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Richard Grinell, Coventry, England
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THE ZODIAC "WELLS FARGO" BANK ROBBERY NOTE - DECEMBER 3RD 1968

9/6/2020

 
Under an FBI file marked "Zodiac Extortion", there was a "request to compare writing on demand note submitted previously in the case (redacted) Wells Fargo Bank, Sutter Street Office, San Francisco, California, 12/3/68; BR" with the specimens in captioned case". The FBI were comparing the handwriting on a bank robbery note with submitted handwriting from samples in the captioned case. The bank robbery note (demand note) shown below, read "This is Bank Rhobery IF you don't do as I say I will shot. Zodiac".  with this threatening communication considered relevant enough to be placed in the Zodiac FBI files under "Zodiac Extortion". The demand note also carried the date of December 3rd 1968, seventeen days before the Zodiac's first murders on Lake Herman Road.

The FBI files continued with "It was not determined whether the specimens in captioned case were prepared by the writer of the Q1 demand note in the case
(redacted) Wells Fargo Bank, Sutter Street Office, San Francisco, California, 12/3/68; BR" because of distortion in the Q1 demand note and a lack of comparable material". Was a fledgling Zodiac hovering around San Francisco in the December of 1968? The Wells Fargo Bank in Sutter Street is a two minute walk from Union Square, where the Zodiac Killer likely entered the taxicab of murder victim, Paul Stine.
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PictureBlack Bart on the wanted posters
The story became a little more quirky when I read a post on the Zodiac Killer message board by BugsMoran regarding an outlaw called Black Bart, one of the most notorious stagecoach robbers in Northern California. BugsMoran wrote "Like the Zodiac, Black Bart would also send the police taunting letters (usually lousy poems about his capers). At times he even handed his victims these letters. It took years for the Pinkerton Detective Agencty to crack the case. I think his last robbery was foiled - and in his flight - he left behind a hankerchef with a laundry marking on it. The police had to go to every Chinese laundry in San Francisco before they were able to trace the hankerchef to Bart. Being from San Francisco the Zodiac would have known of the as local bandit". 

Black Bart (Charles Earl Boles) adopted the nickname "Black Bart" and proceeded to rob Wells Fargo stagecoaches at least 28 times across northern California between 1875 and 1883, Boles was invariably polite and used no foul language, despite its appearance in his poems. He dressed in a long linen duster coat and a bowler hat, using a flour sack with holes cut for his eyes as a mask. He brandished a shotgun, but never used it. These features became his trademarks. The idea of a robber, handing out poetic notes in northern California, wearing a head sack with eyeholes, sort of rang a bell for some reason. Especially with the Wells Fargo connection. 

Black Bart is a 1948 American western film directed by George Sherman and starring Yvonne De Carlo, Dan Duryea as the real-life cowboy bandit Charles Boles, and Jeffrey Lynn. It was distributed by Universal-International and produced by Leonard Goldstein. It was shot in Technicolor and was also known as Black Bart, Highwayman. The film was written by Luci Ward, Jack Natteford, and William Bowers and was released on March 3, 1948.

The results of the handwriting comparison were inconclusive "because of distortion in the Q1 demand note and a lack of comparable material". Despite the handwriting in the Zodiac case failing to be conclusively matched to the demand note because of "lack of material", it appears that this 15-worded note was enough to place it in the Zodiac files under "Zodiac Extortion". Was this because the author of the bank robbery note used the word "Zodiac" and/or investigators noticed a similarity of handwriting in the demand note? The notion of a threatening bank robbery note containing the pseudonym Zodiac, seven months in advance of the Debut of Zodiac letter, in which the Bay Area killer introduced himself for the first time, is puzzling to say the least. The FBI report stated "It is noted that the Q1 demand note mentioned in the attached Laboratory report was submitted by San Francisco with an airtel dated 6/27/69". June 27th 1969 was still one week before the Blue Rock Springs attack on July 4th 1969, and just over a month before the Debut of Zodiac letter. Why would this threatening note be considered Zodiac material before the Zodiac pseudonym ever emerged in the San Francisco Examiner offices?

Rubislaw 32 link
9/6/2020 03:58:01 am

A real nice spot , Richard , with no expectations beyond influence ,though the date proximity is quite tantalising .

One would think that the Zodiac knew of Black Bart , particularly as it is almost certain that he knew of Highwayman Jack Sheppard ( Mac the Knife ) , kept in the public eye by Daniel Dafoe ( Robinson Crusoe ) , long after Sheppard's death .

