THE RIVERSIDE PROPHECY

10/2/2017

The 'Confession' letter purportedly typed by the hand of Cheri Jo Bates' murderer delivered a sense of foreboding: "She is not the first and she will not be the last. I lay awake nights thinking about my next victim. Maybe she will be the beautiful blond that babysits near the little store and walks down the dark alley each evening about seven. Or maybe she will be the shapely blue eyed brownett that said no when I asked her for a date in high school. But maybe it will not be either....Yes I did make that call to you. It was just a warning. Beware...I am stalking your girls now."
This was equally true of the Riverside Desktop Poem, discovered by a Janitor at Riverside City College in the December of 1966, after the murder of Cheri Jo Bates, and after the 'Confession' letter, but in all probability was written before the October 30th 1966 murder. It gave a chilling prelude to what may transpire, what may be denied, but ultimately the threat of more to come: "Just wait till next time. rh."
If the Desktop Poem was written in the October of 1966 by the same mind who typed the 'Confession' letter, then it could be argued it was the prelude to the murder of Cheri Jo Bates, and equally argued as the first correspondence of the Zodiac Killer, if you believe a connection exists between the Bay Area and Riverside.

Click to enlarge

The Zodiac Killer often ended his communications with an unbridled mockery of police, giving a running total of victims so far. He would often compliment this in correspondence, such as the November 9th 1969 'Bus Bomb' letter, stating "up to the end of Oct I have killed 7 people." In the November 8th 'Dripping Pen' card he added the months of his alleged attacks, stating "Des, July, Aug, Sept, Oct = 7." On March 13th 1971 the Zodiac Killer referenced his exploits in Riverside by 'complimenting' the police on connecting the murder of Cheri Jo Bates to him: "I do have to give them credit for stumbling across my riverside activity, but they are only finding the easy ones."
Could the initials rh be offering us something similar. The author of the Riverside Desktop Poem warned us of a "next time," then gave us the initials. Could the author have instructed us on the time and place of his next murder, much like the unconfirmed 'Albany' letter mailed on August 1st 1973.
"Just wait till next time. riverside, halloween." The author was giving us the area of the crime and the exact date. The Riverside Desktop Poem was the ode to murder, the 'Confession' letter was its completion. The murder was believed to have taken place at approximately 10.30 pm on October 30th 1966, the day before Halloween. However, if we believe the author of the 'Confession' letter, then his original intention may have been the abduction of Cheri Jo Bates in his vehicle, before things unexpectedly changed course. He may have planned the murder of the young woman on October 31st 1966, the day she was ultimately discovered by groundskeeper Cleophus Martin.

In the aftermath of the Cheri Jo Bates murder the police made appeals to the public to be on the lookout for the murder weapon, described as a small knife: "An unrelenting search had been in progress for the murder weapon, and that Tuesday detectives used a metal detector (see right) in shrubbery adjacent to the murder scene in an effort to find the knife used by the slayer. Captain Cross revealed to the news media that the autopsy showed that the murder weapon was probably a pocket knife with a 3 inch blade or less. The broadcast and published information about the knife caused the police switchboard to be flooded with calls reporting knives of similar description being found all over the city of Riverside."
Was one of those callers the murderer, who did state in the 'Confession' letter "Yes, I did make that call to you."
How many of these calls were followed up is hard to determine, but curiously on November 14th 1966, one day after the highly publicized library reconstruction, the police did get a call from a Riverside City College gardener: "That he had unearthed a hunting knife with his rake. The knife had apparently been buried near the murder scene. Detectives hurried to the campus and turned over the knife to the homicide detail. However, examination failed to show any evidence of dried blood on the knife blade. Also, its width did not compare with the incisions made by the stab wounds."
Did the murderer of Cheri Jo Bates plant the hunting knife and make a call to police, which ultimately got lost in the myriad of calls flooding the switchboard, and consequently was not followed through. Or did the killer make contact with the Riverside City College gardener to volunteer this information, while viewing the unfolding police presence from a distance.
The police had thoroughly searched the crime scene with metal detectors in the days after the murder, so it seems likely the knife was planted subsequent to their search by either the perpetrator, or a misguided prankster. The planting of a larger hunting knife near the murder scene may have been another foreboding message by the killer, that "It was just a warning. Beware...I am stalking your girls now." Stalking them with a larger and more deadly knife. After all, he did claim that he "plunged the knife into her and it broke."

