ''fits the bill'' as pointing the cops in the direction of Fisherman's Wharf,given the proximity of its posting,four days before Stine's murder.

So,just from a ''leap of trust'' perspective,is there any further clues,offered by ''56 Beach Street''.And given,the likelihood,that Lynch filled in false details,with regard to his checking.

Absolutely,the letter could be a hoax.....but we are desperate people,looking for anything to hang on to.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/6/2018 06:09:39 pm

Just on the matter of ''Beechwood Street'',as entered in Lynch's report :

I haven't found a ''Beechwood Street'',in the Bay Area.

But,there is a ''Beachwood Street'',in Hayward,on the other side of the San Mateo Bridge.And,a 56 Beachwood Street listed.

Beginning to look more and more,like Lynch didn't do comprehensive checking [?].

Nobody

11/6/2018 06:34:37 pm

There is a
Beechwood Dr, Daly City, CA 94015
Beechwood Ave, San Leandro, CA 94579
Beechwood St, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Beechwood St, Escondido, CA 92025
South Beechwood St, Anaheim, CA 92805
North Beechwood St, Orange, CA 92865
Beechwood St, Bakersfield, CA 93309

For some reason I can never say the name Bakersfield without doing a Tom Hanks impression. "Bakers...field!!! Bakersfield!!!!"

Rubislaw 32 link

11/6/2018 06:51:53 pm

.....also,I spotted Beechwood Avenue,Vallejo....and beside the well known Hogan School,where a number of ''players'' in the ''Zodiac opera'' were educated.

Beginning to feel dizzy....

Nobody

11/6/2018 07:52:50 pm

Apologies Rubislaw, I am not up to speed on the Beechwood Street connection.

One thing that may relate in some way is that The Marvelettes had a hit song in 1963, Beechwood 4-5789.

The kind of a street name a hoaxer may have used, taking it from a popular song? Just a guess.

Nobody

11/6/2018 08:18:40 pm

It was hard to find, but Google paid off.

I note from a comment of yours Rubislaw on an earlier topic you supplied the relevant details from the Lynch report.

City Directory lists no Jerry XXXXXXX.Beach Street starts in the 1100 block.Beachwood Street starts 700 block.[Lynch 1969]

There is a Beachwood Street in Hayward, CA 94545.

This is not all that far SE of SF and at least still in the same bay.

Nobody

11/6/2018 08:28:32 pm

From wikipedia:

"During the 1960s, California was the site of many outdoor art fairs, which nurtured a culture of independent artists and craftspersons. At this time there was an effort to sell crafts on the sidewalks of the liberal Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. Artists and street performers who illegally set up in public areas were frequently harassed and arrested by the police. In the 700 block of Beach Street adjacent to Victorian Park and near Fisherman's Wharf, between 15 and 25 artists would set up their displays and use lookouts to alert them to the arrival of the police."

As for 1100 block, I think that use to be part of the area known as The Dogpatch.

From this article: http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=The_Story_of_Dogpatch

By the late 1960s Dogpatch gradually deteriorated to the point where the San Francisco Planning Department considered demolishing it and rezoning it for industrial uses. Arson and industrial encroachment took their toll, reducing the residential core of Dogpatch to what exists today. The 1980s witnessed a revival of the area, with an influx of artisans in search of inexpensive housing with character.

Nobody

11/6/2018 08:40:33 pm

Ugh! Now my head is spinning. The 1100 block which was once a part of Dogpatch is nowhere near Beachwood Street in Hayward.

There is a BEECHWOOD Dr, Daly City, CA 94015 which is in SF.

Here is the official SF engineer's map showing block numbers. This is giving me a migraine.

Nobody

11/6/2018 08:41:45 pm

Engineers block map for SF.

http://maps.sfplanning.org/Engineer_Base_Map.pdf

Nobody

11/6/2018 09:02:25 pm

Hmmm, according the modern block map of SF, 56 Beach Street is actually part of a very small, unnamed block sitting below Pier 39.

Block 1100 today is the block in the center of Ellis St, Divisidero Street, O'Farrell St, and Pierce St.