What really would be a bonus is , if anyone can find newspaper reportage on this event , December 3rd 1968 .

Richard link
9/6/2020 04:59:01 am

Believe me I've tried Rubislaw, but Wells Fargo Bank are not the most trustworthy in releasing what goes on behind the scenes. I doubt also, that these types of stories are ground-breaking news. I have searched high and low for additional information. I thought I'd found a comparable bank robbery note from Los Angeles, displayed on the Zodiac Killer site forum by Eduard Versluijs, dated November 1965. It says "Stick up don't move smile".I'm not a great handwriting analysis fan, but that said, the 5-word note also contained the word "don't", also contained a mixture of upper and lower case lettering and the letter K is virtually identical, with a looped appearance. However, because the Q1 demand note (shown above) is likely just a suspect's handwrting being compared to the yet unseen real demand note, the comparison would only be between an FBI suspect and the one shown by Eduard Versluijs on the forum. Click my name to view the forum thread (if the note is visible to you).

Rubislaw 32 link
9/6/2020 09:32:00 am

Just to add some information .

Black Bart was also known as '' California's Robin Hood '' .

He would sign his poems , '' Po8 ''

He was caught , after bungling his 28th robbery . The handkerchief left behind , was marked '' F X O 7 '' . This led detectives to a laundry in San Francisco , and subsequently his arrest .

Going by the name of Charles Bolton , Boles was imprisoned for 6 years . On his release , he is believed to have gone back to being a Highwayman .

In 1888 , at the believed age of 59 , he was approached by officials of Wells Fargo , and offered $200 / month to give up his criminal life .It remains unclear as to where Boles retired , but a Wells Fargo detective claimed that he had moved to Japan .

35SweetGoodbyes
9/6/2020 10:25:08 pm

They really got Uncle Sporkums working OT, and on Labor Day weekend no less.

Rubislaw 32 link
9/7/2020 01:09:39 am

Is that Uncle Sporkums a.k.a. Mr.Voigt ( ? ) , 35SweetGoodbyes .

I see that at the Reddit site , Mr.Voigt is being flayed within an inch of his life , for saying derogatory things about the members , there , in the topic '' The Final Countdown '' .

It certainly seems that the moderator ( the good Doc ) has just allowed everyone to express their frustrations at Mr.Voigt , quite freely .

'' Carnage '' is going on , and should only be viewed if one is not easily upset .

A bit like '' Tom Voigt Cucked '' - the reckoning ( ? ) .

35SweetGoodbyes
9/7/2020 01:41:41 am

Yes, the one and only. Thanks for the reddit update. LOL Think I’ll take a trip over there before the long weekend is over.

Rubislaw 32 link
9/7/2020 02:36:21 am

Ah...inspiration .

In 1849 , Charles Boles , a schoolteacher from Norfolk , England , travelled over to California , with two brothers , attracted by what became known as The California Gold Rush of 1849 .

Miners 49'ers .

On April 28th 1970 , the Zodiac sent , what has now become known as The Dragon Card . This card depicts a Dragon and a Donkey , being ridden by two '' Miners 49'ers '' .

The day prior , April 27th 1970 , the Sacramento Bee's front page story concerned the discovery of Judith Hakari's body , in a shallow grave , beside an old mine shaft , close to Ponderosa Way , Weimar .Judith Hakari had been missing since March 7th .

What I have ventured before is , that the Zodiac was inspired to send his Dragon Card , in light of the body of Judith Hakari being discovered at Weimar which , was where prime Zodiac suspect , William Grant , owned a luxury chalet , as his weekend retreat .

The implication being that the Zodiac would delight in William Grant's perpetuation of guilt , in the eyes of police investigation , on account of the Weimar link .

Move forward to March 19th / March 20th 1971 , when the Zodiac prepared his Pines Card , with '' Sought victim 12 '' . The Zodiac referring to a period prior , when his 12th victim was being sought .
This would be prior to June 26th 1970 , when the Zodiac sent his Button Letter , claiming 12 victims .

The Pines Card itself , apparently depicts Incline Village , on the shores of Lake Tahoe where , the themed ranch '' Ponderosa '' was open to the public . In addition , newly opened Sierra Nevada University . In addition , if we are to accept that the card refers to an actual body , then the factual shallow grave containing murder victim , Judith Hakari , suggests that the viewing came from The Sierra Sun Cloud Inn , at neighbouring Colfax .

Miner 49'ers : Ponderosa ; Weimar ; Sierra ; 12 victims ; all point to the Pines Card , as referring to the factual body of Judith Hakari .