For many people, Cheri Jo Bates checked out her own library books. This being the case, we have approximately four hours in which her whereabouts are unexplained. Had she gone somewhere willingly, it is highly likely she traveled there by foot, having left her vehicle parked on Terracina Drive at about 6.15 pm.
Does this center the investigation close to the college campus?
The author of the 'Confession' letter was fond of referring to that "alley," when he stated "Maybe she will be the beautiful blond that babysits near the little store and walks down the dark alley each evening about seven" and "it just might save that girl in the alley." Was he referring to the alleyway in which Cheri Jo Bates was murdered, or some other alley in the vicinity of the Riverside City College campus. Somewhere he could monitor the comings and goings of young attractive women.
If he was able to go unnoticed, without drawing suspicion to himself around the college campus the evening of October 30th 1966, had composed the Desktop Poem earlier that month, and had subsequently planted the knife near the crime scene, was this indicative of somebody who worked at, or frequented the college on a regular basis. Somebody who could travel within the confines of Riverside City College unchallenged and blend into the background.
The Timex watch discovered ten feet from the body of Cheri Jo Bates, apparently ripped off the wrist of the killer in the struggle, had white paint specks on its face. The Riverside City College was undergoing renovation at this point in time, so is this another small pointer. The attack on Cheri Jo Bates was fairly prolonged, evident by the wounds sustained by the young woman, inflicted on her in an alleyway bordered by two vacant properties. Is this yet further indication of prior knowledge to college affairs, that the killer was prepared to attack Cheri Jo Bates here, knowing that nobody resided within these properties. This again, reinforcing the idea that the murderer either worked within the college campus, or frequented it regularly. He would seemingly stick around until at least April 30th 1967, when three more virtually simultaneous communications were received from the alleged murderer, in similar fashion to the beginning of the Zodiac correspondence, just over two years later.

36 Comments

Richard

10/9/2017 12:18:04 pm

The Zodiac Killer finished many of his communications with the running victim total. The Dripping Pen card gave us the time, in the form of a month, and the total. The Bus Bomb letter stated "up to the end of Oct I have killed 7 people."
The July 31st 1969 San Francisco Chronicle letter warned us of future murders "If you do not print this cipher by the afternoon of Fry.1st of Aug 69, I will go on a kill ram-Page Fry. night."
The Halloween card is believed by many to be a future threat towards Paul Avery.
What if we apply the same model to the Riverside Desktop Poem, where he signs off the poem with "Just wait till next time. rh."
The Riverside Desktop Poem was discovered in the December of 1966. But it might very well have been written prior to the murder of Cheri Jo Bates on October 30th 1966, and the warning of "Just wait till next time. rh." was referring to the time and place of his next murder. Remember, the author of the Confession letter had suggested he was trying to lure Cheri Jo Bates into his vehicle. This may possibly indicate he had planned to murder Cheri Jo Bates later than the believed 10.30 pm, when screams emanated from the alleyway, likely on Halloween Day itself, but something clearly had resulted in the unplanned struggle in the alleyway and her 'premature' murder from the perspective of the killer. Had he achieved his objective in luring the young woman into his vehicle, the likely prediction of the Riverside Desktop Poem would have come true. "Just wait till next time. riverside, halloween."

Rubislaw 32 link

10/10/2017 04:38:59 pm

I was persuaded by your observation,Richard,in relation to possible plagiarism of the poetry of Edward Hyde....''They who are most weary of life,and yet are most unwilling to die.''.

One must presume that the Desk Top Poem is the work of the inscriber,but with influences [?].

Perhaps the most curious aspect of ''r h'' is,that it is written in lower case form [?].That perhaps,it does not stand for the name of a person [?].

Though,beyond what has already been offered,I have considered ''Robin Hood'' and even,''Little Red Riding Hood''.....little red ''Riding Hood'' [?].

Richard

10/11/2017 03:36:59 am

The Edward Hyde was noteworthy because of the Dave Oranchak finding in the 408, which sort of elevated the connection.
When I look at the rh, not in capitals, it does tend to negate them being initials, however the 'riverside' should be in capitals along with Halloween, but in the March 13th 1971 'Los Angeles' letter he does write riverside in the lower case form. I tend to look at what the author wrote just before the rh. In this instance "Just wait till next time"- then telling us the time + place. To believe a murderer and author would give us his true initials is true optimism at its finest.
The 'Exorcist' letter I believe followed a similar pattern, and the solution to the symbols offered by Kevin Robert Brooks is the best theory I have seen, and ties in with his preceding words or threat.
"If I do not see this note in your paper, I will do something nasty, which you know I'm capable of doing." TO KILL.
http://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/4/9/7/1/4971630/507381.jpg?392

Rubislaw 32 link

10/11/2017 04:58:14 am

Some good food for thought,there.