I can only guess that all of the block designations have changed in recent times.

Looks like it may be a task of going back through the old maps. http://bsmnt.sfdpw.org/subdmap/subd/Miscellaneous%20Maps/Official%20Maps/

That is about all the help I can offer on this for the time being.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/6/2018 07:24:36 pm

As far as I can see,Sergeant John Lynch,is still alive.

We should get a newspaper to create a hit list of pensioners,whose feathers need ruffling [?].

Pardon my cruel thoughts,but Lynch and Graysmith,would be at the very top.

Nobody

11/6/2018 11:15:31 pm

I am now resorting to the possibility of spelling mistakes.

There is a Peachwood Court (oddly named because it actually looks more like a street). It is situated immediately west of San Francisco Airport in San Bruno.

Richard

11/6/2018 11:26:44 pm

There is a Beach Street 1 mile from the Napa payphone at 1231 Main Street but no 56.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/1231+Main+Street,+Napa,+CA,+USA/Beach+St,+Napa,+CA+94558,+USA/@38.3080536,-122.2976811,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x80850667432b4ec1:0x129848d7d584d1ed!2m2!1d-122.2871723!2d38.3008683!1m5!1m1!1s0x8085068db20f39cd:0x2175499bd949b458!2m2!1d-122.2845186!2d38.3148983!3e0

Nobody

11/7/2018 02:00:28 am

Hi Richard,

From Rubislaw re Lynch's original 1969 report: "City Directory lists no Jerry XXXXXXX.Beach Street starts in the 1100 block. Beachwood Street starts 700 block.[Lynch 1969]"

It looks as though Lynch had it backwards: 56 Beach Street is in San Francisco, BUT here is the thing. It was the 700 block of Beach Street. The street was adjacent to Victorian Park and near Fisherman's Wharf and was popular with students and artists in 1969 who set up art shows and stalls.

As Wikipedia says: "Artists and street performers who illegally set up in public areas were frequently harassed and arrested by the police. In the 700 block of Beach Street adjacent to Victorian Park and near Fisherman's Wharf, between 15 and 25 artists would set up their displays and use lookouts to alert them to the arrival of the police."

So it is all backwards!

If we presume he did have it backwards, then maybe Beechwood Street should start in the 1100 block?

But that is as far as I can get, because it seems there never was a Beechwood Street.

I have drawn a blank!

Nobody

11/7/2018 02:20:12 am

My mistake, I now see that Beach Street does indeed start at the block of buildings at 1100 Beach Street. No. 56 Beach Street is down the other end below Pier 39. So that all makes sense to me finally!

But as far as a Beechwood Street starting at 700, I am still at a loss.

I must be starting to thaw to Rubislaw's ideas about a link between grant and Zodiac. It does not escape my notice that running directly away from Beach street at that location is Grant Avenue which is subtended at its other end by North Point Street.

North must be set as point Zero. So could this area be like "Ground Zero" with the name Grant as a reference point?

I must admit I am pausing to wonder.

Nobody

11/7/2018 02:32:29 am

Bingo! I've got it.

Lynch could only have been referring to Beechwood Drive, Daly City, CA 94015.

Beechwood drive begins at Block 700 and ends at about 900.

Lynch was correct. His only mistake was to call it Beechwood Street instead of Beechwood Drive.

Richard

11/7/2018 02:41:36 am

Sergeant Lynch after writing Beach Street starts in the 1100 block, he then carried forward the word street to Beechwood Street. He made a mistake - what he meant to say was "Beechwood Drive starts 700 block".
Beechwood Drive, San Francisco does start in the 700 block. It is 8.6 miles from Beach Street, San Francisco.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Victoria+Manalo+Draves+Park,+16+Sherman+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94103,+USA/Beechwood+Dr,+California+94015,+USA/@37.6862251,-122.4880884,297a,35y,86.27h,44.91t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x80858081e924bf31:0x82beac63598b2371!2m2!1d-122.4060738!2d37.7770921!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f7c63f6a2f475:0x2fe25552eb9dc53b!2m2!1d-122.4849971!2d37.6893137!3e0