And , not least , the claimed emergence of the Pines Card - March 22nd 1971 . Just a fortnight beyond the 1st anniversary of the disappearance of Judith Hakari .

Rubislaw 32 link
9/7/2020 03:11:54 am

....and of course , William Grant was a member of the Sierra Club . As were his psychiatrist Edward Adams and wife's boss Judge Sherwin , who were senior members .

The Dragon Card - Zodiac sees himself as on the donkey , making a derogatory remark to Grant , who his riding the dragon .

Rubislaw 32 link
9/7/2020 03:17:43 am

Perhaps the Zodiac was insinuating that William Grant liked to smoke opium , when entertaining consenting young men , at Motels ?

Rubislaw 32 link
9/7/2020 10:18:25 am

Strangely , at the time of the Dragon Card , Bill Grant had just turned 49 years old and , born on March 6th ( 1920 ) , celebrated his birthday , the day before Judith Hakari's disappearance .

The evidence to date , with respect to the murder of Ms.Hakari , points away from the Zodiac's , nor indeed Grant's culpability .

Rubislaw 32 link
9/7/2020 10:20:38 am

....correction , 50 years old for Grant .

Rubislaw 32 link
9/8/2020 12:42:54 am

It's a mystery .

With a disappearing act , for which the Zodiac would have been proud , the topic '' The Final Countdown '' , at Reddit , vanished into thin air , after two days .

'' The Final Countdown '' had focused on the frustrations of Zodiac Killer Reddit members , having been threatened with physical violence , by Zodiac internet pioneer , Tom Voigt , if they ever dared fly in to Portland Oregon .

Presumably , Mr.Voigt would be waiting for them , at the airport ( ? ) .
An assortment of wishes , from Mr.Voigt , included hoping that they caught the COVID-19 virus , and died .

Rubislaw 32 link
9/9/2020 04:13:58 am

Finally , after about a year of Doc Daneeka soldiering on as the only moderator of Zodiac Killer Reddit , he appears to have enlisted the assistance of his wife , in the responsibilities of moderating a site , with almost 38.000 members .

Perhaps more than a little coincidental that this comes after Tom Voigt started making violent threats against members who criticised him ( ? ) .

In what other circumstances could an internet user , such as Voigt , possibly be tolerated for their unrelenting anti-social behaviour ?

Voigt is a complete shambles of the past having caught up with him . And yet he is still offered inches of room that he converts into miles of advantage taking , at every opportunity .

I am sure almost everyone that still believes that there is a Zodiac community worth belonging to , wishes Doctor and Mrs.Daneeka , the best of luck .

But , with the lurking Mr.Voigt still about , one feels that they are going to need every ounce of it .

Rubislaw 32 link
9/10/2020 03:21:32 am

Incidentally , if anyone should be fearful of threats of physical violence , from Mr.Voigt . A contributor is able to allay their fears .

Mr.Voigt is actually a '' Powder Puff '' , as testified by the contributor who attended the party where , beer was sipped from '' Paul Steiners '' , and ALA underpants were worn as hats .

Mr.Voigt received a slapping from someone fed up with him - and ended up crying .

Rubislaw 32 link
9/12/2020 07:29:54 am

Strange , but untrue ?

Claims , by a contributor to the '' Box of Rain '' site , that David Fincher had originally included a segment in the Hollywood film '' Zodiac '' , involving an attempt by unofficial Zodiac suspect , '' Honcho '' , to force Sandy Betts off the road , appear to have been without foundation .

It had been rumoured that Fincher had filmed a segment , which was subsequently cut , and had included an accompaniment of the Human League song , '' Don't you want me ? '' .

'' You were working as waitress at a cocktail bar , when I met you....don't you want me baby ? ....''

Rubislaw 32 link
9/14/2020 08:48:16 am

Good grief ( ? ) . Are the British Royal Family preparing themselves , for the worst ?

Next June's series of celebrations to mark the 100th Birthday of H.R.H. The Queen's husband , Prince Philip , will exclude invitations extended to his second son . Prince Andrew , for fear of any bad publicity over the Jeffrey Epstein Scandal .

As the tabloids are calling it : '' Heir - Brushing '' . He might even be serving time , inside , by then ( ? ) .


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    The Zodiac Killer may have given us the answer almost word-for-word when he wrote PS. The Mt. Diablo Code concerns Radians & # inches along the radians. The code solution identified was Estimate: Four Radians and Five Inches To read more, click the image.
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