If we accept the plagiarism angle,on Edward Hyde [...which I do...],then we also might be looking at a ''Dr.Henry Jekyll and Mr.Edward Hyde'',as a continuing theme [?].Zodiac did allude to not being able to stop this thing,inside him.Perhaps,expressing the split personality was,forever attempting to articulate,itself...including that which he wrote,in the Desk Top Poem [?].

I should not make apologies,for being a world away from Mr.Brooks,over the Exorcist ''doodle'' [!].

And that's what it is [OMHO [!]]....a doodle of a submarine,being attended to,by tugs and support vessels.Just as one might see,on Naval manoeuvres and navigation maps.A birds-eye view.

Zodiac's home residence was the Los Angeles vicinity,for the most part,but would regularly visit the San Francisco vicinity,as ongoing project work.Often he would drive the distance,because he enjoyed it,and the freedom that a motorcar gave him.

But,on occasion,he might fly....so the novelty of views over the bay of San Francisco,would ''become him''.

He has even added a tadpole [!],to suggest the marine theme.

Symbols ? Palpable nonsense !

Rubislaw 32 link

10/11/2017 01:52:12 pm

I have looked for more possible examples of plagiarism,Richard...but to no avail.

Edward Hyde's son was a more successful poet than he.A descendant,also Edward Hyde,was a cousin of Queen Anne,and a ''cross dressing'' governor of New York,no less [!].

So,always a possibility,that the presumed ''Zodiac'' saw a connection with Robert Louis Stevenson's ''Mr.Edward Hyde'' [?].

One could call ''The Zodiac Killer'',as a ''Strange case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde'' [?][!].

It does seem as if you have narrowed the field down,to ''r h'' standing for ''riverside halloween'' [?].This opens a side debate,on when the Desk Top Poem was actually written [?].

Do you think that ''Just wait till next time'' suggests,in any way,that Zodiac is excluding himself,as the murderer of Cheri Jo Bates ?

Richard

10/11/2017 02:02:14 pm

"Do you think that ''Just wait till next time'' suggests,in any way,that Zodiac is excluding himself,as the murderer of Cheri Jo Bates ?"
No, I think it's the opposite, suggesting the murder of someone on Halloween. Whether or not the Riverside Desktop Poem was person specific, and he had a target in mind, or his target wasn't identified by then, who knows. But Riverside, Halloween has to be correct first.
I placed this on the forum, for a little added info; "He may have spotted CJB with a red dress, or he may be dismissing the gravity of murder, using the color of blood on a red dress, as "oh well it was red anyway."
If we combine the Riverside Desktop Poem, Confession letter and Bates communications we get a running theme.
"She won't die this time. I said it was about time for her to die. Just wait till next time. Bates had to die, there will be more."
It is possible the Riverside Desktop 'graffito" was spotted in October or earlier and placed in the storage basement on account of its unsavory content. The significance of it was only realized when it was viewed in December, subsequent to the murder of Cheri Jo Bates."

Rubislaw 32 link

10/11/2017 02:53:29 pm

Yes,it seems a difficult one,to get one's head around.

If the Desk Top Poem scribe was Zodiac,and he wrote it before CJB's murder,then it could suggest that he went on to murder her,as something that he was considering doing [?] [.....a murder,at least,on Halloween's Day,in Riverside...].

If the Desk Top Poem scribe was Zodiac,and he wrote it after CJB's murder,then it suggests that he may or may not have murdered CJB....but he was declaring intentions of at least a repeat performance of murder,on a future Halloween,in Riverside [?].

Richard

10/11/2017 03:24:39 pm

The Jekyll and Hyde idea is certainly a good thought to pursue. I'll have a think about that one tomorrow. He certainly could have had a dissociative identity disorder.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/11/2017 04:20:08 pm

I would be confident that Zodiac would see such things,in himself,given that he was clearly an extensive reader.

The Edward Hyde poetry quote was the best connection,I have seen in a while....and though a famous politician of his time,a relatively ''obscure'' poet.

This tends to illustrate Zodiac's breadth and depth of reading [?].

Unearthing answers are rare and precious,in the study of this serial killer,and naturally,we so wish the LE guardians of the rest of his writings,would put them into the public domain.

A reference to ''Jekyll and Hyde'',may be among them.Also,''King of Spades'' [Robert E,Lee],I venture.Also.Ulysses Grant,I believe.