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Beach+St,+San+Francisco,+CA,+USA/@37.728949,-122.5217364,18777m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m22!1m16!4m15!1m6!1m2!1s0x808580e394a1a0a7:0x81c1957d0fb3b9d6!2sBeach+St,+San+Francisco,+CA,+USA!2m2!1d-122.4248488!2d37.8061155!1m6!1m2!1s0x808f7c63f6a2f475:0x2fe25552eb9dc53b!2sBeechwood+Dr,+California+94015,+USA!2m2!1d
-122.4849971!2d37.6893137!3e0!3m4!1s0x808580e394a1a0a7:0x81c1957d0fb3b9d6!8m2!3d37.8061155!4d-122.4248488

Richard

11/7/2018 02:42:37 am

I was just posting it at the same time. SNAP.

Nobody

11/7/2018 02:53:51 am

Thus proving that great brains think alike.
Cheers!

The Block thing had me confused for a while. I thought he was referring to larger city blocks, which are also numbered on a map and which are different to individual land blocks. But it turns out he was simply referring to street addresses.

I'm still not sure, but did Lynch express doubts about there being a number 56 Beach Street in his report?

Richard

11/7/2018 03:04:12 am

Seems that way. The only Jerry I know, is one of the three kids who found Michael Mageau and Darlene Ferrin.

Nobody

11/7/2018 03:27:34 am

So by dismissing it out of hand, Detective Lynch may have missed a vital "clew", that is if we presume that the Zodiac was the perpetrator of this deception - genuine communication in the guise of a hoax.

If Zodiac was the sender it could seem he did indeed play them for fools by predicting their presumptuousness.

Richard

11/7/2018 03:30:48 am

In a nutshell:

"10-7-69 Letter received postmarked San Francisco Mateo signed ''A good citizen''.The letter states that the writer has a strong feeling of ESP. While having these feelings the writer writes with a pencil. On occasion,while thinking of the code letters,the pencil wrote : ''Go to 56 Beach Street.I get the name Jerry,prhaps he knows people or his name is XXXXXXX''

Did the author of this letter, signing it "good citizen" know about the "concerned citizen" letter, or was he the same author? From what I understand the "concerned citizen" letter (referring to the code of the 408) wasn't published in the newspapers. So, how would the "good citizen" thinking about the codes, know that only two months earlier that a "concerned citizen" contacted Sergeant Lynch about the codes. He would have to have ESP to have known this. Unless the "good citizen" and "concerned citizen" are one and the same. As Rubislaw says, if Zodiac was the "concerned citizen", then surely he has to be the "good citizen"also. Two letters, two months apart, both concerning codes, and calling themselves a "citizen", both sent to Lynch I presume, is strange to say the least.

Nobody

11/7/2018 03:50:27 am

Thanks for the "heads up" Richard. I know Americans did tend to have a habit of referring to themselves as "good citizens" and "concerned citizens", especially in the 1950s and before. I am sure you would find plenty of "letters to the editor" type communications sent to newspapers around that era signed anonymously as "A good citizen". I admit it is more a Cold War McCarthy era kind of expression.

Apart from that possibility, it does almost seems as though there are only two other alternatives: 1) the writer of the first letter is the same writer as the later letter; or 2) the later writer was a member of LE, because "How else would he have known about the first communication?".

Richard

11/7/2018 04:02:12 am

Exactly. The intriguing part is the reference to "on occasion, while thinking of the code letters" two months afterwards in a cryptic message, to Sergeant Lynch once more.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/7/2018 03:34:51 am

Yes,it does seem that ''A good citizen'' was referring to Fisherman's Wharf/Victoria Park,with the 56 Beach Street.

Why,Lynch ''claimed'' to have checked ''Beechwood Street'',is a bit of a mystery,although the Hayward address would be favoured,if he did check.

I'm going to just check on that Marvelettes song,to see if any subliminal or numerical clues.