What I continue to believe,though,is that Zodiac's real name will not emerge.

This can only come,with an actual arrest [!].

Rubislaw 32 link

10/12/2017 12:04:51 am

Just to recap,Richard,there is compelling persuasion that Edward Hyde,Earl of Clarendon,King Charles II's Lord Chancellor,and poet,who wrote ''They who are most weary of life,and yet are most unwilling to die''.....has been plagiarised by the author of The Desktop Poem,who wrote ''Sick of living / unwilling to die''.

And,since ''Edward Hyde'' is also the namesake of Robert Louis Stevenson's evil counter self of Dr.Henry Jekyll,''Mr.Edward Hide''...then there is compelling credulity that The Zodiac Killer,is the author of the Desktop poem.

I would say that that is a ''result'' worth having [?].

The London Metropolitan Police hold jurisdiction on the case of ''Jack the Ripper''.In theory,it is their public duty to still solve this case.

But,and though perhaps contentiously,two details have emerged :

Firstly,that they hold forensic proof that the perpetrator and scribe of The Ripper's letters ''are'' two different people.

Secondly,that they hold proof that the painter,Walter Sickert,was neither the perpetrator,nor letter writer.

Although the Riverside Police are unwilling to allow the FBI to pass official comment on the ''Zodiac validity'' of the Bates correspondence,I would say that the ''Edward Hyde'' link,with the Desktop Poem is,at least another ''nail'' in demonstration of its authenticity,pertaining to The Zodiac Killer [?].

Richard

10/12/2017 06:05:25 am

The Zodiac Killer, I have no doubt wasn't the fool he attempted to portray with his chicken-scratch writing and poor spelling. His Mikado references etc, certainly showed a man torn in two halves. One difficult to disguise the other. But I wonder how connected he was to Riverside library, or any library in his formative years, having access to a wealth of information on topics that certainly predated his existence. The Mikado and the Earl of Clarendon, with certain language 'tropes' the Zodiac used, certainly indicates a well read individual, and if not possessing a British accent, then probably British parentage or British descent. The other option is the possibility he worked in the theatre or arts, and was exposed to theatrical language. Jekyll and Hyde brings back the Scottish influence once again with Robert Louis Stevenson, his novel Treasure Island, and its namesake in San Francisco, that operated as a Naval Station from 1941.

Richard

10/12/2017 03:11:12 pm

Here is the text from 'The life of Edward, Earl of Clarendon, lord high chancellor of England,' and the portion of text found in the 408 Cipher has been highlighted below. I am not sure whether the figure 239 was part of the original document, but character 239 in the 408 Cipher is part of this highlighted text and the start of the 15th line (Letter N).

1665 PROJECT ABANDONED 239 "his blessed father and himself as a subject can do from his prince, a nobleman of the best quality, the best allied and the best beloved ; to remove at such a time such a person, and with such circumstances, from his counsels and his trust." The King was not of a mould to resist plain speaking like this, and when not supported by the presence of those who made him their tool and instrument, he seldom managed to make way against the vehemence of Clarendon's rebukes. It could hardly be pleasant for a monarch to be told that what he designs is base ingratitude; that his throne is in danger ; the reputation of his Court in evil savour ; that both require such support as they may be able to get from men of reverence and station, and that he would be mad to alienate any support from such men that may be vouch- safed to him ; yet this was the plain meaning of Clarendon's words. But Charles hesitated to go back, repulsed, to those who had made him their mouthpiece. He remained " rather moved and troubled than convinced." But fortunately Clarendon found an unexpected ally in the Duke of York, who had joined the King and himself at the interview, with the intention, it appears, of supporting the King's purpose. To him Clarendon restated his arguments, and urged him to do the best service to the King his brother " by dis- suading him from a course that would prove so mischievous to him." For this once, the Duke was converted to Clarendon's view, and "prevailed with the King to lay aside the thought of it. "l Once more the Court conspirators 1 Charles not rarely showed a respect for his brother's opinion which was not founded upon any high estimate of his abilities. Clarendon himself remarks this when commenting upon the failure of any attempt to arouse jealousy between the brothers. Charles, he says, " had a just affection for him, and a confidence in him, without thinking better of his natural parts than he thought there was just cause for ; and yet, which made it the more wondered at, he did often depart, in matters of the highest moment, from his own judgment to comply with his brother " (Life, iii. 62).
https://archive.org/stream/lifeofedwardearl02craiuoft/lifeofedwardearl02craiuoft_djvu.txt

Richard

10/12/2017 03:13:05 pm

See original article for highlighted text and link to Dave Oranchak's 408 section.

Richard

10/12/2017 03:14:11 pm

http://www.zodiacciphers.com/zodiac-news/august-23rd-2016

Richard

10/12/2017 03:27:07 pm

Styles of address:
1609–1640: Mr Edward Hyde
1640–1643: Mr Edward Hyde MP
1643–1660: The Right Honourable Sir Edward Hyde Kt MP
1660–1661: The Right Honourable The Lord Hyde Kt PC
1661–1674: The Right Honourable The Earl of Clarendon Kt PC

RH-Right Honourable. Bit of a stretch I know.

Richard

10/12/2017 03:41:33 pm

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=bIdhAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=those+who+are+most+weary+of+life+earl+of+clarendon&source=bl&ots=qvXVu2JqKJ&sig=kdZVwkWhyz5o8z3u3GCU1iyvLzY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBme6KkuzWAhVCOBoKHdImC2sQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=those%20who%20are%20most%20weary%20of%20life%20earl%20of%20clarendon&f=false

Rubislaw 32 link

10/12/2017 05:05:24 pm

Just great that you found that line of poetry,Richard.....now seemingly a ''Jekyll and Hyde'' link between Zodiac and the Desktop poem.

The Earl of Clarendon did attain the office of Lord High Chancellor....which was the equivalent of ''Prime Minister'',today...therefore the highest office....so,high profile person.

But..as a poet [?]

I had no idea.

How on earth did you find ''They who are not weary of life,and yet are most unwilling to die.'' ??

Rubislaw 32 link

10/13/2017 02:59:55 am

Hi Richard

Naturally spurred on in research around the Bates correspondences,I looked into London's famous Hyde Park.

It was named after the Hyde manor of London....but...in ''The War of the Worlds'',by H G Wells,it was called ''Serpentine Park''....but then renamed ''Hyde Park'',after ''Mr.Edward Hyde'',since the authorities wanted any evil force that they could muster,to combat the Invaders from Mars [!].

So,we can probably add ''War of the Worlds'' to Zodiac's library books.

I note that you had looked into the derivation of ''Brownett'' [?].

I am all over the correspondences,like a rash,now.....looking for more clues.

The Patricia Hautz letter appears ''creepy as hell''....in the light of a new dawn [?][!].

Rubislaw 32 link

10/14/2017 02:13:34 am

In looking at the ''r h'' again,at the bottom of the Desktop poem,it is a tantalising conundrum to consider.

Personally,and as you have offered,Richard,a ''halloween riverside'' solution,is as sensible a solution,as any.

Since,''Sick of living /unwilling to die'' is the presumed title of the poem,then ''r h'' could be considered the concluding ''signing off'' of the poem.

Given that ''Mr.Edward Hyde'' is a compelling subliminal element,on the basis of plagiarism of the poem's ''title'',then it has occurred to me that ''r h'' could stand for ''real hyde''.

That,in effect,the presumed scribe ''Zodiac'' is acknowledging the second self of Dr.Jekyll....and declaring that he,Zodiac,is the real deal.....the ''real hyde'', that presents the poem [?].

Richard

10/14/2017 04:52:45 am

One could make the argument for the 'rh' being a name, as you suggested, because the author is effectively signing off his poem, but certainly your offering is far more likely than a real name. If the author was the murderer, and was somehow connected to CJB and/or the Riverside College, it would be sheer madness of 'Jekyllinian' proportions to purposefully narrow the search field for investigators. So the search for the real identity of the killer through these initials, is inherently a waste of time. Nobody, other than somebody who wants to be caught, would ever offer up their own initials, hence the use of a pseudonym that Zodiac employed. The 'rh' is effectively the alter-ego, as your suggestion offers. Whether it is right, like my suggestion, I proffer is still only slim. They are viable offerings, but as you no doubt realize, the chances of them being the answer is remote at best. If the poem is by the Zodiac, the 'rh' may simply have been an early pseudonym of sorts, such as 'real hyde'.
Had the initials on the Desktop Poem been 'rp' the answer would be seemingly obvious, Red Phantom. Since the author's primary focus in the poem revolved around blood, dripping, spurting, spilling over her red dress, it wouldn't be far fetched to believe the 'r' in 'rh' is an extension of that theme, and something that would resurface on July 8th 1974.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/14/2017 04:21:00 am

......perhaps more fundamental than the last comment [?].