One presumes that the name ''Jerry .....'' would be false,anyway [?].

It must be 95% certain,that Zodiac used The Golden Gate Bridge,which does give the ''A good citizen'' some credulity,as a ''diversionary'' tactic,on Stine murder investigations.

And,we know that,if protocol was followed,that Lynch would have been empowered to hand over the letter,to the FBI.The references to false/inaccurate checking by Lynch,suggesting that that part of the report,was deliberately false.

So,its just to persuade a newspaper,to create ''The Zodiac Inquisition''.There will be denied warm milk at bedtime,for Lynch.Graysmith,et al....if they don't answer our questions,truthfully.

Richard

11/7/2018 03:42:32 am

Lynch simply got it wrong, it was Beechwood Drive, Daly City (8.6 miles from Beach Street) starting at the 700 block.

Richard

11/7/2018 03:45:18 am

Are we all now in agreement that the "concerned citizen" and "good citizen" are one and the same, whether Zodiac or not.

Nobody

11/7/2018 03:53:30 am

I'm not entirely convinced, but I admit, it is intriguing.

Nobody

11/7/2018 04:00:33 am

It was most likely 56 Beach Street in my opinion. I think Lynch only considered the Beechwood possibility because of the similarity with the name.

Whatever the case he did seem to be confused about 56 Beach Street for some reason, even though it is obviously a valid address. Maybe he did drive here and just found a deserted block of buildings and shipping containers? No "Jerry", no anybody?

So then he considered a more populated alternative - a residential area?

Richard

11/7/2018 04:21:29 am

Yes, Beechwood was only a consideration by Lynch, it's 56 Beach St that was intended (as written) and does exist as you've shown.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/7/2018 04:14:25 am

With the existence,now found of a ''56 Beach Street''.at the time of the Stine murder....I'm ''all there and back again'',on ''A good citizen'' being Zodiac authentic.

The ''code letters'' reference does seem to be deliberate colloquial speak,for cipher symbols.A reference,to Zodiac's presumed ''concerned citizen'' letter,in a pathetic attempt,by Zodiac,to reclaim some lost pride,over the Hardens solution.

Dates proximity to the Stine murder,geographic telegraphing,the ''408'' debacle for Zodiac....it all seems to add up.

Nobody

11/7/2018 04:23:46 am

And even an obscure but nevertheless very real North Point reference involving Grant by way of the street names! Of course this "clew" would have been totally lost on Detective Lynch. My guess he never even considered it, or, for that matter saw it.

Well done! You could indeed be on to something here Rubislaw.

Richard

11/7/2018 04:25:28 am

Are there any other files or reports of this letter on the internet for corroboration, other than the ''Solving the Zodiac'' book, by C.Symons. How did he get access to this information.

Richard

11/7/2018 04:30:12 am

Beach St crosses Mason St (Mason + Geary).

Nobody

11/7/2018 04:35:35 am

Oh wow, you are right! This is getting too much. Think I'll have to take an aspirin and lie down for a bit!

How could LE have missed these obvious clues?

Nobody

11/7/2018 04:43:08 am

This could potentially even relate to that crazy Paradise Slaves cross which I have long suspected to be based on the Order of the Rainbow for Girls Grand Cross of Colour. The number of coloured diamonds match perfectly with the word Paradise.

And what do we know about the Order of the Rainbow? That's right. It is Masonic = Mason Street.

Mason and Geary formed the cross. It seems like he was taunting the police by using associated street names. But they were too clueless to notice the significance.

Okay, now I really DO need an aspirin and a lie down. I'll return once I've calmed down and my head has cleared a bit. Right now it is all blowing my mind.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/7/2018 04:44:43 am

Yes.the C.Symons ''Solving the Zodiac'' is simply a very comprehensive collection of official reports.

The Lynch report on ''A good citizen'' is undoubtedly a genuine copy.

C.Symons compiled the book for D.I.Y sleuths,and leaves everything up to the reader.