''Zodiac'' has telegraphed the ''Jekyll and Hyde'' subliminal theme,with the plagiarised title ''Sick of Living /unwilling to die''.

''Zodiac'' completes his poem,inscribed on the desk,and considers how or if,he will sign off.

''Zodiac'' elects to sign with ''r h'',which stands for ''Right Hand''.

The ''split personality'' thoughts have ''become him'',and it was his right hand,after all,that inscribed the poem.Perhaps even,''its'' author [?][!].

''But when you give to the needy,do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.''.

Mathew 6:3

Rubislaw 32 link

10/15/2017 08:40:54 am

On the matter of possible further plagiarism,within the content of the Desktop poem,I came across an interesting line,which sums up the imaginary battles that the cartoon character,''Snoopy'',had with flying ace,''The Red Baron''.

This,the work of Charles Schultz,as part of his syndicated cartoon strips,''Peanuts'',which included a 1966 published work,''Snoopy and Red Baron''.

Snoopy,atop his dog kennel,looks skywards,and mutters : ''Just wait till next time,Red Baron.''

Without the Red Baron reference,this is identical to the final line of the Desktop poem : ''Just wait till next time.''

Richard

10/15/2017 11:00:38 am

We've got a mixture of everything now Rubislaw. I think the only way to confirm his intention when signing off the Desktop Poem, if possible, is to connect it to one of his other communications. The choice of the true identity of 'rh' probably lies in his perceived fascination of the theatre and film. I have been trawling the internet for another cartoon strip, where somebody found the exact wording on the 13 Hole postcard - it's just one big thirteenth. It ties in with your suggestion but I cannot find it. When I do I will attach the link.

Richard

10/15/2017 11:31:17 am

Found by Vasa Croe. Notice the date of September 25th 1970, only 10 days before the '13 Hole' postcard arrived on October 5th 1970. Was Zodiac present in Oakland that day, or did he live there. Oakland is situated en route between Vallejo and San Francisco. This ties in with your cartoon angle. Were there any more phrases in cartoon strips that Zodiac 'lifted' for his own use.
http://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/4/9/7/1/4971630/believe-8_orig.gif

Richard

10/15/2017 11:59:53 am

The font from this paper is identical to the one Zodiac used. I have darkened the Oakland version, because clearly when the 13 Hole postcard version was printed in the newspapers, it darkened during the printing process. It was printed in a Texas paper as well, but the Oakland version is more significant due to its location. Here is a side-by-side comparison.
http://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/4/9/7/1/4971630/therefore-56_orig.jpg

Rubislaw 32 link

10/15/2017 12:09:41 pm

Hi Richard

Just at sixes and sevens,at present,absorbing any implications of the ''Just wait till next time'' quote.

Zodiac appears to have had developed ''collective'' adversaries,such as specific police forces....then ''playful'' ones with journalists,such as Paul Avery and Count Marco [....his respect for Herb Caen was genuine,I believe...].

But,nine tenths of his angst over,and venom for,was one particular person.And there lies his true ''raison d'etre'',and primary motivation for his actions.

So,it's difficult to get ''The Red Baron'',out of my head,at present [!].

But yes,indeed...the cartoon strips are ''inspirations'' from being an avid and daily newspaper reader.

Zodiac's humour manifested itself as ''warped''..but in reality,it was wide and varied...and he craved that form of entertainment,being a mostly individual person,whose friendships with others,was largely superficial.

Certainly note the date of ''its just one big thirteenth''.Isn't this the cartoon strip lifted from a San Antonio newspaper ?

I will delve into some more ''Peanuts'',looking for clues.

Newspaper columnists and syndicated newspaper cartoons,seem to be daily manna,for Zodiac [?].

Richard

10/15/2017 01:14:56 pm

From the Oakland Tribune; Wiki-The Tribune was founded February 21, 1874, by George Staniford and Benet A. Dewes. The Oakland Daily Tribune was first printed at 468 Ninth St. as a 4-page, 3-column newspaper, 6 by 10 inches. Staniford and Dewes gave out copies free of charge. The paper had news stories and 43 advertisements.

Staniford, the editor and Dewes, the printer, were credited with producing a paper with fine typographical look and editorial nature. The competition was the Oakland News and Oakland Transcript. The first editorial stated, "There seems to be an open field for a journal like the Tribune in Oakland, and we accordingly proceed to occupy it, presenting the Tribune, which is intended to be a permanent daily paper, deriving its support solely from advertising patronage."

Rubislaw 32 link

10/15/2017 02:29:31 pm

Interesting information on the Oakland Tribune,Richard.