Richard

11/7/2018 04:39:36 am

For way of reference: GRANT AVENUE, by Beach Street.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Union+Square,+San+Francisco,+CA,+USA/56+Beach+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94133,+USA/@37.8076664,-122.4089587,117m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8085808ed3fd40bb:0xfe41d9b5994cb6ba!2m2!1d-122.4074374!2d37.7879938!1m5!1m1!1s0x808580fb7c5a26fd:0xa320fa291ad37b79!2m2!1d-122.4103686!2d37.807976!3e0

Rubislaw 32 link

11/7/2018 04:57:19 am

Wow..that's a bit of an eye opener.

Of course,there are aspects to ''unconfirmed'' cipher solutions,that I haven't given out...but,who is to say I am right.

But I think ''Grant'' isn't going to go away,in the long run.

I ''watched'' the faces on ''authority figures'',whenever Lafferty's name,was mentioned by a reporter....more recently,tributes when Lafferty died.

Almost all....hiding embarrassment....''they'' all know,perfectly well,that,although Lafferty's final conclusion [...that Grant was Zodiac..],was incorrect....that ''they'',nevertheless,were forever hanging on to Lafferty's coat tails,hoping that Lafferty would ''unwittingly'' lead them to Zodiac,through his investigations.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/7/2018 05:55:17 am

Just on a further point...though I really would prefer to sticking with ''undressing Zodiac'' as a persona,since the proof will only sit in the pudding,with a judicial conviction.

It as occurred to me,that Lafferty ''did'' lead the authorities,to Zodiac.

This,when Kevin Fagan,of the SF Chronicle introduced me to Lafferty.

Kevin Fagan is an employee of The Hearst Corporation....so if I show prejudicial ''jaundice'' to this organisation,you might understand why.

As a personal tribute to Lafferty...he was as complete a gentleman,as one could imagine....and,the local newspapers all loved him,as a result.Lafferty was the ''local lad'' seeming to make real inroads,to the Zodiac case.

If it is of any interest to readers,I am pleased ''for me'' that I told Lafferty that Zodiac feared him,much more than the other way around.

Naturally,Lafferty brushed this off...why woudn't he [?]....he claims to have stared into the face of death,when he encountered ''Zodiac'' at close quarters.A claimed experience,that spurred him on,in his investigations,for the rest of his life.

That experience would define his ''purpose''.

And,nothing I could say,would change that.

Nobody

11/7/2018 02:55:55 pm

Just one possible fly in the ointment. Google tends to lead us astray and I notice it says 56 Beach Street is the starting block for that street. But I just tried typing in 50 Beach Street and the stupid thing gives the same location. Then if you type in 40 Beach Street you get the same result. We really need to cross reference with a street numbering guide for SF to be sure.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/7/2018 04:07:31 pm

I can't muster energy to go that far,Nobody....but all these additions to information,as to why ''A good citizen'' selected that particular spot,are
''optimistic'',to say the least.

Your findings about the ''Artisan'' area,could have been the main reason [?].

And,a ''Grant Avenue'' proximity,certainly raises eyebrows,also.

Nobody

11/7/2018 10:10:18 pm

The other end of Beach Street was also a major hub for hippies and artists in the day.

I will look into the street numbers if I get time.

Nobody

11/7/2018 10:37:05 pm

Here you go Rubislaw. 56 Beach Street is real, but only "exists" as such on town planning maps. The numbering does not mirror the arbitrary street numbers. It turns out it is closer to the artisan/uptown/hippy area than the fishy port side end. I knew I had used this webpage before but it took a while for me to find again. This is a good webpage to save in your bookmarks.

http://propertymap.sfplanning.org/

Property Report for 56 BEACH ST, SF

General information related to properties at this location.

PARCELS (Block/Lot):
0436D/040-041 (2 lots)

PARCEL HISTORY:
0436D/015 became 0436D/040 on 2/28/1996
0436D/015 became 0436D/041 on 2/28/1996

ASSIGNED STREET ADDRESSES:
1654 BEACH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123 (parcel 0436D/040)
1656 BEACH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123 (parcel 0436D/041)

NEIGHBORHOOD:
Marina

PLANNING DISTRICT:
District 2: Marina

ZONING DISTRICTS:
RH-2 - RESIDENTIAL- HOUSE, TWO FAMILY

HEIGHT & BULK DISTRICTS:
40-X

COASTAL ZONE:
Not in the Coastal Zone

PORT:
Not under Port Jurisdiction

Nobody

11/7/2018 11:06:52 pm

If you look on Google Earth, it is a beige colored, rather narrow residential building with a palm tree outside and there is a large, black UPS van parked just to the right of the entrance.

56 Beach St is the old block numbering from the original planning maps, which comes out as 1656/1654 on the street numbering.

I just checked Google Earth aerial archives and it would have been a residential building going way back in time. 1938 it was bare ground, but looks to be dwellings there by 1946.

Nobody

11/7/2018 11:11:49 pm

Yep, just checked realtor.com.

1654/56 Beach St, San Francisco, CA is a condo home that contains 2,141 sq ft and was built in 1938.

Case solved on 56 Beach Street!

Rubislaw 32 link

11/8/2018 12:15:21 am

This is great information,Nobody....and probably puts into perspective,what the selection of 56 Beach Street,for ''A good citizen'',was all about.

One can imagine,perhaps,Sgt Lynch sending a couple of officers,over,to check out the address.

And what do they find ?

Quite probably,a hippie refugee centre,cobbled together with a makeshift office,run by charity workers....an improvised soup kitchen,and lots of indoor floor space,as shelter for thousands of kids,turning up,from all over America,without a dime to their name,and only the clothes,that they were wearing.

And,then,the two officers might be expected to find some ''clew'',regarding a possible Zodiac.....among all that.

It even more suggests that ''A good citizen'' was Zodiac,himself [?].

Rubislaw 32 link

11/8/2018 01:57:19 am

I note also,now,that Beach Street runs into the ''North Beach'' part of SF.

The North Beach,with its Beatnick cultural traditions,going back to the early 1950's,and ''The North Beat Scene''.A Bohemian and permissive night life,to be had.Poetry associations with David Metz,Michael McClure,Bob Dylan and hippie guru,Allen Ginsberg.Also,a book shop centre.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/8/2018 02:58:08 am

.....does look likely,that the ''bookshop'' link,is the definitive giveaway,on Zodiac's knowledge of Beach Street/North Beach.

Nobody

11/8/2018 03:12:11 am

POLK directories may give a name of a person living there, but as you suggest, it was possibly a hippy commune with freeloaders hanging off every window ledge. Maybe the "Jerry" was "Jerry Garcia"!

Richard

11/8/2018 09:25:23 am

Can you confirm Rubislaw that this 56 Beach letter was definitely sent to Lynch, and was it typed or handwritten. This topic deserves an individual article with credit of course to both you and nobody. .

Richard

11/8/2018 09:55:47 am

Rubislaw 32 link

11/8/2018 10:08:32 am

I have just had another look at the ''cipher keys'' sheet of ''concerned citizen'',Richard.

Clearly,we are viewing a photocopy.....but it does look like ''concerned citizen'' used a biro pen.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/8/2018 09:58:29 am

Unequivocally yes,Richard.

Page 197,''Solving the Zodiac'' by C.Symons.

I just don't have the operating skills to paste it up.But someone,you know,will surely have a copy of the book [?].And being VPD official documentation,from a ''public service'',there wouldn't be a problem,if might wish to use it,in the future.

It could be a case of ''double implication'' here,for ''concerned citizen'' and ''A good citizen'',with Sgt Lynch,being the original recipient,of both letters [?].

The first,seeing the light of day,as an ''unconfirmed''...the second,yet to see the light of day.With both being in the custody,of the FBI.

On balance,they ''infer'' that both are actually,by the hand of Zodiac,though the FBI don't appear to want the public,to know this.

Personally,one of the reasons,I believe,for ''Zodiac'' sending the ''A good citizen'' letter,was to ensure that the SFPD ''banged heads'' with the VPD,over Stine murder investigations.And probably,that the FBI had an overall picture of Zodiac....if only as a ''confusing'' individual.