With reference to ''It's just one big thirteenth'',my curiosity was over the date of publication,given that these syndicated cartoon strips,often emerge on different days,for different newspapers.

So,on the basis of checking,it was both the Oakland Tribune,and San Antonio Express,that chose to publish that particular strip on September 25th 1970.

Therefore,we assume that LE believe that Zodiac lifted the cartoon,from one of the two newspapers [?].And,since Zodiac is most associated with Northern California,then the Oakland Tribune,would be the ''favoured candidate'' [?].

Of course,this does not discount the San Antonio Express.Strangely,San Antonio does ''raise my eyebrows'' [!].But that would be ''personal'' inclinations.

I have to admit that I am struggling to dismiss the ''Red Baron'' aspect to the probable plagiarised ''Just wait till next time''.If true,one wonders whether ''Zodiac'' saw something of the ''heroic'' Manfred von Richthofen in himself [?].

That,perhaps,he was minded in the first place to ''steal'' this line,from ''Snoopy'',because of the ''Red Baron'' [?].Possibly,''Zodiac'' felt that he,''Zodiac'' was a ''one man army against the world''....and heroism by an individual,tends to inaccurately project that image [?].

''Zodiac'' may have ''re-inserted'' the Red Baron,in signing off,the Desktop poem [?].''Richthofen'' as heard,sounds like ''Richt--hofen''

''r h''.[?]....and without poor jokes about being a ''Fokker'' [!].

Rubislaw 32 link

10/15/2017 03:14:20 pm

Not meaning to ''flog a dead horse'',but.....

Richthofen.....means ''right court'',or ''right courtyard'',in English.

Right hand....is ''richt hynde'',or ''richt hande'',in German.

It is conceivable that ''Zodiac'',assumed that ''Richthofen'',meant ''right hand'',or ''right hoof'' [?].

Of course,this is given the assumption,that ''Zodiac's'' intentions were to cleverly ''throw in'' a play,on ''right hand''.

I believe that ''r h'',in its lower case form,is an instruction,to use the ''right hand'',in music.

''r h'' also is an abbreviated form for ''rhesus'' - the blood group.

Richard

10/15/2017 03:47:33 pm

The exclusive rights to the use of the Red Hand symbol has proved a matter of debate over the centuries, primarily whether it belonged to the O'Neill's (Ó Neill) or the Magennis (Méig Aonghasa). The O'Neills became the predominant dynasty of the Cenél nEógain of the Northern Uí Néill and later the kings of Ulster, whilst the Magennis' were the ruling dynasty of the Uí Eachach Cobo, the predominant dynasty of the Cruthin of Ulaid, and also head of the Clanna Rudraige.
A 16th-century poem indicated disagreement between the "Síol Rúraí" (an alias for Clanna Rudraige) and the northern descendants of Niall Noígíallach (the Northern Uí Néill).
A dispute, dated to 1689, arose between several Irish poets about whose claim to the Red Hand was the most legitimate.
Diarmaid Mac an Bhaird, one of the last fully trained Irish bardic poets, admonishes the claim of the "í Néill" to the Red Hand, and that it rightly belongs to the "Méig Aonghasa" who should be allowed to retain it. They support their statement citing several medieval texts attributing it to Conall Cernach, the legendary ancestor of the Uí Eachach Cobo.
Eoghan Ó Donnghaile, refutes the Clanna Róigh (Clanna Rudraige) right to the symbol. They state that if hands bloodied in battle are proof of legitimacy to the symbol, then Conn of the Hundred Battles (a legendary ancestor of the O'Neills), has more right to it. They then produce a story based on traditions from the Lebor Gabála Érenn claiming that it belongs to the descendants of Érimón, from whom Conn and thus the O'Neills are said to descend.
Niall Mac Muireadhaigh on the other hand dismisses both these claims and states that the symbol belongs to the Clann Domhnaill (descended from the Three Collas, the legendary ancestors of the Airgíalla). In response to Ó Donnghaile, Mac Muireadhaigh derides him as a fool and finding it deplorable that he is an author.
Further poetic quatrains in the dispute were written by Mac an Baird, Ó Donnghaile, as well as by Mac an Bhaird's son Eoghain. The Mac an Bhaird's appear to deride Ó Donnghaile as not having come from a hereditary bardic family and that he is of very low rank without honour, as well as hinting at his family's genealogical connection with the Ó Neill's.
Writing in 1908, the then head of the O'Neill clan states in regards to the Red Hand of Ulster that "History teaches us that already in pagan days it was adopted by the O'Neills from the Macgennis, who were princes in the north of Ireland region inhabited by them.
Celtic Cross and Red Hand.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hand_of_Ulster

I'll keep looking into Red Baron.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/15/2017 04:40:33 pm

The Red Hand of Ulster,looks very interesting.