Like most aspects,Zodiac perpetuating his ability to ''bait'',and show off,by ''baiting''.

Richard

11/8/2018 10:00:52 am

Is that yes to typed as well.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/8/2018 10:31:09 am

Yes,the Lynch police report,on the ''A good citizen'',is typed up.

As to the letter,itself.....naturally,we don't know.

Any guidance from C.Symons,is very limited,in the book,as a whole.

Richard

11/8/2018 11:17:34 am

"Lyndon Lafferty and Jerry Johnson, who is retired from the Naval Investigative Service, began working on the case unofficially in the 1970s, interviewing witnesses after work and tailing their suspect on occasion. The others joined along the way, including James Dean, who investigated the case as a Vallejo detective."

https://www.dailyrepublic.com/featured-stories/retired-law-enforcement-maintain-chase-for-infamous-zodiac/.

Richard

11/8/2018 11:19:04 am

Jerry, 56 Beach and Grant Ave. Coincidence more than likely.

Richard

11/8/2018 11:21:11 am

''Go to 56 Beach Street.I get the name Jerry, perhaps he knows people or his name is XXXXXXX''
JOHNSON

Richard

11/8/2018 12:25:21 pm

10-7-69 Letter received postmarked San Francisco Mateo signed ''A good citizen''.The letter states that the writer has a strong feeling of ESP.While having these feelings the writer writes with a pencil.On occasion,while thinking of the code letters,the pencil wrote : ''Go to 56 Beach Street.I get the name Jerry,perhaps he knows people or his name is XXXXXXX''.

City Directory lists no Jerry XXXXXXX. Beach Street starts in the 1100 block. Beechwood Street starts in the 700 block.

Sergeant Lynch supposedly mixed up Beechwood Drive with Beechwood Street. Michael Mageau lived at 864 Beechwood Avenue, but in some newspapers like the Vallejo Times-Herald it was reported as 864 Beechwood Street. It goes down to the 800 block. He was discovered by Jerry, Roger and Debbie.
After the attack Zodiac made a payphone call from Springs and Tuolumne. There is a Beach Street in Vallejo, 970 metres from the payphone, but no 56. It joins with Wallace Avenue, where Darlene Ferrin used to live.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Beach+St,+California+94590,+USA/@38.0971497,-122.2377771,179m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8085730bb6186b13:0x54b18a4ec752b207!8m2!3d38.0963513!4d-122.2391885

Ten days after the next attack at Lake Berryessa the "good citizen" letter arrived. After this attack the Zodiac made a payphone call from 1231 Main St. There is no 56, but there is a Beach Street one mile from the payphone.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/1231+Main+Street,+Napa,+CA,+USA/Beach+St,+Napa,+CA+94558,+USA/@38.3048079,-122.2885605,4176m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x80850667432b4ec1:0x129848d7d584d1ed!2m2!1d-122.2871723!2d38.3008683!1m5!1m1!1s0x8085068db20f39cd:0x2175499bd949b458!2m2!1d-122.2845186!2d38.3148983!3e0

Richard

11/8/2018 12:40:05 pm

Beach Street, Napa unfortunately built in 70/71

Rubislaw 32 link

11/8/2018 01:18:49 pm

Thanks for the extra information.

I presume Sgt Lynch,elected to check,or mention that he had claimed to have checked,on a ''Beechwood Street'',with Vallejo in mind [?].

Or,maybe not.

Yes..you ''sprung'' the ''Jerry Johnson'' name....well done....and I was just trying to keep everything simple,and focus on 56 Beach Street.

It makes me sound,as if I am claiming it,before you....but really,here's the honest truth :

I know of another man,that perfectly fits Jerry XXXXXXX.,also.

I cannot tell,regarding the other man.....but yes [!]....Jerry Johnson,could indeed,be ''the name''.....nice one !

Perhaps,if you give ''A good citizen'' a wider readership....then Jerry Johnson's name,will reach wider recognition [?].

As far as I am concerned,Jerry Johnson will know the precise name,of the person impersonating Grant,when using the libraries,at JFK,Vallejo and Civic,Fairfield.The 'name' would be : ''Christian name'' Grant.

Well done,again on Mr.Johnson....so,yes...another case of the ''duplicitous'' Mr.Zodiac [?].

Rubislaw 32 link

11/8/2018 01:56:07 pm

......so,Lynch receives the ''A good citizen'' letter.....assumes the scribe is referring to Vallejo addresses....Lynch comes up with no links....then,a few days later,the Paul Stine murder happens.....a few days later,evidence suggests that Zodiac killed Stine,on the SF headland.

And,eventually,the ''A good citizen'' is recognised,as having referred to 56 Beach Street,as having been a SF address...therefore implicating the letter,and it's sender,as part of the Stine murder.

But,the authorities,want to keep this information,''under wraps''.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/8/2018 02:26:06 pm

It occurred to me,Richard.

Given Zodiac was the ''A good citizen''....yes,Zodiac would be only too aware of Grant,since the implications are,that Zodiac was using Grant,as a ''blame tool'',at the very least.

But,it is most unlikely,that,in 1969,Zodiac would be aware of ''Jerry Johnson''.....nor,indeed ''Lyndon Lafferty''.

Apart from giving Lafferty,the ''run around'',in Lafferty's capacity as a Highway Patrol officer.

But even,the cops were just,collectively, ''Pigs'' or ''Meanies'',to Zodiac [?].

Nobody

11/8/2018 03:17:29 pm

The world of the Zodiac was a very garbled and insane one, but I think he did notice the connectivity in the world around him, and this was something he liked to play games with. He seemed to have an obsession with names and the way names interconnected spatially.

Although a lot of this could, and probably was, dismissed as coincidental and perhaps even "too far-fetched", I must admit, the "detective" side of me finds this interesting.

The street names are interesting in that area. We have the famous Fillmore Street, which was perhaps viewed as something akin to a "scourge" area by most of the police at that period in history, but the home of all manner of social drop outs and experimental artisans and artistes. The street name Mason Street alludes to this perfectly. We have Bay Street, and North Point Street, which could relate to the Zodiac's Mt Diablo ramblings.

I do find it interesting that either by coincidence or obscure "clew", North Point Street naturally leads one to Grant Street, which forms the virtual "end point of it all". It is plausible to me that if the author of the letter was the Zodiac, he could have been playing a clever game of cat and mouse with the police, by throwing them suggestive leads.

The scenario becomes even more interesting if we consider the police may have become "clewed in" to what the author of the letter was getting at. Perhaps the Zodiac was just an anonymous face blending into the crowd? He could have even lived at the address 56 Beach Street and he got to sit back and watch the police search the joint asking for "Jerry" and laughed as they walked away shrugging and shaking their heads. "Nothing here boys, we'll have to check that Beechwood address instead."

Rubislaw 32 link

11/8/2018 04:06:30 pm

I'm pretty happy about happy about ''A good citizen''....just on its Stine possibilities,alone.

An invested post,for some confusion,on extrication of Zodiac,after a taxi driver's murder.

Naturally,we would wish for more ''definites'',with regard to its derivation.

I'll post something,at Ricardo's site,and maybe receive 250 viewers.

But,better placed at Mr.Morford's site [?],for a wider audience,and debate.

The authorities might even reward us with a Xmas present,this year,for being so diligent.

I think,''they'' owe us [?].

Richard

11/9/2018 09:38:17 am

I need to know the exact text of the letter.

Rubislaw 32 link

11/9/2018 10:08:50 am

Me too,Richard....I am presuming that it is not going to happen for us,until a public resolution.

I wonder what ''they'' are hiding [?].One would have thought that the disclosure of Zodiac attempting to create confusion,over the direction of his absconding,after a planned murder....would not really be giving too much,away.

So,actual content of the letter,beyond Lynch's reportage,may hold key information.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

THE 'CONCERNED CITIZEN' CARD

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