Together with ''riverside halloween'',''right hand''......and,a possible misconceived play on ''richthofen''.

Mr.von Richthofen,of course,was a legitimised serial killer of 80 [!] ''kills''.And died a hero.

All things said,so far....the title and final line of the Desktop poem are ''sorted'',through compelling plagiarism.

''Jekyll and Hyde'',and a dog called ''Snoopy''.

Strange ''bed fellows'',indeed.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/16/2017 12:20:22 pm

After the Snoopy line ''Just wait till next time,Red Baron'',another gem from Charles Schultz's ''Peanuts'' work :

This time,more related to the Halloween Card,but also,perhaps,a Zodiac connection,between the Bates murder,and authenticated Zodiac correspondence and crime [?].

The ''Great Pumpkin'' is a character,of sorts,in the ''Peanuts'' comic strip work.

Its first mention,was in 1959,but had a starring role,in a 1966 Television special,''It's the Great Pumpkin,Charlie Brown.''.

Every year,the character ''Linus'' sits in a pumpkin patch,on Halloween night,waiting for the Great Pumpkin to appear.

''Linus'' confused Halloween,with Christmas,suggesting to his friends,that they ''go out and sing Pumpkin carols''.

Therefore,to ''Linus'',the ''Great Pumpkin'' is something of a ''Santa Claus'' figure.

This also adds credence to the notion,that the Halloween Card,sent to Paul Avery,was actually more ''celebratory''....and,if such a thing,a parody of ''death threat'',than malicious intent.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/17/2017 05:30:58 pm

Expressions,such as ''We're doomed'' and ''I'm doomed'',are plentiful in ''Peanuts'' cartoon strips.

And ''BOO !'' appears all over the place,in any strips related to Halloween.

I would not be surprised if ''BOO !'' is trademarked,it appears so regularly.

Definitely a ''Peanuts'' angle,to the Halloween Card,along with the ''Great Pumpkin''.

Richard

10/18/2017 12:33:56 am

Well, we know Zodiac was an avid reader of literature and combed various magazines and newspapers for his own story, so stumbling across a particular cartoon strip or other material for his correspondences is all too believable. How much I'm convinced fully by this angle or my offerings I still believe is slim, but certainly possible. Definitely to either, I personally rarely utter this word in regards to Zodiac, as I have so often changed my opinion. Certainly though a worthy angle.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/18/2017 03:14:08 am

Yes indeed,Richard.

''Influences'' are only too apparent,in Zodiac's often compulsive work.

This is part of the ''inexact'' side to him.

The ''exact'' side is displayed in ''direct copying'' and ''one and only'' solutions to his puzzles and ciphers.

With reference to the Desktop poem,''unwilling to die'',and the title,as a whole,draws a conclusion of a ''direct steal'',of the work of the Earl of Clarendon.In addition ''Just wait till next time'',from the work of Charles Schultz.

Whereas the Schultz - Halloween connection,is ''inexact'',and inference,at best [?].

I am currently working on the ''concerned citizen's'' solution to the ''408'' cipher.It is already apparent to me,that it is a more accurate solution,than that of the Hardens.But the Hardens,within 1-2 %,got the solution correct,and beat the ''concerned citizen'',to the punch,on public exposure.

This is as close to exact science,in the study of the case,as it gets...and it is already becoming apparent that the ''concerned citizen'' ''is'' Zodiac.

Perhaps,only a surprise,to few [!].

But it gives me a chance to put the whole story of what transpired,in Zodiac's life,between the evening of August 8th 1969,and afternoon of August 10th 1969.

Possibly the most ''pivotal'' 2 days,in Zodiac's existence as an urban terrorist.

We need as much ''exact'' information as possible,to extract the bones of truth.But as you refer,the ''inexact'' side tends to bend and vary,the more we take an overview [?].

Zodiac's story will never have been,even exactly as he will have remembered it [!].

BATMAN

8/12/2018 10:57:45 am

rh = "red hood" (if it was indeed the zodiac behind this writing, since We know he liked/was into [dark themed] comics and villains) or "riverside hunter" (again, maybe the early alias he aimed at).

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THE RIVERSIDE PROPHECY

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